Youth Intervention Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

We are Hiring!

As a regional agency of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Rochester, Catholic Charities Steuben/Livingston builds communities that care for all people. We serve all people seeking help in a safe, welcoming and comforting environment that feels like being home. We proudly employ people from all backgrounds and experiences. 

If you're looking for more than just a job, if you're passionate about making a meaningful impact on the lives of others, join a team that changes lives every day. Be a part of something truly special.

Employment Type: Full-Time

Schedule: M-F 35 hours

Salary: $27.00-30.00/hr.

Top Benefits and Perks:

• Competitive salary and 403b retirement plan 
• Generous time off package and work-life balance 
• Comprehensive benefits package 
• Supportive and collaborative environment 
• Opportunities for growth and development 
• Intrinsic reward of truly making a difference in people's lives 

Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, Human Services, or a related field required.

Credentials: Master’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, Human Services, or a related field preferred.

Experience: Knowledge of trauma-informed care, adolescent development, restorative practices, juvenile justice diversion, and educational engagement strategies. Strong mentoring, relationship-building, crisis intervention, case management, and communication skills. Experience working with at-risk youth, juvenile justice populations, school-based intervention programs, or youth development services. Experience collaborating with schools, probation departments, behavioral health providers, law enforcement, and community organizations. Training or experience in crisis intervention, de-escalation, motivational interviewing, restorative practices, or trauma-informed care. Knowledge of risk and protective factors associated with youth delinquency, school disengagement, and behavioral health concerns. · Commitment to promoting educational success, positive youth development, and justice diversion outcomes. Relevant years of experience and education will be considered

General Description

The Youth Intervention Specialist provides trauma-informed intervention, mentoring, advocacy, and educational re-engagement services to youth at risk of juvenile justice involvement in Steuben and Livingston Counties. Working collaboratively with schools, families, community partners, probation departments, and law enforcement, the Youth Intervention Specialist delivers individualized support designed to address stabilization needs, strengthen protective factors, reduce risk behaviors, promote school success, and prevent or reduce justice-system involvement through early intervention, skill development, and coordinated community support.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Youth and Family Engagement, Assessment, and Stabilization

• Conduct initial intake interviews and eligibility screenings for referred youth and families.
• Obtain informed consent and complete all required enrollment documentation.
• Complete the Child and Adolescent Functional Assessment Scale (CAFAS) at intake and at regular intervals to assess functioning and measure progress.
• Utilize standardized assessments to identify the underlying factors contributing to youth instability, school disengagement, and increased risk of juvenile justice involvement, and incorporate findings into individualized interventions.
• Develop and maintain an Individualized Service Plan (ISP) that addresses stabilization needs, educational re-engagement, and reduction in the likelihood of justice-system involvement.
• Utilize trauma-informed, strengths-based, restorative, and youth-centered approaches to foster resilience and positive development.
• Maintain regular contact with participants to monitor progress, address barriers, reinforce positive behavioral change, and support successful community functioning.
• Engage parents and caregivers as active participants in the intervention process and support family-centered approaches to stabilization.
• Assist families in navigating educational, behavioral health, juvenile justice, and community support systems.
• Connect youth and families to community-based support and services based on assessed needs.

Educational Re-Engagement and School Support

• Collaborate closely with school administrators, counselors, social workers, attendance personnel, teachers, and alternative education providers.
• Participate in multidisciplinary school meetings and student support planning processes.
• Address barriers contributing to chronic absenteeism, school avoidance, disciplinary issues, and academic failure.
• Conduct outreach to school districts to increase awareness of program services, facilitate referrals, and strengthen collaborative intervention efforts.

Justice Diversion and Prevention

• Implement early intervention strategies designed to prevent or reduce juvenile justice involvement among at-risk youth.
• Work collaboratively with partnered law enforcement to provide mentoring, accountability, positive role modeling, and constructive engagement opportunities.
• Coordinate with probation departments, family court personnel, law enforcement agencies, and other justice-system partners as appropriate.
• promote responsible decision-making, problem-solving, and personal accountability to help youth understand the consequences of high-risk behaviors.

Crisis Intervention & De-escalation

• Respond to youth and family crises using trauma-informed and non-confrontational approaches.
• Provide crisis intervention and de-escalation support to youth experiencing emotional, behavioral, family, school, or community-related crises.
• Assess immediate safety risks and take appropriate action to ensure the safety of the youth, family members, and others through coordination with relevant agencies.

Documentation & Reporting

• Complete all required documentation, reports, and administrative tasks in a timely, accurate, and professional manner.
• Track youth participation, progress, and outcomes.
• Prepare reports as required by agency policies or grant funding requirements.

General

• Adhere to all agency policies, procedures, ethical standards, and applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
• Maintain confidentiality of client, employee, and organizational information in accordance with applicable laws and agency requirements.
• Maintain regular attendance and punctuality in accordance with agency expectations.
• Participate in required supervision, staff meetings, training, and professional development activities.
• Maintain professional boundaries and conduct consistent with agency values and ethical standards.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned to support agency operations and program objectives.

Note: The above description is illustrative of tasks and responsibilities. It is not meant to be all inclusive. Employees are required to follow appropriate supervisory directions and perform other related duties as required.

Physical Demands/Work Environment: The physical demands/work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, talk, hear, stand, walk, use hands to type and/or perform light lifting. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.

Compliance: Adheres to all applicable federal and state laws and regulations including, but not limited to, those governing confidentiality, privacy, program, billing, and documentation standards.  All duties must be performed in accordance with CCFCS’s corporate compliance & ethics program. Any offer of employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a background check. CCDOR considers all background check information in accordance with applicable law.

Join us and help make a positive impact on our community!

***Catholic Charities is committed to leveraging the talent of a diverse workforce to create great opportunities for our agency and our people. EOE/AA Disability/Vet