Youth Development Social Worker

Street Squash was founded in Harlem in September 1999 as the second squash and education program in the United States. A comprehensive youth enrichment program, Street Squash combines academic tutoring, squash instruction, community service, college preparation, leadership development, and mentoring for young people ages 11-24. What began as an after-school program with 24 middle school students and two staff members has expanded to serve upwards of 500 participants from 6th grade through college graduation, and entry into the workforce.

Learn more about us eetsquash.org.

About the Position

Street Squash is seeking a driven, innovative Youth Development Social Worker with a primary focus on middle school programs and family engagement.
This role integrates workshop facilitation, individualized & group counseling, and youth development practices to support the holistic growth and success of middle school participants. The ideal candidate will possess a passion for supporting young people on the path to high school graduation, post-secondary education and completion, and securing meaningful, self-sustaining employment. The Youth Development Social Worker reports to the Chief Program Officer.

Ideal candidates will have a deep commitment to youth development in an after-school setting, value personal excellence, and have comfort supporting a young person’s social-emotional development. They will have significant experience working with youth of color attending public schools in urban areas, and experience managing groups at varying development levels. This individual will be expected to work evenings until 6:30 pm and some weekends.

Responsibilities:

• Provide bio psycho social assessment and treatment and family sessions for cohort of middle school students
• Develop and lead weekly social-emotional curriculum and enrichment programming
• Communicate regularly with all staff about student action plans
• Support students and families in their academic and personal growth through programming and relationship-building including one-on-one counseling, school visits, home visits, group work, action planning, case work, crisis intervention, family sessions etc.
• Coordinate parent/caregiver groups and events
• Network with external stakeholders and other service providers to refer students and families as needed
• Collaborate on relevant programming with the social work staff and the organization as a whole
• Lead and participate in Family Leadership Board initiatives including meetings, forums, and fundraising efforts
• Participate in Emergency Fund coordination
• Support with team meetings and staff development
• Complete wellness calls/ meetings with students and families on caseload
• Coordinate with program staff to discuss individual cases

Qualifications:

• Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) in New York State (Required)
• Recent graduates from an accredited Master of Social Work (MSW) program who are eligible to obtain LMSW registration within 3–6 months of hire are encouraged to apply.
• Prior experience providing therapy to youth and adolescents; ability to establish and strengthen relationships with participants and partners
• Passion for young people and enjoyment of spending time with them, and pushing them to set and achieve goals in all aspects of their lives
• Experience with parents and family engagement
• Knowledge of NYC Public Schools, transfer schools, special education desirable
• Excellent communication and research abilities
• Interpersonal, organizational, and networking skills critical
• Proven ability to make good, proactive decisions in potentially emotionally-charged situations and/or in the absence of complete clarity; comfortable taking risks
• Ability to understand program data and the purpose of its usage; use data to identify programmatic trends and develop responsive practices for improving programs
• Sensitivity to different cultures, races, and ethnicities. Works well with diverse or marginalized populations
• Valid driver’s license
• Spanish and/or French proficiency a plus
• Google Suite, Zoom, and Salesforce experience a plus, or demonstrated experience to learn new systems

Commitment: Street Squash values long-term, deep, impactful work…