Youth Engagement Specialist

DC Department of Human Resources; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) seeks a Youth Engagement Specialist to advance Positive Youth Development through structured engagement, supportive interventions, and collaboration with youth in detention and custody settings.

The role focuses on outreach, program development and facilitating activities that connect youth with education, employment, and community resources, while liaising with care coordinators and DYRS staff to ensure proactive support and reduced recidivism.

Responsibilities

• Promotes youth development through relationship-building, early intervention, crisis response and coordinated service delivery.
• Liaises with youth, group homes, care coordinators, parents, and DYRS staff to increase youth participation in programs.
• Plans and facilitates youth activities, workshops, groups, outings and enrichment opportunities.
• Tracks participation and ensures timely initiation of services and resources to reduce recidivism.

Job description

Job Summary

This position is located within the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS), Community Programs, Youth Engagement Division. The mission of DYRS is to improve public safety and give court involved youth the opportunity to become more productive citizens by building on the strengths of youths and their families in the least restrictive, most homelike environment consistent with public safety. Emphasis will be placed on best practices for interacting with youth, via short-term basic programming for youth in temporary short-term detention; or a treatment-oriented milieu for youth in longer-term custody depending on the legal status of the youth and based on Positive Youth Development principles.

The incumbent is responsible for playing a critical role in advancing the mission of DYRS: to improve public safety while empowering court‑involved youth to build productive futures. Using Positive Youth Development principles, the incumbent provides consistent support, structured engagement, and proactive intervention for youth in both short-term detention and longer-term custody. The incumbent’s primary functions include implementing a range of counseling, prevention, and early intervention strategies designed to re‑connect youth with effective rehabilitation services and case management supervision, consistent with Positive Youth Development practices.

Major Duties And Responsibilities

The Youth Engagement Specialist encourages youth to think before they act and use their decision‑making skills to achieve healthy, positive outcomes. Emphasizes relationship‑building, early intervention, crisis response, and coordinated service delivery. Serves as a role model for youth. Liaise between youth, group homes, community providers, care coordinator supervisors, parents/families, and DYRS. Conducts outreach and engagement activities to increase youth participation within the Achievement Center. Promotes youth voice, choice, leadership, understanding your options and participation in programming decisions. Connects youth to community resources and services. Liaises with education and workforce development advocates. Plans, coordinates, and facilitates youth activities, workshops, groups, outings and enrichment opportunities activities.

The Youth Engagement Specialist will develop programming that is age appropriate, culturally responsive, and aligned with identified youth needs. Connects youth with appropriate educational support, employment, behavioral health, recreation activities, and other supportive resources. Communicates with Care Coordinator/Supervisors and Group Home staff to enhance support services and provide a proactive approach to reducing recidivism. Facilitate crisis intervention, mediation and conflict resolution. Tracks youth participation, attendance, engagement and completion of activities. Conducts follow‑up outreach when youth miss scheduled activities. Serves as an integral part of a multi‑disciplinary team providing safe, secure, and timely initiation of services and support youth access to community resources.

Qualifications And Education

Specialized Experience is experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, one (1) year of specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression.

Licenses And Certifications

None

Working Conditions / Environment

The work is performed within an office setting, secure facility, and in the community.

Other Significant Facts

Tour of Duty: 8:00am-5:00pm; Work hours may vary depending on program needs.

Promotion Potential

No Known Promotion Potential

Duration of Appointment

Career Service Permanent

Pay Plan, Series and Grade

CS-0301-09

Collective Bargaining Unit (Non-Union)

This position is a part of American Federation of Government Employees Local 383 Union (AFGE). You may be required to have union dues or other applicable fees deducted from your salary.

Position Designation

The incumbent in this position will be subject to enhanced suitability screening pursuant to Chapter 4 of DC Personnel regulations, Suitability. This position has been designated as a safety-sensitive position. The position is subject to pre‑employment drug testing, which includes testing for cannabis. Failing the drug test may result in disqualification even if applicants participate in a medical marijuana program.

Emergency Designation

This position is designated as Emergency pursuant to Chapter 12 of the D.C. Personnel Regulations, Hours of Work, Legal Holidays, and Leave.

Residency Preference

When claiming residency preference, you are required, and must agree in writing, to maintain bona fide District residency for a period of seven (7) consecutive years from the effective date of employment. You will be required to present documents (proofs) to show District residency and failure to maintain bona‑fide District residency for the seven-year (7-year) period will result in forfeiture of employment.

EEO Statement

The District of Columbia Government does not discriminate or retaliate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, gender identity and expression, national origin, family responsibilities, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, homeless status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, participation in a legally protected activity, parental status, matriculation, personal appearance, credit information, status as a victim or family member of a victim of domestic violence, sexual offense, or stalking, military service, or other non‑merit factor.