Youth Services Coordinator

Job Description

Job Description

The YWCA Charleston's current mission is to eliminate racism, empower women, and promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. Its work includes shelter and support for women and families, domestic violence services, child development, senior services, and racial equity/community enrichment. (ywcacharleston.org)

About YWCA Charleston:

Since 1912, YWCA Charleston has served the Charleston and surrounding communities by providing programs and services that promote self-sufficiency, independence, safety, opportunity, and dignity. Today, the YWCA provides a diverse network of services supporting women, children, families, seniors, and the broader community.

Position Summary:

The Youth Services Coordinator, under the direction of the Program Director, provides services to children of parents who are clients of the Resolve Family Abuse Program. The YSAC while working closely with Hope House staff, will ensure that any program participants with open CPS cases have advocacy within the Child Protective Services system and that their children receive appropriate referrals and intervention strategies to best serve them and their family.

Education & Experience Required:

• Associate degree in Human Services or a related field and two years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum of two years of experience working with children, youth, and/or families in a human services, educational, social services, shelter, advocacy, or community-based setting preferred. Experience working with survivors of domestic violence, child welfare systems, crisis intervention, or trauma-informed services is highly desirable.

Additional Requisites:

• Excellent communication skills.
• Public speaking and presentation skills.
• Crisis intervention skills.
• Ability to implement and evaluate systems.
• Must have a valid driver’s license.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Assist Hope House residents with getting children enrolled in appropriate schools, work with parents who choose homeschooling, and partner with the county’s homeless facilitator to help children get needed assistance for education.
• Coordinate with the Hope House Manager and meet with children and families staying at Hope House to determine each child’s related needs.
• Coordinate child advocacy, CPS referrals, and other services.
• Assure that residents with children are receiving appropriate interventions that will assist them in anger control, resolution, understanding of healthy home life, self-esteem, sharing, and improved coping abilities, as well as referrals in partnership with the Hope House Manager.
• Systematically document all client interventions and models appropriate child intervention strategies for staff and residents.
• Assist clients with arranging childcare, so they may continue working or keep needed appointments.
• Maintain confidentiality and submit monthly records and data required for grants and other reports to the Assistant Director as requested.
• Responsible for the shelter’s child nutrition program by developing healthy funder-compliant menus, coordinating grocery purchasing, and processing USDA and Mountaineer Food Bank food orders to ensure nutritious meal service and regulatory compliance. 
• Entering data and interactions to create program statistics for leadership and grant funders.
• Facilitate activities with staff to ensure that children adjust to the shelter.
• Engages in safe and developmentally supportive play and physical activities for children and keep the staff aware of child safety concerns.
• Maintain a child-friendly activities area in the Glotfelty Center to provide children with age-appropriate activities, programming, and resources.
• Must attend a minimum of 50 hours of approved training towards a West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence (WVCADV) Domestic Violence Advocate certification annually.
• Assure that Domestic Violence Advocate certifications are maintained through approved continuing education.
• Assist with staff training and orientation in children’s services and keep an inventory of appropriate toys and activity supplies.
• Attend all Hope House domestic violence advocate training.
• Other duties as assigned.

Physical Demands/Working Environment: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position:

• Sedentary Work: Regularly required to remain seated in a normal position for up to 50% of the workday.
• Communication: Regularly required to talk and hear, and to verbally express ideas, information, and instructions clearly and effectively.
• Noise Level: The work environment is typically moderate in noise level (e.g., business offices with computers, printers, and light foot traffic).

Occasionally required to:

• Climb Stairs.
• Stand/walk for long periods of time.

Rarely required to:

• Stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• Work outdoors and be exposed to adverse weather conditions, including extreme heat, cold, rain, snow, and wind.
• Be exposed to potentially hazardous airborne materials, including dust, fumes, vapors, or other particulates. Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) will be provided.
• Be exposed to individuals who may have open cuts, wounds, or other bodily fluids. Universal precautions and infection control protocols must be followed.
• Lift, pull, push, carry up to twenty-five (25) pounds

Equal Employment Opportunity:

YWCA Charleston is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that reflects our mission of eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.