Youth Empowerment Specialist

BCFS Health & Human Services; McAllen (TX); On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

BCFS Health & Human Services is seeking a Youth Empowerment Specialist to recruit, engage, and coach youth for the Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) and to teach leadership and life skills to participants and partners. The role emphasizes community engagement, inclusivity, and alignment with grant requirements.

The position requires an Associate’s degree (Bachelor’s preferred) and 2 years of youth work experience, plus First Aid/CPR, a Texas driver's license, and the ability to travel as needed.

Qualifications

• 2 years of experience working with youth aged 6-17 years old.
• First Aid and CPR certificates required or maintained.

Responsibilities

• Recruit and retain youth to serve on the Youth Advisory Committee (YAC).
• Coordinate YAC meetings per grant requirements, develop meeting agendas, facilitate meetings.
• Ensure YAC feedback informs ongoing program design and quality improvement.
• Serve as YAC coordinator contact and liaison during CYD Youth Summit planning.
• Facilitate leadership curriculum for YAC and Youth Leadership D participants.
• Complete intake assessments and pre-/post-tests required by the program.
• Coach and support YAC and YLD social justice projects.
• Train in and facilitate other curricula including violence prevention and life skills contents.
• Maintain welcoming, inclusive environment for all participants.
• Participate in annual Community Strengths and Needs Assessment, disseminate surveys, and analyze program data.

Skills

Leadership

Communication skills

Youth engagement

Education

Associate’s degree

Bachelor’s degree preferred

Job description

Education: Required

Associate’s degree from an accredited college/university in a related field.

Preferred

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college/university in one of the following areas: social work, psychology, education or any human services field.

Experience

2 years of experience working with youth aged 6-17 years old.

Supervises

Mentors and other volunteers as needed.

Job Summary

The Youth Empowerment Specialist is responsible for recruitment, retention, and facilitation of youth to serve on the Youth Advisory Committee (YAC), and teaching leadership and life skills curriculum to the YAC and other partners when needed.

Essential Functions

• Recruit and retain youth to serve on the Youth Advisory Committee (YAC)
• Coordinate YAC meetings in accordance with grant requirements, develop YAC meeting agendas, and facilitate YAC meetings
• Ensure YAC feedback is integrated into on-going program design and continuous quality improvement
• Serve as a YAC coordinator contact, and liaison during the CYD Youth Summit planning and attend the summit with youth, providing them with support while there
• Facilitate leadership curriculum for YAC and Youth Leadership D participants
• Complete intake assessments and pre- and post-tests required by the program
• Coach, oversee, and support YAC and YLD social justice projects
• Train in and facilitate other program curricula, including violence prevention, independent living skills development, and substance use prevention content
• Ensure a welcoming and deliberately inclusive environment for all participants
• Participate in the annual Community Strengths and Needs Assessment process, including distributing surveys, facilitating focus groups and interviews, providing direct feedback, and compiling/analyzing program data.
• Continuously abide by Positive Youth Development framework principles
• Continuously employ Trust Based Relational Intervention strategies
• Frequently work evenings and weekends to accommodate the needs of student participants
• Maintain BCFS HHS professional and ethical standards of conduct outlined in the employee handbook, including demonstrating respect for agency staff, youth, and community members, and always complying with required dress code

Measurable Deliverables

• Meet or exceed enrollment numbers and meeting frequency (either in-person or virtually when approved) specified by the grant.
• Ensure youth leadership curriculum pre- and post-test scores demonstrate an increase in leadership skill and perceived self-efficacy.
• Maintain YAC and YLD retention at 85% or more.
• Ensure participants complete the social justice projects as specified by the grant.
• 90% or more of youth provided PHSR instruction by this position demonstrate increased knowledge following life skills instruction.
• 90% or more of youth provided PHSR instruction by this position demonstrate attitudinal change following life skills instruction.
• Maintain 95% quality assurance compliance, including timely and accurate data entry, curricula and TBRI fidelity adherence, form completion, budget adherence/financial reporting, and other reporting as required by the program.
• Maintain 85% or more positive youth satisfaction survey scores.
• 100% of youth participating in the program remain safe and do not participate in delinquent behavior while receiving services.
• Demonstrate the ability to:
• Respond sensitively and competently to the service population’s cultural and socio-economic characteristics.
• Communicate effectively in writing and verbally in English.
• Work in a fast-paced environment.
• Maintain computer literacy required to meet the responsibilities of the position.
• Work effectively and without intensive supervision both independently and as a member of a multidisciplinary team.
• Travel as needed.
• Other job duties as assigned per grant requirements.

Requirements

• Maintain certificates required for the position including but not limited to First Aid and CPR.
• Valid Texas Driver’s license with a clear driving record and reliable transportation.
• Pass a pre-employment drug screen and random drug screens.
• Provide proof or work eligibility status upon request.
• Pass a pre-employment and biennial criminal background and motor vehicle check (fingerprints needed if applicant has lived out of state within the past 5 years).

English (United States)

If you like to work with people that believe they can make a difference in the world, this is the company for you!

EEO Statement

In accordance with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other applicable federal and state laws (e.g., the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), it is our policy to provide equal employment opportunity and treat all employees equally regardless of race, religion, national origin, color, sex, or any other classification made unlawful or prohibited by federal, state and/or local laws, such as age, citizenship status, veteran or military status, or disability. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including hiring, promotion, demotion, compensation, training, working conditions, transfer, job assignments, benefits, layoff, and termination.

Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.