Youth and Family Engagement Specialist

Location 2610 Hamilton,Omaha, NE, 68131,United States Industry Youth, Education, Child Welfare Employee Type FT Exempt Description Starting at $50k annually Organization Information : 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. Position Summary : 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. Essential Functions : 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 considerable independence and guidance from sworn police officers. Ability to work with entities in the planning, organizing, and conducting educational and recreational programs. Knowledge of the causes of youth gang membership. Skill in gaining the confidence of young people and ability to interact with and positively influence youth. Demonstrated organizational skills and project management abilities, attention to detail, and promptness Experience working with and demonstrating compassion and/or sensitivity toward vulnerable populations and individuals with diverse backgrounds present in the organization’s service population, both individually and in groups Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationship with Club staff, Board members, volunteers, community groups, and other related agencies Qualifications : College coursework or other training in Criminal Justice, Social Work, Sociology, Psychology or a related subject OR equivalent combination of training and experience. Two years working with at-risk youth preferred with equivalent. Ability to effectively interact with sensitivity and responsiveness to cultural differences present in the organization’s service population, both individually and in groups. Must be able to effectively navigate and function within a virtual environment Strong verbal and written communication skills Must be proficient in the use of Windows, Internet, Microsoft Suite (Microsoft Teams, Word, Excel, Outlook PowerPoint, Publisher, Access or other database software proficiency), Zoom or other Virtual Meeting platforms, Internet Savvy, and Google Platform (Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides) Ability to earn and maintain mandatory CPR & First aid certification Maintain a valid driver’s license and meet eligibility requirements to drive a BGCM vehicle Must be able to pass a drug test, criminal and driving records investigation The ability to read and write is necessary to complete reports and properly document program and organizational data to compile accurate, timely monthly reports Must have regular and reliable attendance Must have reliable transportation to transport oneself to work sites throughout the city. #J-18808-Ljbffr Boys & Girls Clubs of the Midlands