ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The Chicago Youth Service Corps Youth Coordinator reports to the Youth and Community Engagement Supervisor. The Youth Coordinator builds strong and positive relationships with participants and facilitates team building between participant cohorts. The Youth Coordinator will work directly with youth to implement programmatic activities and build strong, positive relationships with youth. Provides mentoring to youth, to assist youth in completing social/emotional groups as outlined by the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services, engage in positive social and emotional education programs, complete financial literacy training, make academic progress, limit justice system involvement and connect to community-based resources, learn new job skills, and maintain summer employment. Youth Coordinators are expected to provide case management services to youth during regular meetings on-site and during frequent visits to their community, school, place of employment and homes. Requires knowledge of trauma exposure, knowledge of the 5 S's of trauma: Safety, Self-Regulation/Soothing, Supportive, Strengths, Self-Care, and an understanding of and recognition of the signs of traumatic stress. Must own personal vehicle or have access to a vehicle as this position includes frequent travel/field work. Position requires flexible schedule and 24/7 availability as field work may occur during evenings and/or weekends.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Facilitate social/emotional groups as outlined by the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services
• Assist youth in completing financial literacy curriculum
• Develop Individual Achievement Plans with youth
• Coordinate youth services with key stakeholders to support provision of wrap-around services for youth and their families
• Provide one-on-one mentoring services outside of program hours to assist the youth in developing the personal, emotional, or social skills that may be impacting their ability to be successful through coaching and modeling positive behaviors
• Utilize restorative justice practices to support conflict resolution and positive social engagement.
• Act as a liaison between the youth, youth's family, agency, youth's school, police department, and employer
• Requires knowledge of typical child and adolescent development and an understanding of trauma exposure and traumatic stress signs and symptoms
• Practice will include using strategies that support healing, recovery, and that resist re-traumatization
• Engage caregivers, parents, family members and others by sharing strengths and challenges experienced by program participants
• Maintain a positive relationship with employers for the OSC program
• Teach youth job skills as related to the youth's summer employment placement
• Facilitate Career Readiness Training
• Maintain a caseload of youth
• Coordinate enrichment activities for youth, both individually and in group
• Engage youth in a minimum of one face-to-face visit per week. Face-to-face interaction may occur on the Lawrence Hall campus, in the youth's community, school or home
• Connect youth with outreach services to address basic social service
• Assist participants in learning essential job functions and orientation to the workplace environment and culture
• Cultivate and maintain a network of available community resources for youth as needed
• Maintain personal area and program service areas in a neat and orderly fashion
• Ability to multitask and manage time effectively
• Attend all staff meetings and in-service training as required
• Participate in program evaluation as required
• Participate in the development and implementation of continuous quality improvement activities as assigned
• Uses active and reflective listening skills and affirmations to demonstrate respect and empathy, avoiding negative and derogatory labels that foster disrespect
• Understand that behaviors, responses, attitudes, and emotions are a collection of survival skills often developed in response to traumatic experiences
• Maintain confidentiality of employees, volunteers, and program participants to provide a safe environment
• Ability to work effectively with program participants and family members, employees and vendors in a culturally diverse environment to support healing and recovery
• Accurately complete documents as needed
• Effectively communicate with referring agencies and/or case managers regarding client's needs, and engagement in program services
• Maintain a professional standard when representing the agency or clients
• Engage in continuing education and professional development in an effort to provide best practice
• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

• Must be 24 years of age
• High School Diploma with 1 or more year of experience working with at-risk youth or Juvenile Justice involved youth
• Must be highly organized, detail focused, have excellent time management and possess strong computer skills
• Experience with Juvenile Justice System and restorative justice practices preferred
• Knowledge of childhood trauma and prior experience working in settings with youth and families that have been exposed to trauma or experiencing traumatic stress preferred
• Knowledge of youth development, adolescent issues, positive youth development/strength-based approach preferred
• Personal vehicle or access to vehicle and proof of insurance
• Valid Illinois Driver's license
• No history of child abuse or neglect
• Ability to pass background and drug screen

This position meets the FLSA requirements for Non-Exempt.