Youth Outreach & Community Programs Specialist

Midwest Youth Services; Jacksonville (IL); Vor Ort; USD 40.000 - 62.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

Midwest Youth Services is seeking a Street Outreach & Community Youth Programming Specialist in Jacksonville, IL, with travel across the service region, to develop and deliver proactive outreach for at-risk youth.

The role focuses on identifying gathering places, creating youth-centered activities, and building partnerships with community organizations to connect youth with resources and positive opportunities.

Qualifikationen

• Bachelor's degree in social work, human services, psychology, sociology, or related field.
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Ability to work well in a team and independently.
• Willingness to travel throughout the service region.
• Availability for evenings/weekends as needed.

Aufgaben

• Assist in developing, implementing, and maintaining a structured street outreach service delivery model throughout the agency's designated service region.
• Identify community locations, gathering spaces, events, and other environments where youth may benefit from direct outreach and engagement.
• Conduct proactive outreach to youth who may be experiencing risk factors, barriers to services, or limited access to positive community supports.
• Develop creative and effective approaches to reaching youth who may not otherwise engage with traditional service providers.
• Establish and maintain appropriate, professional, and trusting relationships with youth through consistent engagement.
• Provide information about agency programs, community resources, available services, and opportunities for positive youth involvement.
• Identify emerging youth needs, trends, and barriers to engagement and assist in adapting outreach strategies accordingly.
• Work collaboratively with supervisory staff to ensure outreach activities align with agency priorities, contractual requirements, and program objectives.
• Develop, coordinate, and facilitate creative, youth-centered activities that encourage positive engagement and participation.
• Design informal educational, recreational, and skill-building opportunities that reflect the interests and needs of youth within the communities served.
• Identify opportunities for youth leadership, positive peer interaction, and continued involvement in community programming.
• Encourage healthy decision-making, positive relationships, personal development, and connections to supportive adults and community resources.
• Adapt programming strategies to maintain relevance and appeal to the populations the agency seeks to reach.
• Assist youth and families in connecting with appropriate agency programs and community resources when additional support is needed.
• Serve as a positive and professional representative of Midwest Youth Services in community settings.
• Establish a visible and consistent agency presence in locations and environments where youth may benefit from outreach and support.
• Actively engage youth, families, community organizations, businesses, and other stakeholders to build trust and strengthen relationships.
• Develop and maintain partnerships that support youth engagement, outreach opportunities, and access to resources.
• Represent the agency at community events, youth activities, collaborative meetings, and other appropriate outreach opportunities.
• Identify new opportunities to strengthen community partnerships, increase agency visibility, and expand youth engagement throughout the service region.
• Promote the agency's mission and services while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries and a positive public presence.
• Follow established agency safety procedures and protocols during street outreach and community-based programming.
• Maintain awareness of surroundings, potential risks, and environmental conditions when conducting outreach activities.
• Exercise sound judgment when identifying appropriate outreach locations, activities, and engagement strategies.
• Coordinate outreach activities with supervisory staff to ensure appropriate staffing, communication, and safety considerations.
• Recognize situations requiring additional support, crisis intervention, or referral to appropriate agency personnel.
• Promptly communicate safety concerns, incidents, or emerging community risks to supervisory staff.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries, confidentiality, and ethical standards in all interactions with youth and community members.
• Collaborate with the Community Prevention & Education Specialist to support educational programming, awareness initiatives, and community events.
• Assist with the delivery of prevention activities, educational presentations, resource sharing, and other community-based programming.
• Work collaboratively with other agency programs to support coordinated outreach and appropriate connections to available services.
• Participate in agency-sponsored events, special initiatives, and community engagement opportunities.
• Contribute ideas and recommendations to strengthen outreach programming and improve youth participation.
• Maintain accurate records of outreach activities, youth contacts, community engagement, resource distribution, referrals, and program participation.
• Assist with tracking program outcomes, engagement trends, and progress toward assigned outreach objectives.
• Collect and report required program data in accordance with agency policies and applicable contractual obligations.
• Communicate regularly with supervisory staff regarding outreach activities, program progress, challenges, and opportunities for improvement.
• Participate in program planning, staff meetings, training, and professional development activities.
• Follow agency policies and procedures, including confidentiality, professional boundaries, and ethical standards.
• Perform additional duties as assigned to support agency programming and operational needs.

Kenntnisse

Interpersonal skills

Verbal & written communication

Team collaboration

Creativity

Problem solving

Safety awareness

Adaptability

Ausbildung

Bachelor's degree

Jobbeschreibung

Midwest Youth Services is seeking a Street Outreach & Community Youth Programming Specialist in Jacksonville, IL, with travel across the service region, to develop and deliver proactive outreach for at-risk youth.

The role focuses on identifying gathering places, creating youth-centered activities, and building partnerships with community organizations to connect youth with resources and positive opportunities.