Youth and Family Engagement Specialist

• Location 2610 Hamilton,Omaha, NE, 68131,United States
• Industry Youth, Education, Child Welfare
• Employee Type FT Exempt

Starting at $50k annually

The Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands (BGCM), an affiliate with Boys & Girls Clubs of America is a comprehensive out-of-school provider designed to support the most vulnerable youth in the Midlands. Our vision is to provide a world-class Club Experience that assures success is within reach of every young person who enters our doors, with all members on track to graduate from high school with a plan for the future, demonstrating good character and citizenship, and living a healthy lifestyle.

It is our mission to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, healthy and caring members of society. Safety, Accountability, Positivity, Integrity, Professionalism and Respectfulness are our core values that are embedded in our everyday culture.

The Youth & Family Engagement Specialist positions are established in partnership with Omaha Police Department (OPD) for the purpose/s of reducing gang membership in the City of Omaha. Specialists support schools, community organizations and OPD with specific responsibilities for providing gang intervention and prevention services to youth and young adults in the Omaha Metro. Specialists provide gang prevention training to district personnel, parents, youth, and community organizations;

and intervenes with identified gang members and youth on the fringes through direct contact with youth and their families.

• Build and maintain positive relationships with members of Omaha Police Department and BGCM staff.
• Intervene with youth on the fringe of gang involvement as identified by OPD through individual advisement and conflict resolution activities.
• Meet with parents and guardians for the purpose of providing support.
• Maintain a variety of confidential and non-confidential information (e.g. interventions, affiliations, etc.) for the purpose of compiling and documenting activities in compliance with requirements.
• Provide information to gang members on steps to take to remove themselves from gang membership, and refers youth seeking counseling, and monitors the impact if counseling.
• Develop programs/ activities to assist youth seeking alternate activities from gang membership.
• Serve as a liaison with school personnel to provide information, as appropriate, to help staff better cope with gang members in the classrooms, avoiding conflicts, with the goal of increasing student and school safety.
• Aggressively recruit young people, most at risk of gang involvement, to become members of the Boys & Girls Clubs. The Youth & Family Engagement Specialist will work with Club staff to mainstream participants into quality, life-sustaining Club programs and community services.
• Work with various entities that provide employment, educational, and recreational programs designed to assist youths to set positive goals, remain in or return to school, and avoid gang membership.
• Plan, organize, and conduct special events to inform community residents of the efforts to attract youths to programs and away from gang membership.
• Attend meeting organized by community-based organizations, social services and law enforcement to coordinate gang eradication efforts.
• Prepare and provide public presentations to inform and engage community providers about appropriate responses to youth gang behaviors.
• Incorporates activities promoting cognitive, social and emotional development into all interactions with youth.
• Provides activities and interactions that promote critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Designs guidance techniques and strategies to support youth individually, and in group experiences, to develop self-regulation, self-concept, coping mechanisms, and positive interactions with their peers and adults.
• Enhances group experiences using appropriate methods, services, and resources, including technology.
• Must be able to work with children, adolescents and parents.
• Ability to be flexible to change plans as needed and requested.
• Ability to communicate with a variety of youth from various socio-economic, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds.
• Ability to meet with teachers, law enforcement and other community officials, and families of youth to explain current programs and to coordinate efforts.
• Ability to perform the duties of the position with…