Youthlink Activity Specialist - Life Skills (New South Bronx Center)

About the role

The Police Athletic League (PAL) of New York City is an independent youth development nonprofit organization that has been serving as a bridge between police and communities across all five boroughs of the City since 1914. We are looking for Part Time Life Skills Activity Specialists who are responsible for facilitating high-quality social-emotional learning and wellness programming that supports the personal growth, resilience, and overall well-being of high school youth.

Responsibilities

The Youthlink Activity Specialist will be responsible for facilitating stress management and wellness workshops, creating supportive spaces where teens can develop coping strategies, strengthen self-awareness, and build healthy relationships. They will provide mentorship and follow-up support to youth experiencing challenges related to stress, anxiety, depression, or other social-emotional concerns.

• Foster social and emotional competencies and mental and physical well-being in a safe, welcoming, inclusive, and nurturing environment.
• Facilitate stress management, wellness, and life skills workshops using NYC Department of Health-designed curriculum and other approved social-emotional learning resources.
• Collaborate with program staff, school personnel, mental health professionals, and community partners to support youth wellness.
• Be aware of students with IEPs and medical conditions in your groups and follow support plans to help the student with special needs to thrive.
• Respond appropriately when time-sensitive mental health services are needed.
• Provide referrals to appropriate mental health services as needed.
• Build positive relationships with youth and caretakers and serve as a role model.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent required; candidates must be currently enrolled in college coursework in Psychology, Social Work, Counseling, Human Services, Education, Public Health, or a related field.
• Minimum of two years of experience working with high school-aged youth in after-school, mentoring, educational, community-based, or youth development settings preferred.
• Knowledge of adolescent development, social-emotional learning, mental health awareness, and youth wellness practices.
• Experience facilitating workshops, group discussions, or activities focused on stress management, coping skills, wellness, or personal development preferred.
• Good communication skills and ability to work collaboratively.
• Bi-lingual in Spanish, French, or Chinese preferred.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will be compassionate, dependable, and able to build trust with teens. They will be able to facilitate meaningful conversations and support youth in developing the skills needed to navigate challenges and thrive.

Skills

The candidate will be open to learning and growing, and will be expected to integrate mental health, SEL, and special needs inclusion skills into programming.

Benefits

PAL offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes health insurance, flexible spending account options, an employee assistance program, tuition reimbursement, pet insurance, life insurance, retirement savings options, a generous paid time off policy, training and more!

Pay

The range for this role is $20-25.75 an hour, where the finalist falls in this range will be commensurate with skills and experience.

Schedule

Able to work 15 hours per week (Tuesday to Saturday 3 hours a day). Able to attend 15 hours of orientation prior to the beginning of programming and complete 30 hours of Building Resiliency in Youth training.