Therapeutic Program Specialist

Full Circle Youth Empowerment, Inc. (FCYE)

Salary: $45,000 annually + employee benefits

Employment Type:

Full-Time

Schedule:

Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM, with flexibility for after-school hours, evenings, school vacations, special events, and occasional weekends.

Location:

Primarily on-site in Bridgeport, CT

Full Circle Youth Empowerment, Inc. is seeking a Therapeutic Program Specialist to provide direct, hands-on support to youth participating in FCYE's therapeutic, after-school, summer, and supportive service programs.

The Therapeutic Program Specialist is responsible for engaging youth in structured educational, recreational, social-emotional, therapeutic-supportive, and life-skills activities that promote positive youth development, emotional wellness, healthy relationships, academic success, and independent living skills.

This is a direct-service position. The Specialist will regularly work one-on-one and in small and large groups with youth, facilitate structured activities and groups, assist with youth assessments, provide behavioral support, document services, and collaborate with program leadership, families, schools, DCF, and other service providers as appropriate.

The ideal candidate is creative, dependable, energetic, youth-centered, and comfortable engaging adolescents who may have experienced trauma, behavioral challenges, foster care involvement, or other barriers to success.

The Therapeutic Program Specialist is ahands-on, youth-facing position responsible for engaging, supporting, and facilitating programming for adolescents, including DCF-involved youth. The successful candidate must be comfortable leading groups, managing challenging behaviors, creating engaging activities, and building positive relationships with youth.

• Engage & Mentor Youth: Build trusting, professional relationships with youth while providing direct supervision, mentoring, individual support, and positive behavioral guidance.
• Facilitate Groups &
  
  Activities:
  
  Plan and lead individual, small-group, and large-group activities focused on social-emotional development, coping skills, communication, conflict resolution, life skills, healthy relationships, goal setting, workforce readiness, and academic success.
• Provide Educational Support: Deliver or facilitate at least 45 minutes of educational programming, homework assistance, tutoring, or academic support as required by the program.
• Support Behavioral & Emotional Needs: Use trauma-informed, strengths-based approaches to provide redirection, de-escalation, conflict resolution, and emotional support while maintaining a safe and structured environment.
• Conduct & Support Assessments: Assist with youth intake, strengths/needs assessments, behavioral and social-emotional assessments, and individualized support planning. Monitor progress and communicate concerns appropriately.
• Create Engaging Programming: Develop creative, age-appropriate activities that incorporate recreation, arts, movement, discussion, leadership, life skills, and youth interests to promote participation and positive development.
• Maintain Safety & Supervision: Provide active supervision during programming, transitions, field trips, transportation, and community activities while following FCYE, DCF, safety, confidentiality, and mandated reporting requirements.
• Document & Communicate: Complete attendance, progress notes, assessments, incident reports, and other required documentation accurately and on time. Communicate effectively with supervisors and the multidisciplinary team regarding youth needs.
• Collaborate & Participate: Work collaboratively with program leadership, clinical staff, DCF, schools, families, and community partners. Participate in team meetings, supervision, training, and professional development.

We are looking for someone who is energetic, creative, patient, dependable, and genuinely enjoys working with teenagers. The ideal candidate can confidently stand in front of a group, facilitate meaningful conversations and activities, respond calmly to challenging behaviors, and create an environment where youth feel supported, respected, and engaged.

Required:

• Minium of bachelor’s degree in human services, Social Work, Psychology, Education, Youth Development, Counseling, or a related field preferred.
• At least 3-5 years of experience working directly with adolescents or young adults in youth development, after-school…