Youth Skills Coach

Location: Pittsburgh, PA — Earn $26.00/hour (temporary to possibly permanent).

About Cayuga Centers

Cayuga Centers is an accredited non‑profit human services agency dedicated to family support and preservation, trauma‑informed care, and serving vulnerable populations with unique needs. Founded in 1852 in Auburn, NY, the organization delivers high‑quality, innovative services to individuals, children, youth, and families. The agency embraces diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, providing staff with training, coaching, and resources to serve with cultural humility and respect.

About the Program and Youth Skills Coach Position

The Youth Skills Coach provides support and mentoring to children and adolescents in the Pittsburgh Treatment Foster Care (TFFC) Program. Reporting to the Program Director, the coach meets with youth one or more times per week to work on skill development, help them succeed at school, and navigate life challenges.

Responsibilities

• Provide skills training and life‑skills coaching to youth (ages 0‑21) in the TFFC program.
• Design activities that match each child’s needs as specified by the Program Director.
• Coordinate with the Program Director, treatment team, and foster parents to manage rewards, privileges, and consequences for behavioral modification.
• Deliver coaching on identified behaviors or areas needing enhancement, including behavior management, communication, problem‑solving, and peer interaction skills.
• Conduct role‑playing, educational games, modeling, teaching, debriefing, or other strategies to facilitate skills training.
• Document each skills‑training session on the appropriate forms and submit them to the Program Director weekly.
• Attend weekly treatment‑team meetings and collaborate with the team.
• Immediately report emergencies (runaways, accidents, medical problems) and document them accordingly.
• Provide hourly respite and transportation for program youth as needed, as defined by the Program Director.
• Transport and supervise family‑time visitation to support permanency achievement.
• Serve on the on‑call rotation.
• Complete other duties/tasks assigned by supervisors and agency leadership.

Required Experience and Qualifications

• High School Diploma required.
• Minimum of 2 years experience in mental health, addiction, child welfare, or a related human‑service field.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Valid Pennsylvania driver’s license and a safe, dependable vehicle.
• Maintain professionalism, including confidentiality.
• Ability to observe a child’s behavior and implement behavioral regulation techniques.
• Conceptual understanding of developmentally appropriate behavior for children/adolescents in home, school, and community settings.
• Ability to establish strong relationships with children or adolescents.
• Ability to provide skill‑building training to assist youth in acquiring new skills and achieving goals.
• Ability to work cooperatively with the Program Director and Treatment Team, accept supervision, be readily available for consultation, attend meetings, and complete assigned paperwork.

Physical Requirements

• Word processing tasks such as responding to e‑mails, composing letters, completing computerized documentation, and transcribing meeting minutes.
• Completing paperwork in appropriate database systems.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
• Sit in and/or drive a vehicle for several hours at a time.
• Walk up and down stairs.

Schedule

Non‑exempt regular hours are 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Flexibility is required to meet program needs, including evening and weekend services when youth and families are available. Weekend and evening hours are necessary when scheduled for an on‑call rotation.

Pay

$26.00 per hour.

Benefits

• 80 hours of vacation
• 10 holidays, 3 personal days, and medical‑appointment time
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligible employer
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Pet and legal insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA), transit, and parking savings accounts
• Supplemental life insurance, critical illness, and enhanced short‑term disability benefits
• 401(k) plan
• Corporate discounts program
• Sick leave pool
• Identity protection