Youth And Family Program Coordinator

General Description
This is responsible professional social services work, involving youth and family services, programming, and intervention services for young people and their families.Work involves responsibility for individual coaching, counseling, case management, and providing preventive and positive youth development programs that respond to the causes of delinquency, antisocial, and behavior health issues. Duties include providing direct counseling to youth and their families, planning, development, implementation, and coordination of youth group activities, and offering a wide range of services through advocacy and brokerage. This position also has the responsibility for making difficult youth services decisions. This work requires that the employee have considerable knowledge, skill, and ability in direct service and care, group process, program coordination, social service, family dynamics, and the ability to gain and maintain the respect of clients.
Duties & Responsibilities
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Provides case management, coaching, and counseling to at-risk young people and their families. Makes referrals for appropriate support services such as employment, education, mental health services, etc.
Organizes and participates in experiential, social-emotional, and educational activities designed to enhance positive youth development. Teaches life skills curriculum and the proactive application of these skills. Executes a variety of youth programming modalities.
Supports Division Head with managing grants and associated budgets, in addition to seeking out additional funding opportunities. Prepares a variety of reports, including monitoring and evaluation reports. Maintains confidentiality of client files.
Participates extensively in all agency juvenile diversion efforts for clients in police and juvenile court matters. Offers consultative help to schools, families with service needs and beyond control referrals, and the Police in preventive and restorative work.
Maintains liaison with groups and agencies that are concerned with the municipality"s young people.
Provides crisis intervention responses, including the reporting of suspected abuse or neglect situations to appropriate authorities.
Keeps up with current professional programs and services through review of literature and publications and attendance at professional meetings and conference. Addresses civic groups regarding programs and department activities.
Represents the department at various community events throughout the year to enhance visibility and market services. Assists the Youth & Family Services Manager in the administration of a division-wide strategic marketing plan which includes regular newsletters, press releases, social media management, and website functions. Regularly communicates to co-brand and market parks, facilities, programs and services.
Other duties as may be assigned.
NONESSENTIAL DUTIES
None.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED
Works under the general supervision of the Youth, Family, & Recreation Manager(Division Head), Director of Human Services, or a designee.
SUPERVISION EXERCISED
Supervises Seasonal Staff, including but not limited to Summer Jam & Learn Program Staff. At times, will oversee Contracted Providers who implement programming for NYFS.
Qualifications
A master"s degree from a recognized college or university in psychology, social work, family therapy, or a related field plus one year of progressively responsible experience in youth and family counseling and youth programming. Licensed, or progressing towards Licensure, preferred. Experience in case management, juvenile justice diversion, and positive youth development programming is preferred.
Must have a valid Connecticut driver"s license. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES - Considerable knowledge of youth counseling principles and practices, family and group therapy.
Considerable ability in oral and written communications.
Considerable knowledge of current juvenile diversion trends.
Considerable ability to relate to youth and adults on an individual and group basis.
Considerable ability to plan and implement a wide range of youth oriented programs and activities.
Considerable ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, coworkers, youth, other governmental agencies, and the general public.
TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED - General office machines, computer, motor vehicle, telecommunications devices for the deaf, recreational and sports equipment, and a two-way radio. Physical Requirements
The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The employee is frequently required to sit, talk, and listen. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus. Most must be able to read and interpret professional journals and government regulations, write standard reports and correspondence and effectively represent information in one-on-one and small group situations. The position requires the ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization may exist. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The employee will occasionally deal with clients who are mentally disturbed, substance abusers, and hostile, terminally ill or socially deviant. Caseloads are frequently very demanding and there is constant pressure to make the correct decisions on assigned cases. The noise level in the work environment is moderately quiet. Important Information
In order to be considered, applicants must demonstrate on their application they meet the minimum qualifications as stated in the job announcement.
You must reside within the State of Connecticut, 60 miles from Norwich within one year of appointment.
Examination will consist of 100% written OR 100% oral OR 100% experience and training.
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER Disclaimer
The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.
The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.