Project HART Teen Facilitator

About the role

Provides instruction and leadership to youth in local middle schools using The Dibble Institute’s Love Notes 4.2 SRA Abstinence Only (AO) Middle School Adaptation (MSA) curriculum per fidelity standards. Facilitators will use a positive youth-development approach by educating youth on self-regulation, goal setting, healthy relationships, focusing on their future, and the prevention and avoidance of sexual activity and other risky behaviors and help teens to better understand and develop themselves, define their goals, and acquire essential healthy relationship and life skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide group instruction for teens ages 12-14 using The Dibble Institute’s Love Notes 4.2 AO MSA curriculum to teach teens about the benefits associated with self-regulation, goal setting, healthy decision-making, success sequencing and pathways for poverty prevention, focus on the future, healthy relationships, resisting sexual coercion, dating violence, and other youth risk behaviors, such as underage drinking or illicit drug use.
• Ensure that implementation of the Love Notes 4.2 AO MSA curriculum meets fidelity standards.
• Work with the Program Manager or Youth Development Coordinator (YDC) to increase fidelity and follow any provided improvement plans.
• Follow procedures set forth in the district/school and/or organizations served.
• Coordinate with school counselors, teachers, and organization staff/volunteers for program planning and/or referrals.
• Assist in strategic dissemination and communication activities to raise awareness of the program with youth, their families, and key stakeholders.
• Maintain accurate and timely records such as attendance, demographics, consent forms, surveys, etc. as required by ACF-FYSB and the program and communicate relevant data to the Data Reporting Analyst (DRA) to ensure accuracy of reporting mandated by the federal funding agency.
• Administer pre and post surveys for each youth participant and follow survey administration protocols.
• Meet or exceed program goals and objectives set forth by the federal funding agency in assigned county(ies).
• Become a certified facilitator in Love Notes 4.2 AO MSA and attend applicable local, state, and national training.
• Become/remain certified in First Aid and CPR.
• Attend scheduled training and independently continue to increase knowledge on relevant topics.
• Comply with the project’s confidentiality policy.
• Perform any other duties as assigned by the Program Director, Program Manager, or Youth Development Coordinator.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in social work, sociology, education, psychology, or a related field.
• Experience working with youth.
• Certification as a Love Notes 4.2 AO Facilitator (must be earned).
• Computer skills.
• Ability to communicate with youth openly without judgment.
• Promote a positive image through manners, dress, attendance, and attitude.
• Ability to facilitate to youth/teens in an engaging manner.
• Valid driver’s license, safe driving record, and acceptance by the Agency’s vehicle insurance carrier.
• Must pass PRS background check.
• Must pass a pre-employment physical.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience working with youth delivering evidence-based positive youth development programming.
• Equivalent work experience in the field of social work, sociology, education, or psychology.
• Bilingual ability (Spanish/English).
• Knowledge of community resources and local agencies.

Physical requirements

• Frequent travel within the area.
• Willingness to work flexible hours.
• Critical sensory requirements include general vision; specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
• Hear or listen in the normal range (corrected) and speak and give directions clearly.
• Able to walk, sit, stand, kneel, crouch, crawl, reach, lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects up to 10 lbs., and occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds.
• Able to perform the physical requirements of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

About the organization

Community Action Corporation of South Texas (CACOST) is a private non-profit organization established in 1971 and funded through federal, state, and local grants. CACOST currently serves 16 counties via a wide variety of community programs and services. Its mission is to continuously improve the lives of South Texans by providing high-quality health care, education, housing, and economic opportunities to reduce poverty through services and partnerships.