Youth Development Coach (VPS) Burnside

Position Title: Youth Development Coach 

Department: Violence Intervention & Prevention Services (VPS)

Reports To: Director of MFS CRED

Location: West Pullman

Position Objective and Summary:

The Youth Development Coach works with youth and emerging adults, ages 12-26, who face challenges and difficulties. The Coach identifies youth through community outreach and referrals from schools, juvenile justice, and community based organizations. Utilizing UCAN’s Clinical Philosophy, the Coach facilitates healing through trauma informed services and Positive Youth Development and provides support and encouragement to participants for positive behavior, goal achievement, involvement in school and services, and leadership opportunities.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

Mentoring and Supporting Participants

• Demonstrates supportive behavior and role models positive appropriate interactions.
• Reaches out to resistant youth and successfully engages them in services.
• Maintains in-person contact with each participant on a weekly basis, at minimum.
• Engages and works with youth to understand the importance of educational performance and recommended services, and supports youth to begin and continue with interventions.
• Provide direct case management and emergency support services to participants and their families in community, hospitals, and in office.
• Provide support and advocacy to the participant and their families through home visits, hospital visits, phone calls, criminal justice advocacy, and referrals to other support organizations.
• Assist participants in accessing resources, such as Victim’s Compensation, Short Term Disability, affordable healthcare, and mental health services.
• Required to participate in team meetings and required trainings.
• Actively participates in committees (AIC, Diversity) and agency events.
• Works interdepartmentally to foster UCAN continuum of care and suggests improvements from participant’s perspective.
• Coordinates and facilitates activities for workshops and groups for program participants.
• Possesses a basic understanding of the effects of trauma and operate from that perspective when interacting with participants and families.
• Required to act 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.
• Assists participants with becoming involved in positive activities such as tutoring, counseling, employment, and recreation.
• Works with UCAN Career Services to assist participants in preparing for and locating jobs; coaches participants in positive and productive workplace behavior.

Education/Job Experience/Certification:

Youth Development Coach I

• BSW or BA/BS in a human service field. OR
• High school diploma/GED with a minimum of 2 years of experience in child welfare or youth development/outreach required.

Youth Development Coach II

• BSW or BA/BS in a human service field with a minimum of 2 years of experience in child welfare or youth development/outreach. OR
• High school diploma or GED with a minimum of 6 years of experience in child welfare or youth development/outreach required, with at least 2 years of proven performance at UCAN.

Special Knowledge and Qualifications:

• Understands trauma-informed practice. 
• Understands Positive Youth Development. 
• Is open and respectful of cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of clients and is willing and competent to work with a diverse client population. 
• Effective verbal and written communication skills. 
• Working knowledge of the child welfare system. 
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a high functioning team. 
• Experience and ability to use computers for data entry, communication and report writing. 
• Car and valid Illinois driver’s license and insurance required.