Youth Worker

Roca Inc.; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 40,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Roca Boston in Boston, MA is seeking a Youth Worker to engage 20 high-risk young women through relationships and programming, reporting to the Assistant Director. You will collaborate with DCF, DTA, Probation, and community partners to drive outcomes of economic independence, safer living, and retained employment, using CBT-informed approaches and life-skills programming.

The role requires field outreach, timely case notes in ETO, and strong teamwork with staff across programs, with occasional

Qualifications

• BA preferred/Equivalent experience accepted.
• Understanding and experience working with street involved high risk young people.
• Capacity for creative problem-solving, conflict resolution, violence prevention.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Capacity to think and act strategically to help young people change behaviors.
• Excellent organizing, managing, and completing multiple complex projects.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a caseload of young people and build transformation relationships.
• Provide educational/vocational/life skills programming.
• Plan weekly schedules and outreach lists for contact and CBT coaching.
• Apply Cognitive Behavioral Theory (CBT) using Roca’s Intervention Model.
• Assist and role model in obtaining and sustaining employment.
• Engage with family, court, and community partnerships.
• Ensure accurate entry of case notes into ETO and analyze data to guide outreach.

Skills

Strong written and oral communication

Self-motivation

Team player

Creative problem solving

Conflict resolution

Cultural sensitivity

Education

BA preferred/Equivalent experience accepted

Job description

Job DetailsJob Location: Roca Boston - Boston, MA 02118-2619Position Type: Full TimeEducation Level: Relevant experienceSalary Range: $33.65 - $33.65 HourlyJob Category: Nonprofit - Social ServicesPosition Overview

The Youth Worker will report to the Assistant Director and have the primary responsibility of engaging 20 very high-risk young women through relationships and programming as well as working with key partners (DCF, DTA, Probation, and other community-based providers). The successful Youth worker will work closely with team members, supervisors, and others within the organization to ensure that each young person is driving to outcomes of economic independence and living out of harm’s way. We strive to meet outcomes for young women and mothers including but not limited to: Improved Behavioral Health, No New Criminal or DCF involvement, and Retained Employment.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a caseload of young people and build transformation relationships in alignment with Roca’s intervention model.
• Demonstrate the ability to provide additional types of educational/vocational/life skills programming, including but not limited to educational supports, financial literacy, workforce readiness, parenting and child development, healthy habits, driver’s education, and/or help with job placement.
• Strategically plan workweek schedules— including outreach lists for contact, programming needs, identifying if YP needs additional assistance and CBT coaching and constructive use of Track Books.
• Facilitate, apply, practice, and demonstrate Cognitive Behavioral Theory (CBT) using Roca’s Intervention Model. Consistently exercise and application of Cognitive Behavioral Theory (CBT).
• Assist and role model in the process of obtaining and sustaining employment through job search and overall workforce professionalism.
• Engage with other aspects of work, such as but not limited to, family and criminal court engagement, work behind the wall/in residential programs, peacemaking circles, work with the community, productive and professional participation in meetings, etc.
• Ensure accurate and timely entry of case notes into ETO (Efforts to Outcome system) daily. Analyze and interpret ETO data as it relates to young people and understanding how data relates to a young person’s progress. Adapt outreach efforts in accordance with data collected in ETO.

Qualifications

The very nature of Roca’s work requires an individual of great commitment and energy to the mission. Roca seeks a highly driven individual who is in alignment with the culture and values of Roca. In addition, the ideal candidate for this position will be a trustworthy decision-maker. He/she will have a sense of humor, feel passionate and committed to direct work with high-risk youth, and demonstrate interest in coaching and supporting coworkers.

Roca expects candidates to have the following skills:

• BA preferred/Equivalent experience accepted - minimum of three years of direct service work with high-risk young people, preferably teen mothers.
• Understanding and experience working with street involved high risk young people.
• Capacity for creative problem-solving, conflict resolution, violence prevention
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Capacity to think and act intentionally and strategically to help young people change behaviors.
• Creative problem solving and thinking.
• Excellent at organizing, managing, and completing multiple complex projects and tasks simultaneously with thoroughness, accuracy, timeliness and good humor.
• Self-motivation, initiative, sound judgment, and commitment to ongoing learning are essential.
• Ability to work as a part of a team.
• Bilingual in Spanish preferred but not required.

Requirements for the position:

• Ability to travel around the service area
• Computer Literacy
• Valid state issued driver’s license
• Criminal background and current driving record check
• Willingness and ability to work outside of normal business hours, and Holidays and/or weekends as needed.
• Ability to work with diverse cultures
• Strong attendance and high energy

Physical Demands

The physical demands that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, and talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to push, pull, stock, and must lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Work can be repetitive in nature. Specific vision abilities required by this job include depth perception, peripheral vision, the ability to distinguish basic colors and the ability to adjust vision to bring objects into focus.

It may be necessary to wear some protective clothing and/or equipment such as rain and snow gear, boots, goggles, hard hat, full face shield, respirator, ear plugs/muffs and gloves. Work requires physical exertion such as long periods of standing, walking over rough, uneven surfaces, and recurring bending, climbing, crawling, crouching, stooping, and reaching, and occasional lifting or moderately heavy items. Work requires average physical agility and dexterity.

Work Environment:

The work environment an employee is exposed to while performing the essential functions of this job. The position can work in outdoor and indoor environments. The noise level is typically moderate. The incumbent is frequently exposed to all outdoor weather conditions.