Youth Support Specialist

About the Role

The Youth Support Specialist (YSS) works directly to supervise court-placed youth, ages 12-20, who reside at OCFS secure, limited-secure, and/or non-secure residential facilities. YSSs are part of a team that ensures a facility is physically secure (e.g., responsible for youth movement, key and door control, and conflict resolution) and emotionally safe for both youth and other staff. YSSs help create a professional, healthy, and therapeutic environment.

Responsibilities

• Establish a relationship of professionalism, confidence, safety, and trust with youth and other staff from diverse racial, ethnic, cultural, religious, physical ability, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Expression (SOGIE), and/or socio-economic backgrounds.
• Supervise and monitor youth, which may include 1-to-1 supervision depending on a youth’s clinical needs.
• Actively participate as a member of a youth’s support team—a treatment-focused group addressing emotional and behavioral needs and goals.
• Engage confidently with individuals under physical and/or emotional stress.
• Employ graduated harm reduction strategies, including correcting or intervening (verbally or physically) when youth display unsafe behaviors toward themselves or others.
• Recognize personal or situational flags that could lead to conflict or harm, provide positive mentorship, and help youth develop interpersonal skills and self-regulation strategies.
• Improve the well-being of the facility community through collaboration and informed decision-making.
• Supervise and/or assist youth during recreation, education activities, and other assignments as needed.
• Establish and maintain positive, professional relationships with youths’ families and loved ones.
• Assist youth in achieving education, work readiness, and community transition goals.

Training Requirements

• Complete a 2-week Juvenile Justice Basic Training orientation.
• Achieve proficiency in OCFS-approved physical skills and youth restraint techniques (training provided twice yearly, totaling eight hours).
• Complete NYS employee-mandated annual trainings and other required refreshers.
• Some intrastate travel may be required (e.g., supervision at youth medical appointments, intramural games, extracurricular activities, or other events).

The YSS position is physically demanding. Candidates must be prepared to act to ensure the health and safety of youth and staff, which may include the use of approved physical restraint techniques.

Requirements

• Two years of full-time direct care experience* in the care and programming of youth ages 6-21; OR
• A Bachelor’s degree; OR
• An Associate’s degree AND six months of experience; OR
• A high school graduation or equivalency diploma AND one year of experience*; OR
• A satisfactory equivalent combination of the above education and experience.

Direct care experience with youth involved in the juvenile justice system or in institutions such as camps, schools, community centers, youth rehabilitation programs, mental health or correctional facilities, or residential centers. Appropriate verifiable part-time experience will be accepted on a prorated basis.

Satisfactory completion of the probation period must include possession of a valid motor vehicle operator’s license and the ability to operate a motor vehicle legally in New York State.

Schedule

The YSS position requires shift work, including weekends, holidays, and overtime assignments (both mandatory and voluntary).

Background Investigation

• All prospective employees will undergo a Criminal Background Check (CBC), including State and federal Criminal History Record Checks. Convictions must be reported; felony or misdemeanor convictions, or falsified/omitted information, may bar appointment or result in removal after appointment.
• Fingerprinting is required to obtain criminal history records, and fees may apply.
• Screening against the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment (SCR) is mandatory, with fees possibly required.
• For Division of Juvenile Justice and Opportunities for Youth (DJJOY) appointees, a check against the Staff Exclusion List (SEL) maintained by the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs is required. Individuals found responsible for serious or repeated acts of abuse or neglect will be barred from appointment.

Physical/Medical Requirements

Physical and medical condition will be evaluated to ensure the ability to perform duties with or without reasonable accommodation. Evaluations include:

• A fitness test.
• A medical standards evaluation.
• A substance abuse screening.