Youth Specialist

Job Title: Youth Specialist
Position Type: -Full Time (40 hrs/wk)
Schedule: Mon-Fri, including evenings and weekends as necessary
Salary: $17.00/hourly paid bi-weekly
Benefits Package: PTO, paid holidays

Reports to: Director of Youth Programs

ORGANIZATION: Family Freedom Center seeks to empower the Black community by reconstructing socio-cultural narratives and unapologetically embracing what it means to be Black, both historically and present day. Family Freedom Center will do this by facilitating culturally specific and inclusive spaces aimed to engage, empower, and educate community members in Duluth and the broader Twin Ports area.

Family Freedom Center’s youth program, The Center, provides free, comprehensive, full-service programs for school-aged youth in Duluth's Central Hillside and has been serving youth and their families for over 25 years. Operated out of the Washington Center, The Center offers a variety of services, including educational support, artistic and creative programming, outdoor recreation, field trips, as well as basic needs services, meals, and employment support for youth.

SUMMARY: The Youth Specialist works to support various activities in the Youth Center to create and maintain a safe, welcoming, and engaging atmosphere. Youth Specialists build therapeutic relationships with youth to assist them in addressing their goals, aspirations, and needs. Youth Specialists facilitate and lead a variety of age-appropriate activities for school-aged children.

Focus Area Duties and Responsibilities – The Center:

• Maintain clear communication with Center staff/youth and provide appropriate responses to youth behavior.
• Develop healthy and helpful relationships with school-aged youth while maintaining professional boundaries; demonstrate kind assertiveness in setting limits with youth.
• Work as a team to assist students with various tasks, including but not limited to: homework help, organizing and leading activities, cleaning different areas of the center, checking students in as they enter the building, and creating a safe atmosphere for all who enter our space.
• Maintain clear communication with other staff to facilitate consistent, appropriate responses to youth behavior, program progress, and concerns.
• Provide coverage and monitor youth activity in the center while implementing early de-escalation strategies to foster a safe, respectful environment.
• Maintain the daily routine; work proactively to prepare activities and programs; perform daily tasks to ensure the Youth Center operates in a clean and healthy environment.
• Take an active role in meal planning, food preparation, service, and clean-up; obtain ServeSafe certification unless already certified.
• Respond to crisis situations following outlined procedures, including proper notification, documentation,
• and programmatic follow-up.
• Ensure that Youth Center record-keeping and reporting systems are accurately maintained; complete nightly notes and program-related reporting as required.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Youth Programs.

Education: High school diploma or equivalent.

Qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience with one or more high-barrier populations (chemical dependency, mental health, domestic violence, commercial sexual exploitation, homelessness, at-risk youth).
• Flexible, confident, and able to maintain composure under stress.
• Proficient in using Google Chrome, email, and calendar.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and ability to work effectively with youth from various identities, cultures, and backgrounds, including ethnic/racial minorities and LGBTQ youth.
• Ability to pass a criminal background check.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

• Valid Driver’s License and proof of auto insurance.
• Adult CPR & Basic First Aid (training provided), ServeSafe certification.

Position: Full-time, non-exempt (hourly). This position is grant-funded; in addition to other specified conditions of employment, it is understood that no guarantee of continued employment, beyond the availability of current funds, is expressed or implied by Family Freedom Center.

Equal Employment Opportunity: Family Freedom Center provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals without regard to race, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, religious belief, sex, gender identity and/or expression, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, or other protected classification. Family Freedom Center strongly encourages individuals with diverse backgrounds and members of the Black/BIPOC community to apply.

Pay: From $17.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Work Location: In person

Salary : $17