Youth Care Specialist - Bilingual English/Spanish

A leading child welfare organization with over 100 programs and services throughout New York State is hiring a Bilingual Youth Care Worker (English/Spanish) to be part of a growing and progressive team dedicated to making a difference in the lives of unaccompanied minor adolescents!

Competitive salary and excellent benefits package including:

• 30+ Days of Paid Time Off
• Medical, Dental, Vision
• 403b Retirement Plan
• Tuition Assistance
• Professional Development
• Pet Insurance
• and more!

The agency practices a Sanctuary Model, places high value on work-life balance and prioritizes self-care.

JOIN OUR MISSION:

Our dedicated team of Bilingual Youth Care Workers provide direct supervision of unaccompanied refugee minors, ages 12-17, in short-term residential care while awaiting reunification with family or a suitable sponsor.

This full-time role offers a wonderful opportunity to build your career in the child welfare, social services, and nonprofit sectors, with lots of possibilities for professional development and career advancement.

This is a very rewarding, active and fun job!

OUR GOAL:

In partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services, our Unaccompanied Children Program provides timely family reunification and short-term shelter for children who have entered the United States without a guardian. Youth reside in family-style cottages located on a beautiful 2,000-acre campus while our bilingual staff provide a safe and nurturing environment.

SCHEDULE – WORK 4 DAYS ON, 3 DAYS OFF:

• Your primary schedule is consistent from week to week.

Schedules Currently Available:

• AFTERNOON/EVENING SHIFT
  Option 1: Sunday 8:30 AM – 11:00 PM; Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 3:00 PM – 11:30 PM
  Option 2: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 3:00 PM – 11:30 PM; Saturday 8:30 AM – 11:00 PM
• OVERNIGHT SHIFT
  Option 1: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 11:00 PM – 9:00 AM
  Option 2: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday 11:00 PM – 9:00 AM

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Responsible for direct supervision and engagement of youth, ensuring safety, monitoring and overseeing behaviors, and ensuring youth stay on task. Responsible for searching, engaging and redirecting youth when youth is out of program.
• Provide fair, consistent, and positive reinforcement for acceptable behaviors, utilizing approved supervision and behavior management strategies as appropriate including approved methods of physical intervention.
• Maintain a consistent supportive and therapeutic environment conducive to facilitating treatment goals. Participate in treatment team process per protocol and contribute to formulation of short and long-range recreation goals for youth.
• Implement daily schedule including program routines, group, instructing and supervising youth in personal hygiene, housekeeping skills, room cleaning, organization, cottage cleanliness, and assisting with homework. Assist assigned residents with specified tasks.
• Participate in planning meals and ensuring youth involvement during mealtime.
• Responsible for all transportation as assigned including transporting youth to and from school, dining hall, and off ground trips. Responsible to search youth returning from off ground trips when necessary.
• Properly employs protocols and procedures including reviewing logs and communications daily, providing accurate and timely documentation, and ensuring ratios are met as required by Agency and regulatory bodies. Remains on duty until properly relieved.
• Compliance with all Federal, State, and local laws and regulations, including those for ORR, ICE and the NYS Office of Children and Family Services.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• High school diploma, GED, or equivalent degree required.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish)
• 1+ year of relevant experience working with children and/or adolescents.
• Experience with UC/ORR programs highly desirable.
• Comfortable working with an economically and culturally diverse population.
• 21+ years of age.
• Valid driver’s license per Agency guidelines.
• Must be able to work 9AM-5PM during new hire orientation (approx. 2 weeks) and complete TCI (Therapeutic Crisis Intervention), First Aid/CPR, and Sanctuary training.

To promote health and safety, program requirements include:

1. • Varicella Vaccine OR titers indicating varicella immunity OR documentation from a healthcare provider verifying previous infection.
   • MMR (Measles Mumps & Rubella vaccine OR titers indicating immunity to all three diseases.
   • Tdap (Tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis) vaccine.
   • Influenza vaccine required, one dose annually during flu season.
   • Full COVID vaccination (including a primary COVID vaccination series, plus one booster).
   • Completion of Physical/Medical Exam form required.