Youth Support Specialist- 215090

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

Job summary

Towson is seeking a Youth Support Specialist (YSS) in New York, responsible for supervising court-placed youth aged 12-20. YSSs create a secure and therapeutic environment, participating actively in youth support teams to address their emotional and behavioral needs.

The role requires direct care experience and various educational qualifications. Candidates must be ready for shift work and be physically demanding in nature.

Qualifications

• Two years full-time direct care experience with youth ages 6-21.
• One year of experience with a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Six months experience with an Associate’s degree.
• Bachelor’s degree accepted.

Responsibilities

• Supervise court-placed youth aged 12-20 in residential facilities.
• Engage with youth to build trust and confidence.
• Participate in youth support teams focused on their wellbeing.
• Use harm reduction strategies during supervision.
• Assist youth in achieving education and community transition goals.

Skills

Direct care experience

Engagement with youth

Conflict resolution

Interpersonal skills

Crisis intervention

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Associate's degree

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.