Provides direct care for at-risk youth in a safe and caring family style living environment. This position guides and teaches youth on appropriate skills and behaviors and provides youth with moral, spiritual and educational development needed for future success. The Youth Support Specialist is the Assistant Family Teacher role working in the Family Home Program.
Starting Pay: $20.00 Hourly
Schedule: Must be flexible! Work 40-45 hours per week for Full Time. For Part Time working 30 hours per week. Typical evening hours 2:30 pm - 10:30 pm. Two weekends a month or alternating weekends. Requires living/sleeping overnights in the home two weekends per month.
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:
Provides direct care to children:
- Serves as an active member of the family home program team; participates in measuring progress and providing input on goals and discharge planning.
- Collaborates with courts, social agencies, parents, school personnel and other members of the program about youth's behaviors and progress, as well as strategies for teaching.
- Adheres to reporting guidelines.
- Assesses and monitors youth skills and progress to determine skill development needs and priorities.
- Uses Boys Town teaching model by describing, practicing, and providing rationales for the use of appropriate skills/behaviors as well as describing and addressing negative behaviors.
- Serves as a role model for youth by exhibiting skills taught in the program.
Provides for moral, spiritual, and educational development:
- Monitors, supports, and encourages academic performance and educational success (e.g., good study habits, quality of work, higher education, etc.).
- Attends school conferences, communicates with educational staff, and builds effective working relationships in order to meet the needs of youth's academic success.
- Teaches and models Boys Town values, including moral and ethical behaviors and obeys the law.
- Supports, attends, and participates in religious services, conferences, community service projects, and other activities with youth and discusses how these are applicable and beneficial to the youth's daily life.
Provides and fosters a safe and caring environment:
- Maintains a family style model by providing constant emotional support including the use of praise, positive feedback, individualized attention, and empathy to build self-confidence and respect.
- Uses rational problem-solving techniques to teach critical thinking skills and assist youth with behavioral problems.
- Monitors off-campus activities and observes interactions of youth during home, recreational, and leisure times for appropriate skill development and safety.
- Adheres to all child safety-related policies and protocols to include reporting guidelines, behavioral management, and risk and self-harm screening.
- Provides crisis intervention to youth out of instructional control which could include physical restraint.
- Plans, participates, and provides opportunities for individual and family fun activities that are entertaining and educational.
- Models and teaches parenting, family, and relationships skills to youth, legal guardians and caretakers to sustain a collaborative relationship through effective family engagement practices.
- Nurtures and cares for youth who are ill and in need of medical care or assistance.
- Provides transportation for youth as needed.
Manages budget:
- Maintains appropriate spending and budgeting of the household needs.
- Prepares and submits reimbursement statements (e.g., receipts and other documentation) to account for monies spent.
- Assists with the managing and upkeep of maintenance needs for the home.
- Assists Family Teachers as needed in the operation of a Family Home.
Effectively collaborates with internal and external consumers:
- Maintains contact with consumers to obtain and or give information, schedule appointments, and to coordinate activities.
- Responsible for attending and appearing in court with or on behalf of youth as needed.
- Assists with or prepares youth progress reports for consumers.
- Writes incident/behavior summary on youth progress for administration.
- Responsible for tracking, documenting, and communicating youth medical needs and appointments with consumers and administration.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
- Must have the ability and desire to work and live with youth.
- Must have the willingness to work flexible hours in order to assist the Family Teaching Couple with youth and home activities.
- Proven record of sound judgment and ability to work with children in a mature and responsible manner.
- Must be able to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care, based on physical, psychological, psycho/social, educational, safety, and related criteria, appropriate to the age of the youth being serviced in his/her assigned service area.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS, EQUIPMENT USAGE, WORK ENVIRONMENT:
- Must have and maintain sufficient mental acuity and physical strength, agility, and endurance to perform all job requirements (including stressful situations - physically, mentally, and emotionally) encountered on the job without compromising the health and well-being of self, fellow employees, and youth or families. Must have sufficient vision, hearing, speech and the mobility to monitor youth, actively participate in safety procedures, assist and perform daily household chores, and participate in activities with youth. Specific requirements include but are not limited to the ability to push and pull at least 80 pounds of force, lift up to 50 pounds, carry safely up to 30 pounds, as well as the ability to reach overhead, bend, and squat with ease. Examples of required activities include, but are not limited to moving furniture, climbing stairs, cooking, playing games, maintaining the exterior grounds including mowing and shoveling; as well as the ability to safely transport youth regardless of weather or time of day/night. Subject to outside environmental conditions occasionally and inside conditions frequently. Includes constant interruptions, inappropriate behaviors, and the potential for verbal and physical threats from youth.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- High school diploma or equivalent is required. Education and experience requirements may be higher based on Affiliate Site location, Local contracts, and Federal/State contract requirements.
- Minimum 21 years of age required.
- Possess a valid driver's license with a good driving record and pass an annual Motor Vehicle Registration (MVR) check required.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Some college credits preferred.
Diversity is more than a commitment at Boys Town-it is the foundation of who we are and what we do.
At Boys Town, we cultivate a culture of inclusion for all employees that respects their individual strengths, views, and experiences. We believe that our differences enable us to be a better team - one that makes better decisions, drives innovation, and delivers better business results.
About Boys Town: Boys Town has been changing the way America cares for children and families since 1917. With over a century of service, our employees have helped us grow from a small boardinghouse in downtown Omaha, Nebraska, into one of the largest national child and family care organizations in the country. With the addition of Boys Town National Research Hospital in 1977, our services branched out into the health care and research fields, offering even more career opportunities to those looking to make a real difference.
Our employees are our #1 supporters when it comes to achieving Boys Town's mission, which is why we are proud of their commitment to making the world a better place for children, families, patients, and communities. A unique feature for employees and their dependents enrolled in medical benefits are reduced to no cost visits for services performed by a Boys Town provider at a Boys Town location. Additional costs savings for the employee and their dependents are found in our pharmacy benefits with low to zero-dollar co-pays on certain maintenance drugs. Boys Town takes your mental health seriously with no cost mental health visits to an in-network provider. We help our employees prepare for retirement with a generous match on their 401K or 401K Roth account. Additional benefits include tuition assistance, parenting resources from our experts and professional development opportunities within the organization, just to name a few. Working at Boys Town is more than just a job, it is a way of life.
This advertisement describes the general nature of work to be performed and does not include an exhaustive list of all duties, skills, or abilities required. Boys Town is an equal employment opportunity employer and participates in the E-Verify program. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status. To request a disability-related accommodation in the application process, contact us at 1-877-639-6003.
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