Youth Support Specialist- 215090

Austin Community College; New York (NY); On-site; USD 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Austin Community College is seeking a Youth Support Specialist (YSS) to supervise court-placed youth aged 12-20 in a secure residential facility. The YSS will ensure a safe and therapeutic environment while engaging with youth to support their emotional and behavioral needs.

The role involves direct care experience, establishing relationships with youth and families, and participating in team-focused treatment plans. Candidates should be prepared for shift work, including weekends and holidays.

Qualifications

• Two years direct care experience with youth aged 6-21.
• High school diploma with one year experience in youth care.
• Bachelor’s degree with relevant experience.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and monitor youth in various settings.
• Engage with youth and establish professional relationships.
• Participate in support teams for youth.

Skills

Supervision

Engagement with youth

Conflict resolution

Emotional support

Education

Associate’s degree

High school diploma or equivalent

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

The Youth Support Specialist (YSS) works directly to supervise court-placed youth, age 12-20, who reside at OCFS secure, limited-secure, and/or non-secure residential facilities. YSSs are part of a team that ensures that a facility is physically secure and emotionally safe for both youth and other staff. YSSs help create a professional, healthy, and therapeutic environment.

Responsibilities

• Establish a relationship of professionalism, confidence, safety, and trust with youth and other staff from different racial, ethnic, cultural, religious, physical ability, sexual orientation and gender identity expression (SOGIE) and/or socio-economic backgrounds. Supervise and monitor youth, which, depending on a youth’s clinical needs, may include 1-to-1 supervision.
• Actively participate as a member of a youth’s support team. A support team is a treatment-focused group of professional and para-professional staff who work together to address the emotional and behavioral needs and goals of youth.
• Be confident in engaging with people who may be under physical and/or emotional stress.
• Employ graduated harm reduction strategies while supervising youth, including correcting, and in some cases, verbally or physically intervening when a youth displays unsafe behaviors toward themselves or other youth and staff. Harm reduction requires that a YSS learn to recognize personal or situational flags that could lead to conflict or harm, provide positive mentorship to youth, and help youth work on their own interpersonal skills and use of self-regulation strategies.
• Take opportunities to improve the well‑being of the facility community by being collaborative and informed.
• Supervise and/or assist youth during recreation and education activities, as well as take on various as‑needed assignments.
• Establish and maintain positive, professional, and appropriate relationships with youths’ families and loved ones.
• Assist youth in achieving education, work readiness, and community transition goals.

Additional duties will be discussed in detail during the interview.

Training Requirements

• Attend a 2‑week Juvenile Justice Basic Training orientation, be proficient in OCFS-approved physical skills and youth restraint techniques (given two times a year for eight hours total), take NYS employee mandated annual trainings, and other annual training refreshers.
• Some intrastate travel may be required (e.g., supervision at youth medical appointments, intramural games, extracurricular activities, or other events).
• The YSS position is physically demanding. A candidate must be prepared to act to ensure the health and safety of youth and staff, which may include use of approved physical restraint techniques.
• The YSS position requires shift, weekend, holidays, and overtime assignments, including mandatory and voluntary overtime.

Minimum Qualifications

• Two years full‑time direct care experience in the care and programming of youth from ages 6-21.
• OR a high school graduation or equivalency diploma AND one year of experience in the care and programming of youth from ages 6-21.
• OR an Associate’s degree AND six months experience in the care and programming of youth from ages 6-21.
• OR a Bachelor’s degree.

*Direct care experience with youth involved in the juvenile justice system or in an institution, camp, school, community center, youth rehabilitation program, mental health or correctional institution, or residential center.

Appropriate verifiable part‑time experience will be accepted on a prorated basis.

Satisfactory completion of the probation period must include possession of a valid motor vehicle operator’s license and the ability to operate a motor vehicle legally in New York State.