Youth Advocate

Hourly: $20- $25

Position Summary: Under the general supervision of Community School Director, the Youth Advocate will assist Guidance counselors, Student Resource Coordinators and Social Workers to develop exemplary educational structures to encourage meaningful engagement in schools for students and families. Youth Advocates will assist in wrap around services for all students assigned to them. Youth Advocates will support students by designing individualized interventions, which address personal, academic and social and emotional difficulties that impede full participation in school day and after-school programming.

Essential Duties:

• Meet individually and in small groups with students; make daily phone calls to support attendance initiatives.
• Seek advice and identify targeted sources of youth and family support from appropriate school staff and community-based partners under the direction of the Community School Director and Student Resource Coordinator.
• Work with assigned students on a daily basis.
• Facilitate SEL sessions and other individual and small group check-ins.
• Maintain notes about attendance progress throughout the school year, supported by weekly meetings with the Community School Director, Student Resource Coordinator, and Guidance Counselor.
• Maintain core Children's Aid values in all aspects of engagement with students.
• Develop strategic and constructive ways to maintain and determine student needs.
• Ensure student trust within the confines of provider/client confidentiality.
• Develop a strong relationship with the Community School Director and Student Resource Coordinator to develop plans to support students utilizing data-driven and research-based methods.
• Report special programming needs directly to the Community School Director.
• Other tasks as necessary for the success of the program.

Minimum Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or Equivalent required.
• Experience with or knowledge of best practices in youth development.
• At least 2 years of experience working with youth in a recreational, educational, and/or social environment.

Key Competencies:

• College preferred.
• Excellent interpersonal skills are necessary to effectively interact with Children's Aid staff, DOE professionals, high-school students, and their families during periods of emotional stress.
• Strong commitment and motivation to assist in achieving goals centered around Children's Aid's Core Values.
• Bilingual preferred.
• Committed to developing an understanding of the socio-demographic characteristics and service needs of high-school students.
• Proficient in Microsoft products, Google Suite and ability to learn other online platforms
• Remain positive and energetic while working with a high-needs population
• Willingness to work with an academic, social-economic and culturally diverse population