Youth Specialist, Teen Services

POSITION SUMMARY

The Youth Specialist, Teen Services oversees a full spectrum of supportive programs and services for adolescents and high school-aged youth in families experiencing homelessness or housing instability. Using a trauma-informed and positive youth development approach, this role provides stabilizing support, mentorship, educational advocacy, mental health awareness and enrichment programming, life-skills development, career and workforce readiness, and post-secondary exploration. The Youth Specialist proactively engages youth and their families to identify strengths, needs, and goals; develops individualized supports that promote stability and wellbeing; and collaborates with schools, employers, colleges, workforce programs, and community partners to help youth successfully transition into adulthood.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

·        Interact with youth and families according to a trauma-informed care framework and positive youth development principles.

•       Build authentic, trusting relationships with adolescents while promoting resilience, confidence, healthy decision-making, self-advocacy, and connection to supportive adults.

•       Proactively engage youth and their parents/caregivers to promote stability, educational success, personal development, and wellbeing.

•       Utilize meaningful assessments, strengths-based questioning, and youth voice to identify needs, interests, barriers, and goals.

•       Support older youth in building skills that will help prepare them for the transition into adulthood, including education, employment, financial independence, life skills, and connection to community resources.

•       Collaborate with Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS), including appropriate school and HERO program staff, to support school enrollment, attendance, academic progress, IEP/504 needs, credit completion, graduation planning, and educational advocacy.

•       Connect youth to employment and workforce-development opportunities, including summer jobs, internships, job shadowing, volunteer opportunities, resume development, interview preparation, and career exploration.

•       Plan, facilitate, and evaluate engaging teen programming focused on topics like leadership development, financial literacy, healthy relationships, mental wellness, conflict resolution, digital literacy, career readiness, independent living skills, community engagement, and other age-appropriate enrichment activities.

•       Create, support, and evaluate learning opportunities for parents and caregivers that strengthen their ability to support adolescents through high school and the transition to adulthood.

•       Continually create and strengthen strategic partnerships with schools, employers, colleges, workforce-development programs, mentoring organizations, and other youth-serving community resources.

•       Connect youth and families with internal and external community resources and assist them in accessing needed services.

•       Collaborate closely with Youth Program staff and the broader Program Team of case management to address youth-specific needs identified through family planning and promote excellent care for youth and their families.

•       Input all required documentation in a timely and accurate manner, including enrollments, client follow-up, outcome evaluation, progress notes, goals, educational engagement, and other youth outcomes in Salesforce or designated systems.

•       Communicate volunteer needs to the Volunteer and Community Engagement Manager and assist with training, coordinating, and leading volunteers who support teen programming.

•       Maintain a strong sense of and respect for confidentiality involving clients, fellow employees, donors, and organizational information.

•       Participate in the day-to-day operations of the Youth Program, regular team meetings, staff training, supervision, family events, youth outings, and agency initiatives.

•       Adhere to agency policies, procedures, and the professional code of ethics.

•       Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

•       Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in a related field (e.g. Education, Family and Childhood Studies, Social Work, Human Services, Psychology, Counseling, Youth Development, Family Studies).

•       Two years’ experience working with children and vulnerable families.

•       Knowledge of adolescent development, positive youth development principles, trauma-informed care, and community resources serving teens and young adults preferred.

•       Knowledge of the Davidson County school system and educational, post-secondary, workforce, and youth-serving community resources strongly preferred.

•       Strong interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence, with the ability to build authentic, trusting relationships with adolescents and effectively engage parents/caregivers.

•       Ability to establish appropriate professional boundaries while creating a supportive, youth-centered environment.

•       Strong communication, organization, problem-solving, and detail-orientation skills.

•       Ability to handle multiple demands, prioritize responsibilities, and adapt to changing youth and family needs.

•       Possession of a valid driver's license and ability to meet agency driving requirements.

•       Proficient in Internet use and Microsoft Office products; Salesforce experience preferred (training provided).

•       Knowledge of trauma-informed care, or a willingness to learn and consistently apply trauma-informed best practices.

•       Ability to maintain confidentiality when dealing with resident, client, donor, employee, and organizational information.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS / WORK ENVIRONMENT

•       Work Environment: Office, Community Services Hub, and out in community.

•       Must be able to sit / stand for 8 hours.

•       Walking, bending, lifting up to 25 lbs.

•       Must be able to travel to community partner agencies, schools, employers, colleges/training programs, and other locations where youth receive services.

•       Ability to drive agency vehicles including 15-passenger van.

SALARY / BENEFITS

Starting salary, commensurate with experience and education: $44,000–$48,000

Benefits:

•       100% Employer-paid health and dental for individuals

•       Additional discounted family coverage available as well

•       18 PTO Days plus 8 sabbatical days annually

•       14 Paid Holidays annually plus 4 floating holidays

•       Paid parental/family leave

•       401K Plan (with 5% employer match)

•       Employer paid short-term and long-term disability

•       Flexible Spending Account options

•       Voluntary vision and life insurance