Children and Youth Specialist

The Children and Youth Specialist (CYS) is a vital member of Mary's Place Youth Services. The CYS works with guests to support enrolling children in school, leads youth programming – including Kids Club, Teen Club, and Outings – providing safe and fun experiences for our youth in shelter ages 5 to 18. This role also supports our birth-to-five program, childcare resource connections for guests, and developmental screenings.

Staff are responsible for youth safety, well-being, and social-emotional development through modeling prosocial behavior, interactive play, and other activities.

The CYS actively engages in Mary's Place racial equity work – striving for equitable outcomes and taking responsibility for creating, maintaining, and affirming communities for people of color, immigrants and refugees, trans and gender-non-conforming people, and other populations who routinely encounter systemic oppress ions.

This is a full-time non-exempt position located at our Regrade (downtown Seattle) location. Pay starts at $26 per hour/DOE.

Schedule:

Monday to Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. or Sunday – Thursday 10 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Key Responsibilities

· Meet with each family in shelter to provide programmatic information, sign relevant consents and releases, and plan for engagement with internal and external services

· Monitor email, Teams, and communications channels daily for urgent needs and follow-ups

· Maintain and monitor internal guest logs, and goal reports regularly

· Provide resource navigation to caregivers as it relates to their children 0-5, including childcare system navigation through DCYF

· Provide childcare registration support

· Assist in facilitation of youth programming including, but not limited to, Circle Time, snack time, outdoor activities, and Family Outings

· Offer and administer Ages and Stages Questionnaires for eligible children in shelter and provide developmental referrals

· Connect with all guests with school-aged children to assess educational needs of families upon shelter entry

· Assist families with school enrollment and establishing school transportation

· Promptly enter and update data in Mary’s Place internal database (Agency) to

· accurately track students’ school information

· Maintain understanding of the McKinney-Vento law in order to advocate

for students and families at school and school district levels

· Provide engaged presence and personal leadership for programs, activities, and services that prepare youth for success while creating an environment that facilitates positive youth development

· Ensure a healthy and safe environment while maintaining facilities, equipment, and supplies

· Assist with planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating progress, services, and activities

· Collect and track member attendance and behavior data

· Ensure confidentiality of membership data, school data, and other member information

· Model mature work behaviors to ensure a productive work environment

· Ensure program areas are set-up and cleaned up on a daily basis

· Assist in facilitation of youth programming including, but not limited to, homework focus and assistance, structured and informal educational games and activities, outings, and birthday parties

· Affirm positive behavior and deliver coaching conversations and redirection when needed

· Assist outside agencies and volunteers that come into Kids Club, determine specific volunteer activities, and develop positive and encouraging relationships with all volunteers

· Provide crisis management and set appropriate limits as needed

· Drive Mary's Place vehicles as requested for program needs

· Perform other duties as assigned

Skills/Qualifications

· High School diploma or two years in relevant work experience; some…