AmeriCorps Teen Engagement Specialist

Position Summary

AmeriCorps Teen Engagement Specialist

Example Contract dates: 

• January 5th, 2026 – August 1st, 2026  (30 Week Contract);
• January 20th, 2026 - August 15th, 2026 (30 Week Contract);
• February 2nd, 2026 - August 29th, 2026 (30 Week Contract)

*Contract start and end dates rotate on a bi-weekly schedule   

900 Hours Contract - Minimum of 33 hours/week 

Compensation: Living Allowance Total: $11,700  ($780.00 2 weeks over 30 weeks) Education Award: $3,697.50*   

Closing Date:  January 26th, 2026

Description: 

AmeriCorps is a national service program that takes a different approach to improve lives and fostering civic engagement. AmeriCorps Members commit their time to address critical community needs. In Dubuque, AmeriCorps Members serve at the intersection of education and mental health to help youth understand their emotions, reactions, and relationships through social-emotional learning to improve academic, career, and social success. City of Dubuque AmeriCorps Members implement key skill-building program to have the following impacts:

1. Youth experience programs promoting healthy lifestyles resulting in decreased youth risk-related behaviors. 

1. Youth development skills to build meaningful and healthy relationships while experiencing being valued and respected.

1. Providing every young person with the opportunity to grow up safely and access their best possible future.

The AmeriCorps Teen Engagement Specialist serves at the Multicultural Family Center and works closely with the Teen Empowerment Coordinator and the AmeriCorps Academic Advocate. This position's goal is to provide Dubuque's teenage youth with community connections, healthy opportunities, and engaging activities year-round. This vital role involves developing programs, implementing them, evaluating their impact, and reaching out to a broad representation of youth populations. The Teen Engagement Specialist focuses on supporting students and families from communities facing barriers helping them navigate their out-of-school time in meaningful ways. This position will lead Teen Night programming for high school students, engage middle school students, build relationships with disadvantaged youth and their families, connect talents and interests to potential careers, and create sustainable support systems within the community.

Benefits:

• Education Award received upon successful completion of their term of service.
• Living Allowance
• Student loan forbearance and interest payments for eligible loans

Job Duties

Service Responsibilities

1. Program Development and Implementation:
   1. Collaborate with the Teen Empowerment Coordinator to develop and implement engaging programming and outreach initiatives for teen-aged youth in the Dubuque community.
      1. Attend and contribute to at least 1 planning session per week with the Teen Empowerment Coordinator.
      2. Provide weekly progress updates on shared initiatives.
   2. Design programming that focuses on community engagement, healthy choices, and positive social skill development for teenagers.
      1. Develop or revise 1 module per month focusing on community engagement, healthy choices, or social skills.
      2. Conduct monthly feedback surveys with teens and incorporate results into programming updates.
   3. Collaborate closely with AmeriCorps members serving at program partners to establish teen-focused programming efforts.
      1. Facilitate biweekly check-ins with AmeriCorps members at partner sites.
      2. Support the launch of at least 1 joint teen-focused program per quarter.
   4. Collaborate with community partners, local businesses, and community leaders to create and execute "Teen Night" programming throughout the school year and summer months.
      1. Organize or co-host 2 Teen Night events per month during the school year and summer.
      2. Secure participation from at least 1 new community partner or business per quarter.
   5. Plan and facilitate activities that engage teenagers, promote learning, and foster a sense of belonging and community.
      1. Lead or co-lead 3 youth engagement activities per week.
      2. Track participation and aim for 80% satisfaction rate in post-activity surveys.
   6. Recruit and engage youth to participate in Teen Empowerment Programs throughout the school year and summer.
      1. Recruit 10 new youth participants per month through outreach and referrals.
      2. Maintain an active roster of at least 30 engaged teens per season (school year/summer).
2. Teen Night Programming:
   1. Develop individualized success plans for Teen Empowerment participants focus on individual needs/supports. IE: Social-Emotional Learning, Healthy Habits, Life-skills.
      1. Create success plans for 100% of active participants within their first 2 weeks of enrollment.
      2. Include at least 3 focus areas per plan (e.g., SEL, healthy habits, life skills, interest).
   2. Follow up with Teen Empowerment participants for updates to their success plan on a quarterly basis and make changes/new goals as necessary.
      1. Conduct quarterly reviews for each participant’s plan.
      2. Update goals or supports for at least 90% of participants each quarter based on progress or needs.
   3. Develop and implement weekly Teen Night Programs for groups of approximately 20-30 students.
      1. Plan and deliver 1 Teen Night session per week for groups of 20–30 students.
      2. Maintain an average attendance rate of 75% or higher.
   4. Coordinate monthly experiential learning opportunities focused on new experiences, local 'hidden gems', creating community, exploring identity.
      1. Organize 1 experiential learning activity per month (e.g., field trips, guest speakers, cultural events).
      2. Ensure at least 1 new experience or location is introduced each quarter.
   5. Coordinate bi-weekly visits from program partners to lead programs around trending teen engagement activities.
      1. Schedule and host 2 partner-led sessions per month.
      2. Rotate partners to include at least 4 unique organizations per semester.
   6. Develop and implement weekly mentoring services, while seeking volunteer mentors to expand the program capacity.
      1. Facilitate 1 mentoring session per week.
      2. Recruit 1 new volunteer mentor per month to expand capacity.
   7. Host quarterly "try-it" sessions in partnership with local sports, cultural, arts, civic/volunteering and leisure organizations and networks.
      1. Organize 1 “try-it” session per quarter in collaboration with local sports, arts, civic, or leisure groups.
      2. Aim for at least 15 youth participants per session and 2 new community partners per year.
3. Teen Coaching and Support:
   1. Coach teenagers on appropriate behaviors, conflict management, de-escalation and self-regulation practices.
   2. Provide guidance and mentorship to teens during activities, programs, and events.
   3. Encourage academic engagement, recreational participation, and positive peer interactions among at-risk youth.
   4. Carry out developmental activities that promote skill-building in areas such as such as self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, personal responsibility, goal directed behavior, decision-making and optimistic thinking.
   5. Create opportunities for teens based on interest to enhance their social, emotional, and life skills through workshops, discussions, and experiential learning activities.
4. Volunteer Management:
   1. Recruit, manage, monitor, train, and document volunteer involvement with teen programming.
   2. Coordinate with volunteers to support the implementation of activities and ensure a safe and supportive environment for participants.
   3. Collaborate with local colleges and community leaders to recruit volunteers and mentor to support Teen Empowerment programming throughout the school year and summer months.
5. Impact Assessment and Documentation:
   1. Document and maintain records of the impact on area youth who participate in the teen empowerment programs through weekly data reporting processes.
   2. Collect data and feedback to evaluate program effectiveness and identify areas for improvement.
   3. Conduct the DESSA assessments to measure students' social-emotional competencies.
6. Disaster Response (AmeriCorps-Disaster Response Team)
   1. Participate in A-DRT training(s) to ensure the member has knowledge and ability to respond to disasters
   2. Complete other training necessary to support disaster deployments, including but not limited to Volunteer Reception Center (VRC), first aid, mental health first aid, and chainsaw training.

