Youth Advocate - East Harlem Teen Health Program
Union Settlement Association
Location:
Borough:
Job Type:
Minimum Hours/Week:
Number of Available Positions:
Job Description:
Youth @ Union Programs are built on a foundation of academic skills enrichment, positive youth development, and the cultivation of informed and independent decision making. Recognizing the needs of the East Harlem community and its children, Union Settlement Association has created The East Harlem Teen Health Program which will integrate rigorous sexual literacy programming with youth leadership and community engagement, parent education, and one-on-one attention. This will include case management, linkages to family planning, as well as extensive referrals to other services, including tutoring, arts, computer skills, counseling, employment, and college preparation. At the same time, we are targeting age ranges (middle school, early high school) and groups (disconnected youth) who are particularly vulnerable to peer influence and/or to feelings of hopelessness. The goal will be to work with three cohorts (96 middle school participants, 96 high participants and 80 disconnected youth participants) of predominantly minority youth from low-income households each year to promote healthy sexual behaviors and reduce the practice of risky sexual behaviors.
The Youth Advocates will be responsible for the management, maintenance, and facilitation of the Teen Health Project education program for school youth, which will also include prevention workshop delivered to adolescents and parents. The Youth Advocate will be responsible for recruiting 4 groups of 10 or 12 participants per cycle. The Youth Advocate will also be responsible for providing support to the Teen Health Council, developed by each cohort, to increase community motivation and advocacy for reducing risky sexual behaviors.
• Assist in the launch and facilitation of The East Harlem Teen Health Program, including recruitment of participants from for all three cycles (winter, summer, fall).
• Provide case management to all participants enrolled in cohort, including completing case notes and maintaining files.
• Provide, at minimum, 18 hours of Healthy Living, self-esteem, and leadership development workshops to disconnected youth per cycle.
• Meet weekly with youth Teen Health Councils to offer support, coaching, and guidance in implementing monthly health activities and quarterly events.
• Ensure participants and families have access to comprehensive reproductive health care and family planning services.
• Advocate and make referrals for educational, social, recreational, vocational, and financial literacy programs as needed.
• Attend mandatory trainings and staff development with the New York Academy of Medicine, as well as all other opportunities assigned by Program Coordinator.
• Participate in the Community Advisory Council.
• Thorough completion and timely submission of all forms, including but not limited to weekly reports, referral forms, incident reports, etc.
• Collection of documentation from participants, including but not limited to parent consent forms, student assent forms, report cards, progress reports, etc.
• Participation in at least one Youth Services programmatic committee.
• Attend and participate in monthly Youth Services staff meetings.
• Fulfillment of other responsibilities as assigned by Program Coordinator and Director of Youth Services.
Required Skills/Experience:
• Bachelor’s Degree in human services or related field with demonstrated experience in working with at-risk, disconnected youth preferred; at minimum, 60+ college credits and 3 years of demonstrated experience working with at-risk youth.
• Expertise in health related workshops, activities and/or curriculum.
• Expertise in areas of gang involvement prevention, teenage pregnancy prevention, addiction prevention, and peer and dating violence prevention a plus.
• Strong verbal, written, organizational, and problem solving skills.
• Strong public speaking skills.
• Strong computer skills.
• Demonstrated ability to perform multiple activities effectively in a fast-paced, challenging, and constantly changing environment.
• Familiarity with the East Harlem community preferred, but not required.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) a plus.
• Candidates must complete successful background, criminal records, fingerprinting, and reference checks.
How to Apply:
Email: hr@unionsett.org