Youth Development Specialist

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST

Program : Prevention / Stronger Together

Type : Full-time; non-exempt

Pay Range : $21.00 – $24.00 (HOURLY)

Job Ref. # : 111

Schedule : Monday-Friday, 9am – 5pm w / flexibility as needed

About Us :

St. Catherine’s Center for Children is a non-profit organization located in the Greater Capital Region of New York. We offer a wide array of human services designed to meet the needs of vulnerable children, families and adults, including residential and therapeutic foster care programs for children and youth, Kinship support, homeless and community-based services for adults and families, a special education elementary school for ages 5-13, and so much more. St. Catherine’s is committed to cultivating a culture where all employees feel safe to bring their authentic and best selves to the workplace. Our DEIB initiatives are designed to foster an equitable, inclusive and diversified workplace; collaboratively embracing mindfulness, relevance, respect and solidarity.

Our Mission :

St. Catherine's Center for Children provides a comprehensive range of human services designed to offer hope, foster growth, and improve the lives of the children, families and adults we serve.

Our Vision :

St. Catherine’s willingness to embrace change and develop new services is, and will remain, our guiding philosophy as we support the human service needs of children, families, and adults throughout the region.

Job Overview :

The Youth Development Specialist works with the Prevention Program Social Worker, Case Planner(s), and Family Advocate, to provide services to families within Albany County. The Youth Development Specialist will work with all targeted youth to provide concrete support and skill building, to strengthen age-appropriate life skills and support their educational / vocational and recreational interests. The Youth Development Specialist works with their team on each case to determine the needs of the targeted child in regard to community resources, after school programming, and enrichment activities.

Requirements :

Bachelor’s degree in human services or education, preferred; Associates required.

Ability to work : Monday-Friday, 9am –5pm, w / flexibility as needed.

Knowledge of community resources, including school districts, law enforcement, local churches, recreational sites and clubs.

Competence to remain composed, especially under crisis conditions, is highly important.

Experience working with multi-problem families, and helping them to address their goals.

Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, Google Business Suite, and other data processing systems, & use Secure Internet practices.

Clean & Valid NYS Driver’s License (actively licensed at least one year), and reliable vehicle is required.

A compassionate, warm and caring mindset; Capable of exhibiting empathy for those in crisis.

Exercise ethical, independent judgment and discretion; handle sensitive data with strict confidentiality.

Duties & Responsibilities include :

Accept all referrals from Albany County Department for Children, Youth and Families Prevention intake department for the prevention program; Attend intakes within 24 hours of receiving referral.

Attend home visits with the families in order to assess the needs of the children for essential community linkages.

Make the linkages for youth to the community activities that align with their goals and interests.

Coordinate services by attending service plan reviews and other meetings, and via phone contacts.

Coordinate with the families and the Primary Clinician / Case Planners around the child(ren)’s needs and progress.

Administer the NYS Child Adolescent Needs and Strengths Assessment to help identify targeted areas of need.

Complete progress notes and contributions to the Family Assessment and Service Plans within the NYS OCFS Connections system, in a timely and efficient manner.

Complete additional paperwork as needed for the program.

Advocate for the program and our clients with other agencies in the community.

Work as a team with the Primary Clinician / Case Planner / Family Advocate, and the Program Supervisor, who will team lead for all prevention cases.

Additional position-related duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Assistant Director of Prevention.

What We Offer You :

Competitive Pay with an Excellent Benefits Package

Health Insurance options

• : Medical, Dental and Vision

$600 Well-being Reimbursement Benefit

Generous Combined Leave Time (CLT) and Paid Holidays

$500 Employee Referral Bonus

We are a 501(c) (3) agency, which is a qualifying employer for eligible staff under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

Pension Plan with Generous Agency Contribution

403b Retirement Savings Plan

Life Insurance

Paid Training, including TCI and CPR / AED / First Aid Certification & Update courses, if role appropriate

Tuition Reimbursement

Travel / Mileage Reimbursement

Professional Development & Career Growth Opportunities

The Comfort of a Business Casual Environment

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging.

EEO Statement : St. Catherine’s Center for Children is committed to creating a diverse environment and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, reproductive health and pregnancy, family history and genetics, disability, age, military status, veteran status, politics, or other beliefs, and any other characteristics protected by law.