Youth Specialist

Youth Guidance; Pasadena (CA); On-site; USD 54,000 - 74,000; Full time

Job summary

Youth Guidance is seeking a BAM Youth Specialist II to guide male-identifying youth in grades 7–12 at Santee High School within the LA Unified School District. The role uses trauma-informed, culturally responsive practices, delivering group sessions and individual support to foster healthy decision‑making and future planning.

The position requires collaboration with school administration, clinicians, and families, plus supervision and program fidelity activities to ensure high‑quality youth

Qualifications

• Requires academic training in psychology, social work, or counseling.
• Experience guiding youth in groups and individual sessions is preferred.
• Familiarity with trauma-informed and culturally responsive approaches preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead and facilitate weekly BAM groups during the school day.
• Provide individualized, clinically informed support and crisis counseling as needed.
• Document interactions and maintain program records per protocol.
• Collaborate with school staff, families, and external providers to coordinate aftercare and services.

Skills

Trauma-informed engagement

Group facilitation

Clinical counseling

Crisis intervention

Collaboration with school staff

Education

Bachelor's degree in psychology/social work/counseling

Job description

Position Summary:

Becoming A Man (BAM) Youth Specialist II’s are responsible for guiding young male identifying youth in grades 7 – 12 to learn, internalize, and practice social skills, make responsible decisions for their future, and become positive members of their school and community. Drawing on their academic training in psychology, social work, or counseling, BAM Youth Specialist II’s use evidence-informed practices, trauma-informed engagement, and culturally responsive approaches to support the personal growth of youth. Through group sessions and individualized support as needed, BAM Youth Specialist II’s help youth build the mindsets, values, and skills needed to navigate adolescence and thrive as healthy, responsible young men.

Recruitment Location:

We are seeking Youth Specialists to support programming at Santee High School in the LA Unified School District (LAUSD).

Essential Duties/Responsibilities

• Work in collaboration with BAM Program Supervisor, Curriculum Specialist, and school administration to identify, recruit and build relationships with up to 60 school-based youth to participate in the BAM.
• Lead and facilitate 4 – 5 weekly BAM groups during the school day, utilizing youth engagement, clinical counseling, and rites of passage/interpersonal work skills
• Provide individualized, clinically informed support to all BAM participants, and provide individual, family, and crisis counseling sessions to students on an as-needed basis.
• Provide trauma-informed and developmentally appropriate support to BAM participants, including one-on-one check-ins, case management, and goal setting as needed.
• Participate in monthly staff development training and team meetings on the evidence-based BAM curriculum and other topics relevant to working with youth.
• Participate in supervision and coaching to ensure fidelity of program delivery.
• Deliver crisis intervention, risk assessments, and short-term individual interventions to students as needed, in alignment with best practices in adolescent mental health care and school-based clinical protocols.
• Document all interactions with youth, including group and individual case notes, clinical assessments, brief encounters, special events, program consents, pre/post surveys, and monthly program narratives based on program protocol.
• Work jointly with BAM Regional Manager to manage an annual program budget to plan and execute field trips and special events for students throughout the school year and summer.
• Collaborate with school administration, teachers, and other Youth Guidance programs to provide, and participate in professional development sessions.
• Collaborate with school staff, caregivers, and external service providers to coordinate aftercare planning, including wraparound supports, facilitating referrals to mental health or community-based services, and ensuring continuity of care for youth.
• Collaborate and/or coordinate services with the Youth Guidance Parent Family Engagement team, and school-parent engagement team.
• Participate in Journey to Self-Discovery Rites of Passage Training
• Other duties as assigned