Youth Advocate; Out-of-School Coordinator

Description

Joint Initiatives for Youth + Families (JI) is a nonprofit organization established in 1989 specifically for the purpose of bringing together agencies that serve children and youth to drive collective impact and ensure higher impact services for young people ages 0-21 and their families in El Paso and Teller Counties.

The Youth Advocate supports Joint Initiatives’ Pathways program by delivering evidence-based, trauma-informed programming that fosters positive youth development, reduces risk factors, and strengthens protective factors for middle and high school youth wherever JI serves youth. The advocate builds positive relationships with youth and engages youth in activities such as after-school programs, tutoring, restorative practice connection circles, and career exploration activities that build skills, promote healing, and inspire hope for the future.

• Coordinates and supports volunteers and contractors delivering programming within the Ascend Center to ensure alignment with program goals and student needs.
• Collaborates with community partners and JI leadership to provide out-of-school and summer activities intended to reduce risk behaviors and build positive skills, including after-school and summer activities.
• Facilitates the delivery of trauma-informed, pro-social skill-building activities that strengthen interpersonal relationships and support academic engagement through connection circles and other activities.
• Collaborates with peers and partners to design and implement parent/caretaker programming within JI to improve family support and life skill development for youth.
• Collaborates with school administration to develop, implement, and evaluate youth-responsive programming that targets at-risk youth.
• Facilitates youth leadership and peer mentoring opportunities by engaging students in program design, feedback, and outreach, while integrating youth-led initiatives within school based programming.
• Recruits, trains, and supports youth mentors and leaders to strengthen peer networks, elevate youth voice, and promote positive role modeling and community engagement.
• Coordinates career exploration and preparation activities, including monthly career days, career fairs, and short-term enrichment classes. Connects with community partners as needed.
• Conducts youth assessments to move them toward services best suited to meet their needs.
• Documents outcomes that support grant deliverables, including peer engagement, youth satisfaction, and skill development.
• Tracks youth hours, stipend payments, and transportation support as needed.
• Maintains accurate records and ensures timely reporting of activities, outcomes, and program performance measures on a regular schedule.
• Conducts program evaluation to ensure programming success; modifies programming as needed based on results.

• Engages in productive and respectful communications with JI leadership and colleagues.
• Serves as a positive ambassador of JI to external parties. Displays a positive attitude, works well with others, and accepts direction well.
• Works well under stressful and emotionally-taxing circumstances and engages in effective self-care.
• Works effectively with those representing a variety of needs and abilities, with varying socioeconomic, cultural, and racial backgrounds.
• Recognizes that we hold attitudes and beliefs that can detrimentally influence our perceptions of, and interactions with individuals who are diverse from ourselves.
• Treats children and families with respect, dignity, and empathy. Reviews work for accuracy, clarity, timeliness, and…