Youth Advocate

Children's Aid; New York (NY); On-site; USD 28,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

Children’s Aid in New York City seeks an educator/mentor to promote our cradle-through-college mission within high-need neighborhoods. You will greet students, coordinate with teachers and partners, and support attendance and guidance services for high‑schoolers.

You will facilitate SEL sessions, track progress, and help students plan for higher education. A related degree and 2+ years of youth work are required; bilingual skills are a strong plus.

Qualifications

• Associate’s Degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology or related field.
• At least 2 years of experience working with youth in a recreational, educational and/or social environment.
• Bilingual abilities (French/English, etc.) preferred.

Responsibilities

• Promote the organization’s Mission, Vision, and Core Values to ensure alignment with policies.
• Meet and greet grade level students every morning when they arrive to school; make early morning calls to determine absence.
• Identify targeted sources of youth family support with school staff and partners under the direction of the Community School Director and Student Resource Coordinator.
• Work with an assigned grade level in high-school.
• Facilitate SEL sessions with the Social Worker and Health Educator.
• Maintain attendance progress notes with weekly meetings with leadership.
• Engage high-school students in planning for higher education.
• Maintain core Children’s Aid values in all engagement with high-school students.
• Develop strategies to determine high-school student needs.
• Ensure student trust within confidentiality.
• Develop a strong relationship with leadership to maintain positive approaches with evidence-based methods.
• Report special programming needs to the Community School Director.
• Perform other duties as assigned

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Youth development knowledge

Bilingual: French/English

Education

Associate’s Degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology or related field

Job description

Children’s Aid Mission

To help children in poverty to succeed and thrive. We do this by providing comprehensive support to children and their families in targeted high-needs New York City neighborhoods. Children’s Aid annually serves children and their families at over 40 sites in New York, as well as through three national program models. Children’s Aid is concentrating its efforts on creating cradle-through-college pathways in high-need neighborhoods, with a focus on children’s health, family stability, education, and social and emotional development.

Hourly Salary: $20-25

Culture and Values

We put children, youth, and families first: We listen to and incorporate the voices of children, youth and families in all that we do.

We seek equity and transformation in our communities: We courageously work within and outside systems to create opportunities for children, youth and families.

We strive for excellence: We hold ourselves to the highest standards and are committed to continuous learning and improvement.

We are powered by collaboration: Our work is stronger when we trust, partner, and respect each other and the communities we serve.

We are driven by compassion: We lead with kindness, care, and empathy and believe in the endless potential of the people we serve and our team.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Understand and promote the organization’s Mission, Vision, and Core Values to ensure alignment with organizational policies and procedures.
• Meet and greet grade level students every morning when they arrive to school; make early morning phone calls to determine absence on a daily basis.
• Seek advice and identify targeted sources of youth family support from appropriate school staff and community-based partners under the direction of the Community School Director and Student Resource Coordinator.
• Will be assigned to work with an assigned grade level in high-school.
• Facilitation of SEL sessions with the Social Worker and Health Educator.
• Maintain notes about attendance progress throughout the school year with weekly meetings with Community School Director, Student Resource Coordinator and Guidance Counselor.
• Engage High-school students in forward planning for higher education aspirations.
• Maintain core Children’s Aid values in all aspects of engagement with high-school students.
• Develop strategic and constructive ways to maintain and determine high-school student needs.
• Ensure student trust within the confines of provider/client confidentiality.
• Develop a strong relationship with Community School Director and Student Resource Coordinator to maintain positive approaches utilizing quantitative and scientifically based proven methods to seek out solutions.
• Report special programming needs directly to the Community School Director
• Perform other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate’s Degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology or related field required.
• At least 2 years of experience working with youth in a recreational, educational and/or social environment.

Key Competencies

• Excellent interpersonal skills necessary to effectively interact with Children’s Aid staff, DOE professionals, high-school students, and their families during periods of emotional stress.
• Experience with or knowledge of best practices in youth development preferred.
• Committed to developing an understanding of the socio-demographic characteristics and service needs of high-school students.
• Bilingual (French/English, Mandingo/English, Twi/English, Ebo/English, Yoruba/English) preferred.
• Strong commitment and motivation to assist in achieving goals centered around Children’s Aid Core Values.

It is the policy of Children's Aid to provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment and is dedicated to maintaining a work environment that is free from harassment and discrimination. Children's Aid will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, or retaliation on any basis, including race, creed, color, national origin, ethnicity, alienage or citizenship status, gender/sex (including pregnancy), disability, religion, source of income, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, familial status, caregiver status, military status, marital or partnership status, status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking, predisposing genetic characteristics, arrest or conviction record, credit history, unemployment status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. Children's Aid is committed to complying with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Children’s Aid will conduct a prompt and thorough investigation of all allegations of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or any violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy in a confidential manner and will take appropriate corrective action, if and where warranted. Children’s Aid prohibits retaliation against employees who provide information about, complain about, or assist in the investigation of any complaint of discrimination or violation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Policy.

The incumbent is expected to work a schedule, whether in-person or hybrid, as determined by the department's needs to facilitate effective collaboration with the team. This flexibility is essential for maintaining seamless communication, fostering teamwork, and ensuring the smooth operation of the department's processes. The position's requirements are subject to periodic review and adjustment based on organizational needs and changes in work dynamics.