Youth Program Specialist - Sexual Risk Avoidance Education (SRAE) Program

James Madison University; United States; On-site; USD 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

James Madison University is seeking a Youth Program Specialist to support their Sexual Risk Avoidance Education (SRAE) program. This position focuses on promoting positive youth development and preventing teen pregnancies through educational outreach in Harrisonburg City and Page County, Virginia.

The successful candidate will coordinate and implement programming for youth, engage in public speaking, and help develop educational materials. Ideal qualifications include knowledge of adolescent development and experience working with youth.

This full-time role requires good organizational and interpersonal skills, along with proficiency in Microsoft Office.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of adolescent development and sexuality education best practices.
• Ability to facilitate youth programming and engage in public speaking.
• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Assist in planning and implementing the SRAE program.
• Facilitate programs with middle school students in various settings.
• Develop materials for social media and community events.

Skills

Knowledge of adolescent development

Ability to work with youth

Public speaking

Effective program planning

Oratory skills

Organizational skills

Administrative skills

Interpersonal skills

Microsoft Word proficiency

Microsoft Excel proficiency

Job description

We seek a Youth Program Specialist to support JMU and the Institute for Innovation in Health and Human Services (IIHHS)’s mission and vision to provide outreach programs to the community and provide quality experiential learning opportunities to JMU students.

The Sexual Risk Avoidance Education (SRAE) program, part of SexEdVA at JMU, is a broadly targeted effort based on the principles of positive youth development and optimal health for the young people of the Shenandoah Valley. The project’s design includes the implementation of positive youth development programs, and the integration of innovative components to reduce risky behaviors among teens in Harrisonburg City and Page County, Virginia.

The programs used with the SRAE program are Wyman's Teen Outreach Program, the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles Project AIM program, and the Teen Speak motivational interviewing program. SexEdVA aims to ensure that young people across Virginia have access to sexual health information that is positive, evidence-based, and medically accurate in order to make informed decisions regarding their health. SexEdVA seeks to advance health and education by addressing social determinants of health through comprehensive programming for youth and quality training for the adults who work with them. SexEdVA’s mission is to support adolescent sexual health in Virginia communities through training and technical assistance, curriculum development, research, and advocacy. Go to sexedva.org for more information.

This is a 12-month, full-time position.

Duties and Responsibilities

The successful candidate will be responsible for assisting with the planning, coordination and implementation of the Sexual Risk Avoidance Education (SRAE) program, funded by the Virginia Department of Health. The SRAE program emphasizes principles of positive youth development and optimal health focusing on abstinence as a healthy choice for young people. The program also addresses healthy relationships, parent-child communication, educational and career success, and healthy life skills in order to significantly reduce the number of teen pregnancies in the Harrisonburg City and Page County area of Virginia.

Facilitate Project AIM and the Teen Outreach Program with 6th - 8th grade students in Page County and Harrisonburg City schools, after school programs, and in community settings. Facilitation can take place anywhere between the hours of 7:30 am to 7:30 pm Monday through Friday. The facilitator is responsible for learning curriculum, preparing classroom materials, adhering to youth safety guidelines, collecting attendance and student surveys, managing classroom behavior, and ensuring program fidelity.

Assist SRAE program leadership in developing materials for social media, newsletters, and community engagement events.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of adolescent development, sexuality education and best practices in delivering teen pregnancy prevention programming.
• Ability to work with youth and facilitate youth programming, engage in public speaking, plan effective education programs, and implement education programs.
• Ability to establish and maintain relationships and engage in outreach.
• Ability to follow oral and written instructions.
• Must possess good oratory, organizational, administrative and interpersonal skills.
• General computer skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel.