Youth Engagement Specialist

FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN VALUES

Our values guide us to achieve our mission. Each value applies not only to our youth, Friends, and program teams, but also applies to all Friends of the Children employees, volunteers, and partners. We use our values to make informed decisions; to hire, coach, and manage; and most importantly, we use our values to change the way the world treats and views our most vulnerable youth.

PUT CHILDREN FIRST

We intentionally serve youth who are facing the greatest obstacles. To help our youth discover their limitless potential, we foster their internal resiliency. We listen to our youth and base decisions on each youth's needs and dreams. We prioritize self-care so that we bring our best selves to our work and focus on our youth.

BUILD RELATIONSHIPS ON LOVE

We nurture long-term relationships from a foundation of love and acceptance. Our practice is rooted in the wisdom of communities, tailoring support to honor each youth's unique identity and shared heritage. We don't give up easily and take a no matter what approach to our work. We intentionally develop collaborative relationships over time with trust, empathy and healthy communication. We build community through one-on-one connections that are authentic, respectful, and meaningful.

COMMIT TO EMPOWERMENT

We leverage personal strengths to take ownership of our futures. We build relationships within the communities of our youth and families to strengthen social networks and provide bridges to new opportunities. We consistently inspire possibility through empathy, hard work, and fun. We model all of this for our youth, families and each other.

PURSUE GOALS RELENTLESSLY

We celebrate all achievements, big and small. We are disciplined in our commitment to goals, while innovative in how we reach them. We believe that the definition of success requires intentional reflection and adjustment over time. We work together and hold ourselves accountable with data to achieve short and long-term outcomes.

UNLOCK ALL POTENTIAL

We believe everyone deserves the chance to reach their full potential, because where you start shouldn't decide how far you go. We advocate to ensure every child, regardless of historical and present challenges, has the resources, support, and voice needed to thrive. We amplify and listen to the hopes and dreams of the children, families, and communities we serve. We harness different perspectives to overcome barriers and drive measurable change for every child.

Together, we work to challenge and remove obstacles so potential isn't limited by any circumstance.

All employees are expected to perform their roles in alignment with our values and to commit to create a sense of belonging for themselves, our colleagues and the children and families we serve.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, highly skilled, relational Youth Engagement Specialist who is excited to join our team, support mentors and walk alongside the youth and families we serve! If you love to create community, build on the strengths and develop growth areas with incredible youth, this is the job for you! We need you to thrive in an ever-changing environment, live, walk and talk equity and have a commitment to personal and professional growth for yourself and the team.

Sound good? We think so!

Basic Function:

As Youth Engagement Specialist, your primary responsibility is to build relationships with all youth, families, and staff across the program team, and create continuity and intentionality of service for youth they are assigned. You will be assigned to specific youth or mentors, joining them on 3-4 outings per week to observe mentors in their role and build relationships with youth. You will serve as a conduit between the youth and the Program Team, supporting youth in elevating their voice and ideas into group activities and spaces.

When Friends go on vacation or leave the organization, you will support youth on those rosters in a 1:1 capacity, serving as a positive adult role model to develop a caring, trusting, and sustained relationship with each youth. You will participate in all Team meetings, planning group activities, leading group activities, supporting or engaging in all group spaces or events.

Core Job Accountabilities:

* Develop and sustain a long-term, caring, trusting and accepting relationship with youth across their assigned youth and mentors.

* Step in to provide consistent service to youth during vacation, extended leave or when Friends transition out of the organization.

* Spend time each week with youth and mentors in the community or at the Friends Ranch.

* Build awareness of each Roadmap Goal Plan or Transition Plan for each youth across their assigned group.

* Set realistic expectations and goals based on each youth's strengths, talents, abilities and needs when serving as an interim mentor.

* Work with the Program Director and Education Program Specialist to create youth centered activities that support youth spark, goals and build a sense of belonging.

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