Youth Care Worker

Youth Care Worker – Cayuga Centers

Location:

New York, NY

Pay: $25.00–$26.00 per hour

Join the nation’s largest foster care program for unaccompanied children and make a difference by supporting them in our Learning Center.

Cayuga Centers is an accredited non‑profit, human services agency dedicated to family support and preservation, trauma‑informed care, and serving vulnerable populations with the most unique needs. Founded in 1852 in Auburn, NY, we have a long history of delivering high‑quality and innovative services to individuals, children, youth and families. We have 22 offices across 8 states and serve over 17,000 individuals and families annually.

At Cayuga Centers, we embrace diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging by taking a firm stance against hatred, inequality, bias, and injustice, and by providing our staff with the training, coaching, and resources necessary to grow and serve with cultural humility, acceptance, and understanding.

Our Transitional Foster Care Program for Unaccompanied Children (UC), overseen by the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), ensures the well‑being and safety of unaccompanied children (ages 0‑17) who cross the US Southern border without an adult. Unlike traditional congregate care settings, our approach involves placing unaccompanied children in foster homes while diligently searching for and assessing potential sponsors identified in the US.

During their stay with us, we provide medical care, case management, engaging life skills classes, and essential mental‑health services.

Youth Care Workers assist the Teacher and/or individual student with daily instructional and non‑instructional activities, student management and meal support, lifting, and individualized care as necessary.

• Maintain a safe, positive classroom environment consistent with Cayuga Centers’ internal policy and protocol.
• Provide trauma‑informed, culturally responsive care, including Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and individualized support services.
• Collaborate with Teachers, Clinicians, Case Managers, and other staff to ensure quality care that is tailored to each child’s individual needs.
• Provide support to Teachers and substitute Teachers to conduct lesson plans when needed.
• Understand and be aware of the physical and emotional needs of students.
• Responsible for uploading educational progress reports for each child in care, along with other documentation.
• Facilitate daily morning arrivals and dismissals.
• Provide instruction for Physical Education.
• Contribute to curriculum implementation, special support services, field trip planning, community outreach, and other Learning Center team projects.
• Attend mandatory staff meetings and regular supervision.
• Actively participate and/or complete all professional development requirements, including training, readings, and pertinent certifications.
• Assist students with classroom assignments.
• Assist with lunch and snacks for children.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• High School Diploma/GED required;
  Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Bilingual (Fluency in both English and Spanish or Haitian Creole required).
• Classroom experience required; background in Special Education or ENL strongly preferred.
• Portrays cultural competence and appreciates diversity; experience working with immigrant, LGBTQIA, and non‑English speaking populations.
• Knowledge of modern classroom technologies, including computers, tablets, and smartboards.
• Experience in classroom management, student engagement strategies, and classroom intervention strategies for students who have experienced trauma.
• Ability to be flexible and adaptable to change.
• Must be highly organized and able to work independently.
• Proficient in Microsoft Suite.
• Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively with a team.
• Strong interest in working with immigrant young persons.
• Demonstrates empathy and high moral character; strong alignment with Cayuga Centers’ mission, values, and competencies.
• Passion and commitment to teaching, working with children, and serving immigrant and refugee children.
• Candidates with experience in Montessori education or GED…