Position Title: Youth Development Coach

Department: Youth Development

Reports to: Program Manager

Position Summary:

Under the supervision of the Program Manager, and in accordance with Department of Family Support Services, the Youth Development Coach is responsible for facilitating and coordinating a robust youth centered program. Utilizing the curriculum and structured program outline provided by DFSS, the Youth Development Coach will focus on promoting the academic, physical, social and emotional development of youth by building skills and applying them in real projects most frequently involving community projects and working with other youth and community stakeholders. The Youth Development Coach will provide services to facilitate healing through trauma-informed services, positive youth development and workforce services. Utilizing UCAN’s Clinical Philosophy the Youth Development Coach provides services and support to ensure the success of program participants.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Demonstrates supportive behavior and role models positive appropriate interactions.
• Plan, coordinate and facilitate daily programming activities for participants.
• Maintains contact with each participant on a weekly basis, at minimum.
• Engages and works with youth to understand the importance of financial literacy and supports youth to begin and continue with engagement interventions.
• In conjunction with other entities, coordinates activities for program participants and tracks engagement to ensure participants success.
• Ensures that participants barriers are being addressed to ensure completion of program activities.
• Possesses a basic understanding of the effects of trauma and operates from that perspective when interacting with youth and families.
• Acts as a mandated reporter.
• Works with participants on violence prevention skills (i.e., anger management, conflict resolution, and other life skills).
• Using a strengths-based approach, engages participants in strategies to improve participation in needed services.
• Assists participants with setting and completing individual goals.
• Documents daily service delivery to youth and client outcomes in the UCAN database as outlined in program requirements.
• Participates in joint case management activities with other service entities.
• Assist with community outreach, recruitment, orientation and intake services.

Community Relations:

• Establish and maintain relationships with stakeholders, funders, local service providers and faith institutions to enhance community relations and to strengthen referral sources for participants.
• Attend community meetings (i.e., elected officials’ meetings, beat meetings, community discussions) and serve as a representative of UCAN.

Professionalism and Work Conduct:

• Behaves with integrity, demonstrates high ethical standards, and displays a positive image of UCAN.
• Acts in a professional manner at all times and maintains appropriate boundaries with clients.
• Demonstrates accountability for results and keeps commitments to others.
• Reports to work, meetings, training, and job-related activities punctual and prepared as scheduled.
• Demonstrates openness and respect for cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of clients and coworkers.
• Accepts feedback and ideas from team and supervisor and is constructive when giving feedback and ideas to others.
• Discusses alternative problem solving and is open to new ideas and ways of doing things.
• Performs other related tasks as assigned or required.

Professional Development

• Attends regular supervision, team meetings, required training, and other professional workshops to enhance job skills.
• Sets annual developmental goals with supervisor to meet learning needs and interests, while also enhancing job performance and skills.
• Performs other related tasks as required or assigned.

Education/Job Experience/Certification:

• BSW or BA/BS in a Education, Youth Development, Non-Profit field.
• High school diploma/GED with a minimum of 2 years of experience in child welfare or youth development/outreach required.

Special Knowledge and Qualifications:

• Experience working in high-risk communities
• Experience working with at-risk youth
• Knowledge of local community resources in North & South Lawndale, Austin, East & West Garfield, Humboldt Park and or/ Roseland community (services providers, general assistance)
• Must have a valid drivers license, valid auto insurance, and a registered vehicle
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Is open and respectful of cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of clients and is willing and competent to work with a diverse client population.
• Experience working with teenagers and young adults.
• Experience or ability to use computers for data entry, communication and report writing.

Position Status: Exempt

This position requires work in the community

This position requires periodically work in the evenings and weekends