Qualifications

Physical Requirements: 

• Walk and carry materials up and down steps 

• Stand and walk for extended periods of time 

• Lift 30 pounds 

• Bend, squat and kneel

Desired Skills/Qualifications:

• Must be competent or desire growth in working with at-risk youth, teenaged youth, and communities facing barriers.
  

• Applicant must have reliable transportation. 

• Applicant must be creative, energetic, dependable and a self-starter.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Must have a high school diploma or equivalent OR agree to obtain one while under service to the AmeriCorps Program

• Be 17 years or older at the start of service (no upper age limit) 

• Pass a national service criminal history check prior to first day of service due to reoccurring access to vulnerable populations

• Hold one of the following citizenship statuses: US citizen, US national, or Lawful Permanent Resident

Supplemental Information

Service Schedule

The Teen Engagement Specialists’ scheduled hours may fluctuate based on Teen Programming scheduled throughout the year. Typical schedule: Mon - Thurs: Serve flexibly between the hours of 9am - 8pm, with two days/week served during the 12pm - 8pm timeframe, with two days from 12pm to 6pm; Friday: 9am - 5pm. During the summer, 4 nights/week (typically Mon-Thurs) must be served during the 12pm – 8pm hours. Opportunities for weekend hours or special events may become available during the year. Member will serve at least 33 hours per week.

Example schedule for illustrative purposes:

• Monday: 12pm – 6pm

• Tuesday: 12pm – 6pm

• Wednesday: 12pm – 8pm

• Thursday: 12pm – 8pm

• Friday: 9am – 5pm

• Saturday: Off

• Sunday: Off

Sick Leave: Sick leave, personal leave, and holiday leave is allowed, but such time off does not count towards the required number of hours needed to successfully complete the term of service. There are additional benefits offered if the member has a compelling personal circumstance.

Disaster Deployments: Member who opt-in to be engaged in disaster deployment/activities will need to ensure availability for the term of the disaster deployments, generally 2-4 weeks.  Make plans for pets, family members, other employment and responsibilities that need regular attention.

Evaluations and Alternative Service

AmeriCorps Members are required by the program to complete Self-Evaluations. 

Mid-Term Evaluations: At the member’s halfway point during their term of service, the member will complete a self-evaluation and their Site Supervisor will complete an evaluation on the member through AmericaLearns. The member and site supervisor will meet, with or without Program Staff, to discuss the evaluations in-depth. These evaluations must be submitted to the AmeriCorps Program. 

End-Term Evaluations: Upon the completion of their AmeriCorps Contract, all members will complete an End-Term Evaluation through AmericaLearns. The End-Term Evaluation must be completed, signed, and submitted to the AmeriCorps Program within 30 days of the member’s final date of service. Non-submission of this document within the 30-day timeframe will lead to the member being exited for cause (see section 9 of the Member Service Agreement) and will forfeit the member’s right to the Education Award.

Members may engage in other allowable activities that are not specifically outlined in the position description, but that support the AmeriCorps program design, and which will help the Program meet its goals. Under no circumstances will members be asked to perform prohibited activities. Volunteers recruited and/or managed by AmeriCorps members will not participate in prohibited activities as outlined in the approved grant.

APPLICATION: all applications are submitted electronically via this website.

Questions? CONTACT: City of Dubuque AmeriCorps Program

Phone: 563.690.6171 Email: americorps@cityofdubuque.org

*AmeriCorps member will receive education award in the form of an electronic payment through myamericorpgs.gov. Education award may be used to pay educational costs at eligible post-secondary educational institutions or qualified student loans. Members who are 55 years of age can transfer award to child or grandchild under specific conditions. 

Note: AmeriCorps Members are compensated through the national AmeriCorps program and are not considered employees of the City of Dubuque.  

Our Commitment to You
The City of Dubuque is committed to using a merit-based system in which recruiting, selecting, and advancing employees is based on their relative knowledge, skills, and abilities, in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws. Our organization provides equal opportunities for all individuals, fostering a workplace that values innovation, collaboration, and work-life balance. We offer job stability, a comprehensive benefits package, and an opportunity to serve and support our growing community. In accordance with legal obligations our policies and practices are designed to ensure fair treatment and foster a respectful workplace where all are encouraged to apply.

Salary : $780