Youth Development Specialist

Queens Community House (QCH) is a multi-site, multi-service settlement house that serves the diverse population of Queens through a broad network of programs and services for Children and Youth, Adults and Families, and Older Adults. Our mission is to provide individuals and families with the tools to enrich their lives and build healthy, inclusive communities. We welcome amazing individuals who have diverse backgrounds and experiences, are inspired by our mission and are highly motivated to change lives.

We are seeking a qualified Youth Development Specialist with a strong commitment to youth development to work at Junior High School 145. The Youth Development Specialist will provide comprehensive support services to program participants as required by contract and appropriate to their needs in order to prepare them for positions in internships and job openings through the provision of one-on-one tutelage and the facilitation of vocational skills, college awareness, post-secondary planning and workshops for the students in the Queens Community House Young Adult Borough Center/ Learning To Work Program. The Educational Specialist reports to the YABC Program Director.

Responsibilities:

• Conduct on-going attendance outreach, including home visits and work site visits.
• Counsel each student on the creation and implementation of a post-secondary plan for college, training or employment within 60 days of enrollment.
• Provide a minimum of (2) individual sessions per month of each student; one on academic progress and the other on career advisement.
• Conduct advisory groups by facilitating curricula and discussion in the following content areas: job readiness, career exploration, conflict resolution, political education, mediation, leadership, community service, youth employment, gender groups, psychoeducation, etc.
• Maintain on-going communication with parents and guardians of participants to support positive outcomes for the students’ and assist families with identified needs
• Maintain case files and record all student interventions weekly into Google forms
• Meet bi-weekly with immediate supervisor and come prepared with agenda items to discuss.
• Facilitate communication and structured meetings between students and teachers
• Monitor academic progress and discuss grades/report cards during your individual counseling sessions.
• Connect students to outside resources and make appropriate referrals if needed
• Attend mandatory agency quarterly staff meetings and parent-teacher conferences
• Work collaboratively with DOE staff
• Take initiative and demonstrating flexibility in responding to school needs
• Take the lead on planning and executing monthly college visits from January – June.
• Follow up with student interested in college to give added support
• Ensure that required follow-ups are made to graduates in the months of July and February.
• Begin the CUNY and FAFSA application process with each eligible student on caseload.
• Refer students to the CASP case manager who has applied to LaGuardia, Queensborough and Borough of Manhattan Community College as their 1st or 2nd choice on their CUNY application.
• Serve as point person for CASP Retention Specialist by setting
• Other duties and special projects as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree required preferably in psychology, education, social work or a related field.
• A minimum of 3 years’ experience working with youth, preferably in a NYC high school setting.
• Full-time Monday through Thursday from 1:00 PM-9:00PM, and Friday 9:00 AM- 5:00 PM. Schedule will also vary depending on school events, home visits, staff trainings and meetings.
• Computer proficiency

What you’ll get:

Queens Community House offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience and a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Life Insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Paid Family Leave
• 403b Retirement Plan
• Eligible for up to 27 days of annual leave (17 days in your first year), and 12 sick days
• Specified Federal Holidays off
• Professional development, training, and networking opportunities

**Additionally, QCH supplements the New York State Paid Family Leave benefit to ensure our team members receive full pay during their approved leave**.

Queens Community House requires all staff to be fully vaccinated and must provide either proof of COVID-19 vaccination or evidence of having received one dose of the two-dose vaccination prior to beginning their employment unless they have been granted a reasonable accommodation for religious or medical reasons.

Queens Community House, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.

Drug-Free Workplace.