Youth Advocate (Brownsville, Brooklyn)

About the role

The Child Center of NY strengthens children and families with skills, opportunities, and emotional support to build healthy, successful lives. Founded in 1953, The Child Center of NY has become a powerful community presence throughout the city. With 50 locations and 100 programs in NYC’s most under-served communities, our 1,000+ results-oriented professionals make a difference for more than 40,000 children and their families each year. The Youth Advocate is responsible for developing and facilitating in the social and personal development of adolescents and teenagers. A Youth Advocate is a guide to youth and gives direction in their academic, vocational, and personal lives.

Responsibilities

• One-on-one and group counseling support to help students develop appropriate behaviors, acquire greater self-confidence, and achieve improved classroom functioning
• Attendance Outreach – phone calls, home visits and other effective strategies of improving students’ attendance
• Efficiently document all forms of outreach including home visits, phone calls and counseling sessions with students on caseload, keep up-to-date contact information for students and their families
• Maintain regularly scheduled sessions with students on your caseload to keep abreast of important individual, family, and community events and issues that may impact the student’s well-being
• Maintain good communication and work collaboratively with all program/school staff
• Advocate for students’ rights and well-being
• Develop incentive programs to motivate, encourage and improve their attendance and grades
• Facilitate workshops based on student needs
• Related duties as needed

Qualifications

• BA/BS degree in a human services field or 5 years of relevant experience working with adolescents (15 – 21 years of age)
• Experience working with adolescents, preferably in a school setting
• Experience with Youth Development principles
• Ability to work with adolescents individually and in groups
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to write and communicate effectively
• Willingness to attend youth development trainings
• Possess basic computer software skills

Benefits

• Generous Paid Time Off
• Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance
• 401k Pension and Employer Contribution
• Flexible Spending and Commuter Benefits Accounts
• Employer paid short-term & long-term disability, life and AD&D insurance
• Commuter Benefits
• Employee Assistance Program

Schedule

Monday – Friday | 8:00am – 4:00pm