Afterschool Programs Assistant

Reports To: Healing Hub Director/Program Leadership

Start Date: ASAP

Detroit Heals Detroit is seeking a caring, dependable, and youth-centered After-School Program Assistant to support our after-school programming for young people. This position plays an important role in creating a space where youth can receive academic support, explore their interests, build meaningful relationships, and have opportunities to process, heal, and grow.

The After-School Program Assistant will provide homework and tutoring support, assist with enrichment activities, support daily program operations, and help facilitate Detroit Heals Detroit's Healing Circles. The ideal candidate understands that supporting young people goes beyond academics and is committed to creating an environment where youth feel safe, seen, affirmed, challenged, and supported.

• Provide individual and small-group tutoring and homework assistance.
• Help students strengthen skills in reading, writing, math, and other academic areas as needed.
• Encourage positive study habits, organization, goal-setting, and academic confidence.
• Help youth navigate assignments and projects without simply completing the work for them.
• Identify students who may need additional academic support and communicate those needs to program leadership.
• Celebrate academic growth, effort, consistency, and achievement.
• Assist with planning and facilitating engaging after-school activities that expose youth to new skills, interests, and experiences.
• Support activities related to arts and creativity, wellness, leadership, life skills, culture, financial literacy, career exploration, recreation, and other enrichment areas.
• Help prepare materials and spaces for daily programming.
• Encourage youth participation while allowing young people to have voice and choice in their experience.
• Support field trips, special events, workshops, guest facilitators, and community-based activities when scheduled.

• Assist with facilitating Detroit Heals Detroit's Healing Circles and other healing-centered programming.
• Help create spaces where young people can speak openly, build community, reflect, and feel heard without judgment.
• Support circle activities, discussion prompts, grounding exercises, relationship-building activities, and restorative practices.
• Model active listening, empathy, healthy communication, accountability, and respect.
• Maintain appropriate confidentiality while following organizational policies related to youth safety and mandated reporting.
• Help youth navigate conflict using restorative and relationship-centered approaches.
• Participate in training related to Healing Circles, trauma-informed practices, healing-centered engagement, and youth development.

• Build consistent, trusting, and appropriate relationships with participating youth.
• Create an environment that is welcoming, affirming, culturally responsive, and inclusive.
• Encourage youth leadership and provide opportunities for young people to contribute ideas and help shape programming.
• Support young people experiencing frustration, conflict, or difficult emotions using de-escalation and relationship-centered strategies.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries with all youth.
• Serve as a positive, dependable adult presence within the Healing Hub.

• Assist with student arrival, sign-in, dismissal, transitions, meals/snacks, and daily routines.
• Help maintain a clean, organized, welcoming, and safe program environment.
• Monitor youth during programming and activities.
• Follow all Detroit Heals Detroit policies related to youth safety, emergencies, incidents, and confidentiality.
• Document attendance, participation, incidents, and other required program information.
• Communicate concerns regarding youth safety, behavior, or well-being to program leadership promptly.
• Participate in staff meetings, training, program planning, and reflection sessions.
• Assist with other program-related responsibilities necessary to ensure a successful after-school experience.

Required:

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Experience working with youth in a school, nonprofit, mentoring, tutoring, recreation, camp, community, or similar setting.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to work patiently and respectfully with young people from different backgrounds and experiences.
• Ability to support basic middle…