Youth Service Specialist LYNC - Military veterans preferred

Job Description

About us: The Village was one of the first agencies in the country to provide homes for neglected children. Today, we continue to achieve our mission “to build a community of strong, healthy families who protect and nurture children” by providing a full range of behavioral health, early childhood and youth development, substance use treatment and support services for children, adults and families in the Greater Hartford, Connecticut region.

Named a Connecticut Top Workplace for five consecutive years with national distinction for workplace culture and diversity, equity and inclusion practices, you can be sure you’re joining an organization that’s just as committed to your success as we are to those we serve.

Starting salary: $19.73 per hour

Are you passionate about working with adolescents ages 12-17? Do you have an interest in or experience working with the juvenile justice system? If so, the Linking Youth to Natural Communities (LYNC) Program provides staff the training, opportunities and collaborative team approach to learning in order to serve the youth involved with the juvenile justice system. The Service Specialist has two primary roles within LYNC, Resource Specialist and Intervention Specialist. As such, the role spends time in the catchment area connecting to resources and building and maintaining relationships with community providers. The Service Specialist also facilitates structured cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) groups and Life Skills group to the youth. They work closely with the LYNC Family Advocate in identifying resources available to youth and families and educational resources. The Service Specialist is knowledgeable about both community services and how a family can access them.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Research and maintain up-to-date information on community resources.
• Develop and sustain relationships with identified MOU agencies.
• Cultivate and maintain relationships with a variety of community organizations, groups and entities (e.g., grassroots agencies, pro-social connections, mental or medical health services, etc.)
• Implement educational and vocational services to youth according to individual Risk Reduction and Sustainability Plans (RRSP), which may include: educational screening, homework, assistance, tutoring, credit recovery, GED assistance, connection to ESL services, post high school preparation or exploration, vocational soft skills (use of EMLPOY Curriculum), job placement, connecting to training opportunities and apprenticeships, and other similar services.
• Maintain a collaborative relationship with community providers.
• Maintain an accurate resource catalog on each town in the catchment area.
• Demonstrate ability to be creative, innovative and resourceful.
• Assist Family Advocate in identifying available resources for LYNC youth and families.
• Attend all required trainings and meetings as needed to meet the requirements of the position.
• Facilitate cognitive-behavioral groups according to each model.
• Participate in all quality assurance activities, including recording groups and submitting tapes to QA Coach.
• Engage in strength-based, culturally competent, trauma-informed and gender responsive interactions with youth and families.
• Uphold all program expectations.
• Promote a safe, welcoming environment with a focus on risk reduction and positive behavior change.
• Accept and perform all new assignments as determined by supervisor.
• Immediately notify supervisor of any situation in which a youth may be at risk (i.e. physical abuse, sexual abuse, chronic neglect, un-safe home, etc.) and/or other sentinel event.
• Complete all required program and agency web and paper-based documentation.
• Serve as a resource to Juvenile Probation Officers who are seeking community resources in a specific community.
• Maintain confidentiality of clients at all times.
• Assist with transportation as needed.

Experience and Skills

EDUCATION

• Minimum of Associate’s Degree in criminal justice, community organizing, human services sociology, OR High School Diploma with at least three (3) years’ experience and knowledge working with juvenile justice system and/or working in communities.

EXPERIENCE

• Must be culturally competent; bicultural, bilingual (English/Spanish) strongly preferred.
• Must have current valid state issued Driver License. Must have own vehicle.
• Must have automotive liability insurance per agency standards.
• Organized and able to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Must be team player.
• Flexible and able to multi-task.
• Cultural competency to serve diverse populations.
• Knowledge of greater Hartford and New Britain area community resources.
• Must be a team player and able to work in a variety of environments including schools, agencies, etc.
• Experience with facilitating groups to youth.
• Excellent oral and written skills and ability to engage families from diverse social and ethnic backgrounds.
• Demonstrate ability to be creative, innovative and resourceful.
• Proficient with word processing and spreadsheet applications. Possess solid general computer skills, including ability to work in a Windows XP environment. Familiarity with specific applications used by the Village a plus.
• May require weekend and evening hours.
• Physically able to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodations.

Job Benefits