Youth Advocate Counselor

$20.00 - $25.00 / hour

Position Summary

The Youth Advocate Counselor will work with chronically absent, middle school youth to address barriers to consistent daily attendance at school. The Advocate Counselors will support students by designing individualized interventions which support academic and socio-emotional needs. They also help to identify the causes of poor attendance and collaborate with internal and external service partners to seek solutions and encourage meaningful engagement in school for students and families. Advocate Counselors will receive trainings specific to this role as well as participate in attendance meetings, staff meetings, and case management sessions with the Community School team. The incumbent will understand and promote the organization’s Mission, Vision, and Core Values to ensure alignment with the functions of the position.

Children’s Aid Mission

To help children in poverty to succeed and thrive. We do this by providing comprehensive support to children and their families in targeted high-needs New York City neighborhoods. Children’s Aid annually serves children and their families at over 40 sites in New York, as well as through three national program models.  Children’s Aid is concentrating its efforts on creating cradle-through-college pathways in high-need neighborhoods, with a focus on children’s health, family stability, education, and social and emotional development.

Culture and Values

We put children, youth, and families first: We listen to and incorporate the voices of children, youth and families in all that we do. 

We seek equity and transformation in our communities: We courageously work within and outside systems to create opportunities for children, youth and families.

We strive for excellence: We hold ourselves to the highest standards and are committed to continuous learning and improvement.

We are powered by collaboration: Our work is stronger when we trust, partner, and respect each other and the communities we serve.

We are driven by compassion: We lead with kindness, care, and empathy and believe in the endless potential of the people we serve and our team.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Work with school and site leadership to identify appropriate interventions to support chronically absent students/youth mentees.
• Seek advice and identify targeted sources of youth or family supports from appropriate school staff and community-based partners under the direction of the Site Director and/ or Social Work Supervisor.
• Keep notes about youth attendance patterns, needs and interventions-make sure monitoring of data is strategic.
• Attend (or be represented at) weekly/bi-weekly student success meetings to share any best practices or challenges and to present a summary of how youth are doing.
• When working with groups of youth, develop and maintain an effective system of classroom management that encourages children to develop pro-social behavior and self-discipline.
• Work with parents and students, as partners, to develop individual SMART goals/plans that will outline strategies and outcomes that will ensure student success in the area of attendance and tardiness.
• Facilitate individual and small group check-in sessions weekly.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Experience working with middle school students in urban, public education settings.

Key Competencies

• Highly effective in motivating, stimulating, and engaging students around academic and personal success.
• Highly organized and able to demonstrate sound judgment.
• Detail oriented and an effective listener.
• Highly skilled in verbal and written communication skills.

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 to 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, or 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.