Part-Time Youth Support Specialist

Youth Support Specialist - Job #561 – Litchfield, CT 06759 – Part Time 12 hours per week – Thurs-Sat 9am-1pm – $23.27 per hour

The Youth Support Specialist is dedicated to the direct supervision of adolescent boys in a short-term transitional living program. Youth Support Specialists cultivate a safe, healthy, therapeutic, nurturing and caring home environment that is supportive of each participant’s individualized needs, social, emotional, and academic development. They are positive role models offering support, strength-based encouragement and protection of youth in their care, advocating for youth and sharing information and updates with parents/guardians.

• Maintain constant sight and sound supervision of youths within established program expectations and guidelines
• Ensure physical safety of youth and provide crisis intervention as needed
• Follow established routines, schedules, and structure, like wake up and bedtimes, and transition to school
• Record observations in daily documentation and logs
• Monitor and reporting healthcare needs or concerns, and ensuring compliance with daily medication regimen through support, encouragement, and self-care education
• Accompany youths between facilities, meetings, appointments and/or other activities
• Ensure living spaces are organized, clean, safe and free from hazards
• Supervise youths during mealtimes
• Support and facilitate the implementation of youths’ individualized care plans and schedules
• Utilize Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) coaching to enhance adolescents learning and skill use
• Transport adolescents to appointments and recreation trips
• Provide transportation to adolescents and families as programmatic needs dictate in order to facilitate family visitation/sessions and home passes
• Focus on Client Needs:
  Anticipate, understand, and respond to the needs of internal and external clients to meet or exceed their expectations within program parameters
• Ability to communicate, cooperate and serve people from all cultural identities with respect, professionalism, integrity and fairness in a manner that recognizes the individuality of each person
• Foster Teamwork:
  Work cooperatively and effectively with others to set goals, resolve problems, and make decisions that enhance program effectiveness
• Available to work evenings and weekends as may be needed
• Regular and consistent attendance
• Performs other duties as assigned by supervisor

• 12 hours per week
  • Thursday-Saturday 9:00am-1:00pm (4-hour shift)
• You can also accept per diem hours as they become available
• Overtime/ time and a half eligible
• Rate of pay is $23.27per hour

• High school diploma or equivalent – Required
• Minimum 6-monthsof experience working with at-risk or court-involved adolescents – Required
• Valid driver’s license – Required
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to respond calmly and effectively during emergencies
• Strong communication and conflict resolution skills
• Experience working with diverse populations or applying culturally responsive practices
• Demonstrated understanding of adolescent development and mental health issues
• Reliable transportation and flexibility to work scheduled shifts

At CJR, we pride ourselves on creating a compassionate, culturally responsive work environment and offering a comprehensive benefits package that encourages and supports a healthy work/life balance. Joining our team, full-time employees will enjoy the following benefits:

• Free daily nutritious meals
• Generous Paid Vacation Package (unused time eligible for carry over)
• Generous Paid Sick Time (unused time eligible for carry over)
• Paid Holiday Time (separate from vacation time)
• Floating Holidays (separate from paid vacation time and paid holiday time)
• Annual monetary incentives
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with Company Match
• Career Growth Opportunities
• Company Celebrations & Employee Recognition Program
• Employee discounts (cell phone, computer)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Qualified Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Employer Federal Student Aid
• 10%-20% tuition discount at many local educational institutions, including those listed by the CT Nonprofit Alliance