Youth Program Specialist

Youth Program SpecialistOur House empowers homeless and near-homeless families and individuals to succeed in the workforce, in school, and in life through hard work, wise decision-making, and active participation in the community. The Our House team has defined a set of seven Guiding Principles that characterize our culture and that we intentionally seek to uphold: Hard Work, Wise Decision-Making, Community, Initiative, Integrity, Safety, and Heart.About the RoleYou will be responsible for providing a safe and enriching out-of-school time program for K-12th grade in accordance with Arkansas' Minimum Licensing Standards. Our Club operates every day after school and all day during school-out-days (school breaks, summer break, teacher in-service days). Youth Program Specialists will implement a trauma-informed, two-generation approach to support youth and families in their journey out of homelessness.What You'll DoProvide direct service, supervision, and lesson planning for youth, ages K-12th grade, using a strengths-based, positive youth development frameworkCreate an enriching, fun, and safe environment for youth and families in Our Club Ensure that best practices are used in the classroom, actively seek feedback from youth on program choices, and foster supportive staff and peer relationshipsSupport youth who have special needs or struggle with emotional regulationAssist with the meal and snack service and complete required paperworkMaintain clean and organized classroom and program spacesSupport academic success of youth and help bridge the gap between school and home Help youth with homework and tutoring when needed and incorporate Arkansas Department of Education K-12 standardsBuild relationships with feeder schools and track academic strengths and needsSupport transportation needs, including helping families navigate school bus routes, or riding the Our House van for school pick-upsConnect youth to academic supports like tutors with ARKids ReadCollaborate with the Mental Health team to deliver social and emotional learning activities that explore identity, emotional intelligence, and empathyPlan enrichment activities that engage youth and integrate a two-generation approach. Develop programming in areas of STEAM, Health & Wellness, Youth Voice, Literacy, Life Skills, or other topics of interest to the youthPlan and execute field trips or special guest visits during out-of-school days that expose youth to new and exciting experiencesPlan family engagement events like Family Fun Night, Parenting Education, holiday celebrations and an annual Black History ProgramRegularly communicate with parents about youth needs, successes, and progress Communicate through the program communication app, BloomzDiscuss youth's development and behavior with supervisor and parents regularlyProvide youth and families wrap-around services by collaborating with the Stability Program, Mental Health Program, Early Childhood Program, and Housing ProgramsMaintain important program documents, including youth sign-in/sign-out sheet records, program bulletin boards, and monthly calendars and newslettersAssist with data tracking, performance measurement, and complete required professional development for Our Club Conduct literacy assessments, collect quarterly report cards, and complete Strengths Difficulties Questionnaire assessments to measure progressMonitor attendance and input youth daily attendance into Our House DatabaseAttend at least 30 hours of professional development each year, including participating in Youth Program Quality Assessment (YPQA).Follow all grant requirements and Arkansas Minimum Licensing requirementsConduct other duties as assigned to fulfill Our House's missionWhat You'll BringAbility to work effectively with diverse staff, parents, and community membersAction-oriented, entrepreneurial, adaptable, and innovative approach to planningAbility to work effectively in collaboration with diverse groups of peoplePassion, idealism, integrity, positive attitude, mission-driven, and self-directionSome supervisory experience with youth and staffAbility to develop relationships with the youth and nurture them through behavior and family challengesRequirementsHigh School diploma required; Bachelor's degree preferredA background or college courses in education, social work, or psychology preferredAt least 2 years of experience working with youth is preferredAbility to swim is preferredObtain CPR / First Aid certification within first 90 days of employmentMust be able to lift 30 lbsComplete Youth Worker Certification within 6 months of hireComplete the Arkansas New Staff Orientation within 90 days of hireMust be able to pass criminal background checks, child and adult maltreatment registry checks, sex offender registry checks, and a pre-employment drug screenBenefits & PerksVisit our careers page for more information on benefits and perks!Our House is a drug-free workplace.Our House is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all team members. People of color and members of the LGBTQ community are encouraged to apply.