Youth Care Advocate

The Old Colony YMCA Boy's Detention Program is offering a unique opportunity to work directly with justice-involved youth in a positive-based residential setting. This is a meaningful, entry-level position ideal for individuals looking to launch a career in the human services field.

This opportunity offers a supportive, team-oriented environment, hands-on experience working with youth and extensive training opportunities, including:
Trauma-Informed Care, De-escalation Techniques, Positive Youth Development and more.

• Minimum of a high school diploma or GED required.
• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, Human Services, or related field preferred.
• Experience working with youth, especially in a residential, group home, or behavioral health setting.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed care or previous training in related approaches.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to build trust and rapport with youth while maintaining professional boundaries.
• Ability to de-escalate crises and manage conflict calmly and safely.
• Physically and emotionally able to respond to challenging behaviors.
• Good documentation and basic computer skills (for logging notes, incident reports, etc.).
• Ability to work collaboratively with a team.
• Flexibility to work non-traditional hours, including evenings, weekends, holidays, or overnights.

We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome applications from diverse candidates.