Youth Developmeent Specialist

• Assist with recruitment, intake and assessments, implementation of curriculum and recreational activities.
• Plan and co-facilitate weekly youth development groups, activities, and recreational programming focused on positive youth development, gang involvement prevention, and school dropout prevention. in school and community settings.
• Plan and co-facilitate evidence-based curricula, including Making Proud Choices, VOICES, and ARISE, for youth ages 11-19, addressing pregnancy prevention, STIs, HIV prevention, healthy decision-making, and other youth development topics in school and community settings.
• Facilitate Adult Preparation Subjects using the MA Department of Public Health's approved material such as Preparing Adolescents for Young Adulthood (PAYA) and FLASH curricula.
• Provide clients with information and advice concerning family planning, growth and development, sexually transmitted diseases, and other sexual health-related concerns.
• Provide ongoing case management, mentoring, coaching, and individualized support to middle school-aged youth to help them achieve personal, educational, and developmental goals.
• Collaborate with school personnel and agency staff as well as other team members to determine appropriate services and/or referral to outside resources (if applicable).
• Assist in developing, reviewing, and maintaining Behavior Agreement Plans as well as positive character and academic rewards and incentives.
• Maintain current knowledge of family planning, growth and development, sexually transmitted diseases, and other sexual health related concerns.
• Provide data as needed for agency reporting requirements.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Associate degree in human services, social work, education, psychology, youth development, or a related field;
  OR a high school diploma/equivalent with at least three years of relevant experience working with youth and facilitating groups.
• Experience working with adolescents, particularly youth who may be experiencing academic, social, family, or other challenges.
• Strong interest in youth development and a commitment to helping young people recognize their strengths and reach their goals.
• Comfortable educating and engaging youth around sensitive topics, including sexuality, healthy relationships, pregnancy prevention, and sexual health.
• Energetic, enthusiastic, dependable, and able to build positive relationships with youth.
• Bilingual fluency in English and Spanish, with strong verbal and written communication, interpersonal, customer service, and relationship-building skills.
• Strong group facilitation and public speaking skills, including the ability to engage both small and large groups.
• Ability to communicate respectfully and effectively with individuals from different backgrounds, cultures, experiences, and perspectives.
• Ability to maintain appropriate professional boundaries and participant confidentiality.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and comfort using electronic databases and data-entry systems.
• Access to reliable transportation and the ability to travel locally and throughout Massachusetts for agency and program-related business.
• Ability and willingness to work evenings and occasional weekends as required by program activities.

• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a collaborative team.
• Experience working with culturally and linguistically diverse youth and families.
• Experience supporting LGBTQ+ youth and families inclusively and respectfully.
• Knowledge of Lawrence and the Greater Lawrence community, including community resources available to youth and families.
• Experience with youth mentoring, case management, group facilitation, or evidence-based youth development curricula.

Family Services is a non-profit, social service organization located in Lawrence, MA. The organization helps more than 7,000 people in the Merrimack Valley each year through 20+ programs focused on youth development, parent education and emotional health. All of its services are infused with a sense of hope and possibility and enable individuals to thrive in their family, community, workplace and school.

For more information, please visit www.

FSMV.org.
FSMV is an equal opportunity employer