Bilingual Youth Engagement Specialist

Job Summary

The Youth Engagement Specialist builds collaborations between systems and agencies to assist youth in Oak Park and River Forest Communities. The Engagement Specialist conducts individual counseling with youth, group counseling with youth, mentoring, and community outreach. The Engagement Specialist assists youth and families, and implements programming geared toward youth in the Oak Park and River Forest Communities.

Job Functions

• Show knowledge or ability to gain knowledge in the following areas: youth mental health, specifically anxiety and depression, substance abuse, trauma, aggression, and behavioral problems, gangs.
• Carry a caseload of 20 individuals for counseling and interventions.
• Perform crisis intervention, make social diagnostic assessments, and assist in developing a comprehensive treatment plan for clients.
• Run groups during school year that focus on current events, trends, and needs.
• Collaborate closely with families, school personnel, mental health professionals, and other agencies associated with client.
• Help provide wraparound services by encouraging and referring youth, families, parents/guardians to other community services and activities.
• Maintain and complete documentation related to job duties in a timely manner.
• Initiate and maintain in contact (via phone, email, or in person) with youth, parents/guardians, families, mentors, therapists, police, and other community agencies involved in youth’s case.
• Maintain relationships and partnerships with current agencies and organizations that serve youth in the Oak Park and River Forest Communities.
• Conduct community outreach events, including but not limited to, park visits, library visits, trainings for partner agencies staff, workshops for parents and youth, partner outreach events, and Township outreach events.
• Absorb and implement goals/strategies developed by agencies in developing long-term community-based strategic plans to help with village-wide prevention efforts regarding youth.
• Keep Manager informed regarding community issues and sensitive topics.
• Participate in weekly supervision with Youth Engagement Manager and participate in weekly Youth and Family Services Team Meetings.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Supervision for LPCs and MSWs available.

Minimal Qualifications

• Must be bilingual in both English and Spanish.
• Master’s in social work, counseling, psychology.
• Working with youth and families (preferred).

Education

• Master's (Required)
• LCSW or LCPC (preferred)

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Knowledge of: Social Work, counseling, psychology
• Criminal Justice and approaches used by law enforcement in local, state, and federal environments; juvenile law and court systems
• Ethical standards and codes of conduct in dealing with clients and public
• Crisis Intervention Techniques
• Conflict Resolution Skill
• In Time management and prioritizing work
• Verbal and written communication and organization
• Facilitation and group leadership
• Mediation and collaboration building
• Ability To Maintain relationships with community organizations and administrators
• Facilitate presentations and trainings for youth, parents, community associations, and other public groups.
• Remain calm in stressful and crisis situations

Physical Abilities

• Sit, keyboard, read, write, add, hear and speak for extended periods
• Drive automobile to meet with clients in their homes or other locations, and meetings with other agencies, committees and councils, etc.
• Must have a valid drivers license and reliable/consistent transportation.
• Lift up to 10 pounds on occasion.