Youth Engagement Specialist

The Youth Engagement Specialist will provide Skillbuilding-style services to youth with behavioral health challenges ages 5 to 21. The Youth Engagement Specialist assists individuals to eliminate functional deficits and interpersonal/environmental barriers to restore their functioning and integration within their family, community, or culture. Youth Engagement Specialists provide face to face person-centered, recovery-oriented, solution focused interventions in individual or group settings. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITES: 

• Model and educate youth and young adults on self-advocacy and systems navigation. 

• Assist clients in developing goals and objectives that are strength and needs based. 
• Engage each client in weekly community-based activities to promote healthy lifestyles and progress towards established goals. 
• Link client to other agencies and services as needed. 
• Document visits in detailed progress notes. 
• Create formal treatment plans based on a young person’s strengths and needs. 

• Represent client voice in staff and team meetings. 
• Gather clients in small groups periodically to promote positive socialization and problem-solving. 

VALUES IN ACTION: 

Creating Connections  

• Ability to establish connections with participant and family’s circle of supports and serve as a member of youth’s treatment team.  
• Makes frequent communication with collaterals and maintain relationships over the course of service. 
• Ensure services are youth-centered and family-focused. 

One Team, One Mission 

• Willingness to communicate creatively with co-workers.   
• Conduct outreach in the community on behalf of all Compeer programs (ambassadorship). 
• Demonstrate willingness to take on additional responsibilities with the agency and in the community. 
• Maintain positive communication and relationships with co-workers. 
• Represent Compeer in a professional manner both internally and out in the community (this includes written and spoken language, attitude, and appearance). 

Lead by Example 

• Demonstrate sensitivity to and respect for the diverse cultural backgrounds of the youth and family served. 
• Maintain self-care. 

• Manage daily tasks with little or no prompting from Supervisor. 
• Demonstrate organization and effective, efficient use of time and agency resources. 
• Show willingness to accept responsibility for errors while taking corrective action.  
• Ability to use and accept constructive criticism appropriately. 
• Demonstrate reliability through attendance, punctuality, and timely responses. 

Sharing Knowledge and Expertise 

• Participate in trainings as assigned. 
• Ability to develop achievable and realistic goals based on a youth’s diagnoses, needs, and strengths. 
• Proven ability to inspire, and energize youth to develop skills. 
• Demonstrate flexibility and creativity when faced with challenges. 

Education/Experience Required: 

Must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma, high school equivalency or a State Education Commencement Credential with a minimum of two years’ experience in children’s mental health, addiction and/or foster care or; a Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, or in related human services field or; a Master’s degree in social work, psychology, or in related human services field. 

Compeer Rochester, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.