Youth Advocate

Salary: $20.00 - $25.00/hr

Position Summary:  Under the general supervision of Community School Director, will assist guidance counselors and social workers to develop exemplary educational structures to bridge the gap to higher educational aspirations. Youth Advocate will assist in wrap around services for all scholars in their particular grade. Youth Advocate will engage in resolving personal, social and emotional difficulties that impede full participation in school-day and after-school programming.

Essential Duties: 

• Understand and promote the organization’s Mission, Vision, and Core Values to ensure alignment with organizational policies and procedures.
• Meet and greet grade level students every morning when they arrive to school; make early morning phone calls to determine absence on a daily basis.
• Seek advice and identify targeted sources of youth family support from appropriate school staff and community-based partners under the direction of the Community School Director and Student Resource Coordinator.
• Will be assigned to work with an assigned grade level in high school.
• Facilitation of SEL sessions with the Social Worker and Health Educator.
• Maintain notes about attendance progress throughout the school year with weekly meetings with Community School Director, Student Resource Coordinator and Guidance Counselor.
• Engage High-school students in forward planning for higher education aspirations.
• Maintain core Children’s Aid values in all aspects of engagement with high-school students.
• Develop strategic and constructive ways to maintain and determine high-school student needs.
• Ensure student trust within the confines of provider/client confidentiality.
• Develop a strong relationship with Community School Director and Student Resource Coordinator to maintain positive approaches utilizing quantitative and scientifically based proven methods to seek out solutions.
• Report special programming needs directly to the Community School Director
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Associate’s degree in social work, Counseling, Psychology or related field required.
• At least 2 years of experience working with youth in a recreational, educational and/or social environment.

Key Competencies:

• Excellent interpersonal skills necessary to effectively interact with Children’s Aid staff, DOE professionals, high-school students, and their families during periods of emotional stress.
• Experience with or knowledge of best practices in youth development preferred.
• Committed to developing an understanding of the socio-demographic characteristics and service needs of high-school students.
• Bilingual (French/English, Mandingo/English, Twi/English, Ebo/English, Yoruba/English) preferred.
• Strong commitment and motivation to assist in achieving goals centered around Children’s Aid Core Values.

It is the policy of Children's Aid to provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment and is dedicated to maintaining a work environment that is free from harassment and discrimination. Children's Aid will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, or retaliation on any basis, including race, creed, color, national origin, ethnicity, alienage or citizenship status, gender/sex (including pregnancy), disability, religion, source of income, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, familial status, caregiver status, military status, marital or partnership status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking, predisposing genetic characteristics, arrest or conviction record, credit history, unemployment status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Children’s Aid is committed to complying with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Children’s Aid will conduct a prompt and thorough investigation of all allegations of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or any violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy in a confidential manner and will take appropriate corrective action, if and where warranted. Children’s Aid prohibits retaliation against employees who provide information about, complain about, or assist in the investigation of any complaint of discrimination or violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy.

The incumbent is expected to work a schedule, whether in-person or hybrid, as determined by the department's needs to facilitate effective collaboration with the team.  This flexibility is essential for maintaining seamless communication, fostering teamwork, and ensuring the smooth operation of the department's processes.  The position's requirements are subject to periodic review and adjustment based on organizational needs and changes in work dynamics.