Youth Development Specialist

Core Values

Demonstrates cultural competence through an awareness of and sensitivity towards Agency’s clients’ and coworkers’ cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.

Is committed to the value of a nurturing family as the ideal environment for a child and believes in the capacity of people to grow and change.

Works from a strengths-based perspective.

Recognizes that consumers come first and responds to consumers appropriately.

Knows and adheres to all FC Policies and Procedures, participates in either the QI Committee or a Subcommittee and/or keeps abreast of and adheres to QI policies and procedures.

Professionalism

Values and participates in the Team as a proactive member.

Respects others’ professional opinions and tolerates a range of feelings.

Able to give and receive constructive criticism.

Willing to take on extra work when needed (i.e. when there is a vacancy).

Performs required tasks according to the program philosophy, policies and procedures.

Is courteous, approachable, and cooperative towards others and conducts self in a mature, competent, confident, and respectful manner.

Possesses a sense of humor and possesses a healthy work/life balance important to providing great customer service.

Supervision

Attends supervision consistently and comes prepared.

Documents supervision.

Able to receive feedback and to learn from it.

Has insight about self (i.e. strengths and weaknesses) and utilizes that knowledge toward growth and change.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and coordinate recreational programming and field trips.
• Build and maintain rapport; interacting with students during appropriate times to facilitate social skill development, and advocating for students, as needed.
• Facilitate prevention and psycho-educational groups.
• Insure documentation and data input into Management Information System is completed in timely fashion.
• Provide case management to students as necessary.
• Monitor students’ academic and behavioral progress.
• Assist in the development and marketing of programs in the school environment and community.
• Discuss all suspected cases of abuse and neglect with Manager/Coordinator and report to DCP&P.

Specifications

• Education/Certification: Minimum High School diploma, 3 years experience as a youth service worker; Bachelor’s Degree in human services field preferred.
• Experience: Proven ability to work with adolescents in an urban setting.
• Knowledge: Knowledge of adolescent development, knowledge of community resources, knowledge of group process.
• Skills and Abilities: Ability to create a warm, non-threatening therapeutic atmosphere, ability to provide non-judgmental responses, ability to counsel adolescents, ability to work as a member of a team, ability to advocate for students with school personnel, ability to work with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Professional Characteristics: Open, warm, empathic, attentive listener, self-aware, ethical, creative, organized, flexible, open to criticism, patient, responsible, able to work independently, mature, self-motivated, dedicated, enthusiastic, will to take on additional tasks and responsibilities, interested in seeking additional training and skills.

Salary

$24.00 an hour

Vacation & Benefits

• As a full-time employee working generally 35 hours per week, you will be eligible to participate in the Family Connections group benefit plans.
• Benefits include medical, dental, life insurance, long term disability, retirement plans, and additional supplementary benefits.
• You will also be eligible to accrue vacation, personal, and sick days in addition to 12 paid holidays, and summer wellness Fridays.
• Benefits also include professional development assistance, referral program, internal/external trainings, Capella University partnership, 403b retirement plan with employer matching (3% max) (you can enroll in your 403b without a waiting period)
• employer-paid life insurance, employer paid Long-term Disability (LTD) insurance, employer paid Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance, etc.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Family Connections is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer committed to excellence.

Compliance

This role must be performed in a manner that is fully compliant with all applicable federal, state, and local employment laws, including those of the State of New Jersey.