Youth Support Coordinator 1 (NY HELPS)

NYS Office of Children and Family Services; Town of Highland (NY); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

NYS Office of Children and Family Services is seeking a Youth Support Specialist to supervise, guide and mentor juvenile and youthful offenders or at‑risk youth referred to OCFS. You will work within diverse residential and community settings, performing counseling and evaluative duties to support safety and development.

The role requires a strong background in human services, with advanced degrees welcomed; NY HELPS qualifications may apply for non-competitive appointments and future conversion

Qualifications

• Six years of direct counseling, educational, clinical, or supervisory experience in prevention, protection, or rehabilitative programs for youth aged 10–21.
• Experience with at-risk youth including those with mental health, developmental disabilities, or addictions.

Responsibilities

• Supervise, evaluate, guide and mentor juvenile and youthful offenders or at-risk youth as assigned.
• Provide counseling support and coordinate with program teams in residential and community settings.
• Participate in case planning, reporting, and collaboration during interviews and reviews.

Skills

Counseling

Education

Associate degree in human services

Bachelor’s degree in human services

Master’s degree in human services

Job description

Duties Description

Supervise, evaluate, guide and mentor juvenile and youthful offenders, juvenile delinquents or other “at‑risk” youth referred to the Office of Children and Family Services.

Supervise, evaluate, guide and mentor juvenile and youthful offenders, juvenile delinquents or other “at‑risk” youth referred to the Office of Children and Family Services.

Additional duties will be discussed in detail during the interview.

Minimum Qualifications

Open to the Public: This title is part of the New York Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Statewide Program (NY HELPS).*

Six years of direct counseling, educational, clinical, or supervisory experience in prevention, protection, or rehabilitative programs for individuals between the ages of 10 and 21 years of age who are considered to be “juvenile delinquents,” “youthful offenders,” or youth residing in a residential setting, including those diagnosed with mental or developmental disabilities, mental illness, or addictions who could potentially become involved in the juvenile justice system. An associate degree in a human services field substitutes for two years; a bachelor’s degree in a human services field for four years; or a master’s degree in a human services field for five years.

Current OCFS Employees: One year of permanent service as a Youth Support Specialist, Grade 14.

Transfer: One year of permanent competitive or 55b/c service in this title or in a title eligible for 70.1 transfer.

Additional Comments

• For the duration of the NY HELPS Program, this title may be filled via a non‑competitive appointment, which means no examination is required but all candidates must meet the minimum qualifications of the title for which they apply. At a future date (within one year of permanent appointment), it is expected employees hired under NY HELPS will have their non‑competitive employment status converted to competitive status, without having to compete in an examination. Employees will then be afforded with all of the same rights and privileges of competitive class employees of New York State. While serving permanently in a NY HELPS title, employees may take part in any promotion examination for which they are qualified.

Your actual duties may vary depending on the setting to which you are assigned, including secure, limited secure or non‑secure residential centers, community residential homes, community foster care, intake services units, evening reporting centers, aftercare teams in the community and day placement programs.

Background Investigation Requirements

• All prospective employees will be investigated through a Criminal Background Check (CBC), which includes State and federal Criminal History Record Checks. All convictions must be reported; conviction of a felony or misdemeanor, or any falsified or omitted information on the prospective appointee’s employment application, may bar appointment or result in removal after appointment. Each case will be determined on its own merits, consistent with the applicable provisions of State and federal laws, rules and regulations. Prospective employees will be fingerprinted in order to obtain a record of their criminal history information, and may be required to pay any necessary fees.
• All prospective employees will be screened against the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment (SCR). Prospective employees will be required to pay any necessary fees.
• For Division of Juvenile Justice and Opportunities for Youth (DJJOY) prospective appointees will be checked against the Staff Exclusion List (SEL) maintained by the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs. Prospective employees whose names appear on the SEL as having been found responsible for serious or repeated acts of abuse or neglect will be barred from appointment and may have their names removed from the eligible list(s) for the title(s) if applicable.

The Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) is an equal opportunity employer. OCFS does not discriminate based upon age, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, military or veteran status, sex, disability (including pregnancy‑related conditions), predisposing genetic characteristics, familial status, marital status or status as a victim of domestic violence, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We devote special attention to dismantling racial injustice and recognize that diversity in our workforce is critical to fulfilling our mission. We are committed to the diversity of our staff, and encourage applicants from marginalized communities to apply. In furtherance of Executive Order 31 and OCFS’s mission to have a diverse workforce, all people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. All applicants must be dedicated to working in and sustaining an environment of inclusion that affirms and celebrates the backgrounds, learned and lived expertise, whole identities, and individual perspectives of our staff. Applicants of all backgrounds and experiences are encouraged to self‑identify during the application process.