Youth Program Leader

Join CASL as a Youth Program Leader and Make a Difference

Are you ready to make a meaningful impact in the lives of youth and families? Join CASL, where our mission is to support and empower children through safe, engaging, and enriching programs that foster academic growth, social-emotional development, and community connection.


Your Mission:

As a Youth Program Leader at CASL, you will lead high-quality, developmentally appropriate youth programming that supports the academic, social-emotional, and overall well-being of children and youth. This role ensures that youth programs are safe, engaging, compliant, and responsive to the needs of students and families, while fostering positive relationships, community connection, and opportunities for growth. Through thoughtful program planning, staff supervision, and family partnership, the Youth Program Leader advances CASL's commitment to empowering youth and strengthening families.


About CASL:

Founded in 1978, CASL is the largest and most comprehensive community-based organization in the Midwest, with deep roots in serving Asian Americans and a commitment to welcoming all. With over 45 years of experience, CASL supports individuals and families across four essential areas: health, human services, education, and advocacy. From early learning and senior care to legal assistance, housing support, and citizenship services, CASL helps thousands of Chicago-area residents build healthy, stable, and empowered lives.


To hear about:

CASL's history, watch here


CASL's future, watch here


Make a Difference, and Get the Support You Deserve

Salary Range: $38,000 - $48,000/year | Full Benefits Package Included


We value your expertise and commitment, and we invest in both. From competitive pay and comprehensive benefits to a culture that puts people first, you'll be supported while doing work that matters.


This role is based in Chinatown, Chicago, with a standard Monday-Friday schedule.


Scroll down for full details on salary, benefits, schedule and what it's like to be part of CASL.


What You'll Impact

As a Youth Program Leader, you will provide meaningful, structured learning and enrichment experiences that support youth development across social, emotional, academic, and behavioral domains. You will create a nurturing and inclusive environment where children feel safe, supported, and motivated to grow, while identifying individual needs and connecting families to appropriate supports. Through your leadership, supervision of tutors and volunteers, and collaboration with parents and internal teams, you will help ensure program quality, compliance, and positive outcomes for youth served-directly contributing to CASL's mission of building stronger, healthier communities.


In this role, you will also contribute to a culture grounded in our shared ways of working-demonstrating care, clarity, coordination, commitment, and continuous improvement in how you support clients and collaborate with others.


Key Responsibilities:

• Plans, implements, and evaluates developmentally appropriate classroom activities, which meet the intellectual, physical, social, emotional, language, and health needs of youth children. This includes activity plans, daily schedules, room arrangement, and use of materials/methods.
• Identifies the social and recreational needs of the students in the community and recommends appropriate initiatives and actions to meet those needs.
• Provides support to youth who need help in developmental, social and psychological aspects. Completes assessments (SAYO and Spence) that identify social emotional and stress levels of students. Plan activities to address these needs, and/or make referrals to Behavioral Health Unit at CASL if necessary.
• Partners with parents regarding students' special needs, progress, areas of strength and areas where additional support may be needed.
• Train, supervise, evaluate and support interns, tutors and volunteers and meet with them on a regular basis to provide guidance.
• Enter all client efforts and case notes into internal and external databases.
• Comply with all DCFS licensing standards for classrooms.
• Obtains data, analyzes and evaluates regularly to meet funding requirements. Provide data as needed for funding.
• Provide workshops and enrichment activities. Invite outside content area specialists to provide information and activities for youth enrichment and community involvement.
• Maintains a space that is clean, safe, and compliant for youth learning. Maintain and recommends purchases for the program supplies/activities.
• Prepares reports and performs record keeping functions required by the agency and assist with report writing as needed
• Responsible for own professional development, including participating in the supervisory process and using other educational opportunities, both within and outside of the agency.

Note: This job description outlines primary responsibilities but is not exhaustive. Duties may evolve in response to organizational needs, and flexibility will be required.


What You Bring - To thrive in this role, you should have:

Education and Experience:

• At least two years of college in Education, Social Work, Psychology or related field from an accredited college or university.
• At least one year of practical experience in youth work or social service or working with children/youth in a classroom setting.

Skills and Knowledge:

• Fluency in spoken and written English, bilingual in English and Chinese preferred.
• Basic computer proficiency required, including Microsoft Office, online research, and accurate data entry into internal systems.
• Good communication skills with youth and parents.

Bonus Points For:

• Experience working with children or youth in a school, nonprofit, or community setting
• Experience supervising or supporting staff, interns, or volunteers
• Familiarity with social-emotional learning or trauma-informed approaches
• Experience working with diverse families and communities
• Bilingual or bicultural experience

Physical Demands:

• Mainly work in classroom involving prolonged periods of sitting, walking and standing.

Environment and Scheduling:

• CASL standard business hours, Monday through Friday (9:00 am - 5:00 pm), with flexibility to work additional hours, as necessary.
• Work is performed during program hours, 10:00 am - 6:00 pm or 10:30am - 6:30pm, depending on age group responsibilities.
• Must be flexible and available to work alternate hours when necessary, i.e., CPS closures. Full day hours: 9am - 5pm.

Compensation & Benefits:

This position offers a salary range of $38,000 - $48,000 annually, reflective of experience and qualifications.


Join CASL and unlock a comprehensive benefits package designed to support you and your loved ones. As a full-time employee, you'll enjoy a range of options tailored to your needs.


CASL's comprehensive benefits package includes:

Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage


Retirement Plan


Generous Paid Time Off (PTO)


11+ Paid Holidays, including Lunar New Year and Juneteenth


Flexible Spending Account (FSA) & Health Savings Account (HSA)


Life Insurance, AD&D, and Disability Coverage


Voluntary Worksite Benefits and Pet Insurance


Commuter Benefits


Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for you and your household


Why Choose CASL:

Inclusivity: Join an organization that values mutual respect and acceptance, fostering a culture of inclusivity.


Empowerment: Support staff empowerment through skill development and growth opportunities.


Collaboration: Be part of a workplace that thrives on collaboration and teamwork.


Transformation: Envision and realize transformative changes in people, processes, and policies.


Resiliency: Work with a dynamic workforce and model resiliency to achieve collective strengths.


Join Us and Make a Difference:

Join us at CASL, where together, we create a brighter future for our community.


Thank you for your interest in joining our team! Every application is personally reviewed by a real person-not AI. Our process may take some time, but rest assured, we will follow up with updates as soon as we can. We appreciate your patience and look forward to learning more about you.


At CASL, we believe that diverse perspectives fuel innovation and drive success. If you're excited about the opportunity but unsure if you meet every requirement listed, we still encourage you to submit your application. Our company culture thrives on the unique talents and experiences that each individual brings to the table. We're looking for the right fit, and that goes beyond a checklist of qualifications. Join us in shaping a dynamic and inclusive team where your skills and contributions truly matter.


CASL is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and experiences.