Youth Development Specialist

**YOUTH DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST** **Title:** Youth Development Specialist **Location:** Albany, NY **Program**: Prevention - Stronger Together **Type:** Non**-**Exempt (hourly) **Pay Range:** $21-24.48 **Schedule**: Monday - Friday; 9am-5pm w/flexibility as needed **Notes**: In Office and Remote - flexibility required; Valid NYS Driver’s License and personal vehicle is required **Job Ref. #**: 0111 **Our Mission** St. Catherine's Center for Children provides a comprehensive range of human services designed to offer hope, foster growth, and improve the lives of the children, families and adults we serve. **Our Vision** St. Catherine’s willingness to embrace change and develop new services is, and will remain, our guiding philosophy as we support the human service needs of children, families, and adults throughout the region. **Position Overview** The **Youth Development Specialist** works with the Prevention Program Social Worker, Case Planner(s), and Family Advocate, to provide services to families within Albany County. The Youth Development Specialist will work with all targeted youth to provide concrete support and skill building, to strengthen age-appropriate life skills and support their educational/vocational and recreational interests. The Youth Development Specialist works with their team on each case to determine the needs of the targeted child in regard to community resources, after school programming, and enrichment activities. **Position Requirements & Specifications** - **Schedule & Education:** Monday-Friday, 9am–5pm, with flexibility as needed. Associate’s degree in human services or education required; Bachelor’s preferred. - **Experience:** Experience working with multi-issue families, and helping them to address their goals. - **Skills:** Excellent written, organizational, and interpersonal skills. - **Community Savvy:** Knowledge of community resources, including school districts, law enforcement, local churches, recreational sites, and clubs. - **Travel:** Local travel is required; A Clean & Valid New York State Driver’s License (actively licensed at least one year) and reliable vehicle for transporting clients to community resources, meetings, etc. (Required) - **Composure:** Competence to remain composed and in control, especially under crisis conditions. - **Empathy:** Ability to nurture and show compassion and understanding for clients/children in crisis. - **Professionalism:** Qualities of positivity, flexibility, and adaptability to day-to-day changes with client needs and functioning, alongside a professional record of integrity, reliability, and dependability. - **Tech Literacy:** Proficiency in computer applications (Microsoft Office Suite, Google Business Workspace) and use of secure Internet practices. - **Work Ethic:** Self-motivated and engaged, with strong attention to detail. - **Cultural Humility:** Capacity and openness to work with populations from culturally diverse and economically disadvantaged backgrounds, including a broad range of people with various developmental and functional levels. - **Judgment & Confidentiality:** Capable of exercising ethical, independent judgment and discretion, and handling sensitive data with strict confidentiality. *\*Staff in driving positions must be able to meet the agency’s minimum requirements of our insurance policy for authorized drivers; including, but not limited to the minimum age of 21 at time of hire, and the ability to maintain insurability throughout employment.* **Essential Duties & Responsibilities include:** - Accept all referrals from Albany County Department for Children, Youth and Families Prevention intake department for the prevention program; Attend intakes within 24 hours of receiving referral. - Attend home visits with the families in order to assess the needs of the children for essential community linkages. - Make the linkages for youth to the community activities that align with their goals and interests. - Ensure that all childr…