Youth Advocate (PT)

Community Solutions, Inc.; Meriden (CT); On-site; USD 17,775 - 21,725; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) Retirement savings plan

Ongoing training

Job summary

Community Solutions, Inc. is seeking a Youth Advocate for the SAIL Program to work with young adults aged 18-23. This entry-level role involves helping clients navigate personal challenges and build life skills in a supportive environment.

Ideal for recent graduates, the Youth Advocate will encourage individual growth and implement trauma-informed practices. The position offers a wage of $19.75/hr, with additional shift differentials, and requires a Bachelor's degree or relevant experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree with six months of experience or Bachelor's plus two years with youth.
• Must be willing to learn strengths-based, gender-responsive, and trauma-informed approaches.
• Valid driver's license required.

Responsibilities

• Support residents' individual growth and development.
• Encourage pro-social, healthy behavior.
• Administer medication in accordance with DCF regulations.

Skills

Ability to learn and implement strengths-based approaches

Experience working with youth

Knowledge of Spanish

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Associate's Degree plus 2 years' experience

Job description

Community Solutions Inc. (CSI) is a nonprofit organization that promotes the responsible citizenship, accountability, and well-being of individuals and families involved, or at risk of involvement, in the criminal justice system. Since CSI's founding in 1962, it has been a pioneer in the community-based service. We have been delivering supervision, treatment, and comprehensive individualized services to help clients interact more effectively in their communities and become productive citizens. Using this plan we built the first ever halfway house in New England which has now been replicated and grown to almost 50 programs in 9 states.

CSI understands clients and staff have been impacted by trauma. CSI is becoming a trauma-informed organization by hiring individuals with existing experience in trauma-informed practices as well as supporting ongoing staff development with trauma-informed practices. This will include learning to recognize symptoms of trauma and how to respond, through training starting at orientation and throughout their career at CSI. CSI is committed to systematically evaluating the integration of the trauma-informed values of safety, trustworthiness, choice, collaboration, and empowerment at all levels of the organization's policies, procedures, and structures to guard against the possibility of re-traumatization.

Program Overview

The LISA Division of Community Solutions is seeking an energetic and dedicated Youth Advocate to work at the SAIL Program with young adults, ages 18-23 years old. As a Youth Advocate, you will work collaboratively with clients to help them effectively navigate personal challenges and to build life skills. You are the nuts and bolts of program operations and responsible for establishing a safe, strength-based and relational environment while supporting the adolescents successfully transition from interdependence to independence. The Youth Advocate role is an entry level position, ideal for recent college graduates and seasoned individuals starting a new career path and needing to gain experience in Human Services.

Wage: $19.75/hr with additional $1.00 2nd shift differential and $2.00 3rd shift differential

Schedules Available: Sunday-Monday 4:00pm to 10:00pm

Position Overview

• Ensures that the tenets and philosophy of a strengths based, gender responsive, relational, trauma informed program are reinforced
• Works closely with each resident to support their individual growth and development, ensuring that daily living skills are taught
• Collaborates with team to ensure that each residents individual goals are attended to, particularly daily living skill areas
• Consistently encourages and motivates residents, regularly catching them doing it right
• Reframes and/or redirects residents who are frustrated or struggling in some way
• Consistently applies approaches outlined in the TIER System to encourage pro-social, healthy behavior
• Appropriately holds residents accountable for unhealthy, unsafe behavior
• Provides positive role modeling for residents at all times, including dress, managing personal emotions, behavior, etc.
• Completes logs, reports, and data entry as required/requested
• Implements and provides proper documentation for the programs behavior motivation system (TIER)
• Contributes to the development of a monthly recreational calendar, participates in activities as appropriate
• Ensures that residents nutritional requirements are met, in collaboration with the Agency Nurse and Supervisor
• Coordinates volunteer service projects with other LISA Inc. staff
• Participates in all meetings as required
• Transports and supervises residents
• Administers medication in accordance with DCF regulations
• May be mandated to work additional shifts should coverage not be available

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree with at least six months of experience or a Bachelor's degree, or an Associate's degree plus 2 years' experience working with youth.
• Experience may be substituted for education.
• Must be willing to learn and implement strengths based, relational, trauma-informed, gender responsive and culturally competent approaches.
• Knowledge of Spanish in oral and written communication is desired.
• Valid drivers license.
• COVID19 vaccination or a negative test prior to start.
• 401(k) Retirement savings plan with automatic enrollment and a company match of 100% up to 4% of your contribution.
• Ongoing training.

CSI is an Equal Opportunity Employer - M/F/Disability/Vet. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.