Youth Engagement Specialist

FRIENDS OF THE CHILDREN VALUES 

Our values guide us to achieve our mission. Each value applies not only to our youth, Friends, and program teams, but also applies to all Friends of the Children employees, volunteers, and partners. We use our values to make informed decisions; to hire, coach, and manage; and most importantly, we use our values to change the way the world treats and views our most vulnerable youth. 

PUT CHILDREN FIRST 

We intentionally serve youth who are facing the greatest obstacles. To help our youth discover their limitless potential, we foster their internal resiliency. We listen to our youth and base decisions on each youth's needs and dreams. We prioritize self-care so that we bring our best selves to our work and focus on our youth. 

BUILD RELATIONSHIPS ON LOVE 

We nurture long-term relationships from a foundation of love and acceptance. Our practice is rooted in the wisdom of communities, tailoring support to honor each youth’s unique identity and shared heritage. We don’t give up easily and take a no matter what approach to our work. We intentionally develop collaborative relationships over time with trust, empathy and healthy communication. We build community through one-on-one connections that are authentic, respectful, and meaningful. 

COMMIT TO EMPOWERMENT 

We leverage personal strengths to take ownership of our futures. We build relationships within the communities of our youth and families to strengthen social networks and provide bridges to new opportunities. We consistently inspire possibility through empathy, hard work, and fun. We model all of this for our youth, families and each other. 

PURSUE GOALS RELENTLESSLY 

We celebrate all achievements, big and small. We are disciplined in our commitment to goals, while innovative in how we reach them. We believe that the definition of success requires intentional reflection and adjustment over time. We work together and hold ourselves accountable with data to achieve short and long-term outcomes. 

 UNLOCK ALL POTENTIAL 

We believe everyone deserves the chance to reach their full potential, because where you start shouldn’t decide how far you go. We advocate to ensure every child, regardless of historical and present challenges, has the resources, support, and voice needed to thrive. We amplify and listen to the hopes and dreams of the children, families, and communities we serve. We harness different perspectives to overcome barriers and drive measurable change for every child. Together, we work to challenge and remove obstacles so potential isn’t limited by any circumstance. 

All employees are expected to perform their roles in alignment with our values and to commit to create a sense of belonging for themselves, our colleagues and the children and families we serve.  

We are looking for an enthusiastic, highly skilled, relational Youth Engagement Specialist who is excited to join our team, support mentors and walk alongside the youth and families we serve! If you love to create community, build on the strengths and develop growth areas with incredible youth, this is the job for you! We need you to thrive in an ever-changing environment, live, walk and talk equity and have a commitment to personal and professional growth for yourself and the team. Sound good? We think so! 

Basic Function: 

As Youth Engagement Specialist, your primary responsibility is to build relationships with all youth, families, and staff across the program team, and create continuity and intentionality of service for youth they are assigned. You will be assigned to specific youth or mentors, joining them on 3-4 outings per week to observe mentors in their role and build relationships with youth. You will serve as a conduit between the youth and the Program Team, supporting youth in elevating their voice and ideas into group activities and spaces. When Friends go on vacation or leave the organization, you will support youth on those rosters in a 1:1 capacity, serving as a positive adult role model to develop a caring, trusting, and sustained relationship with each youth. You will participate in all Team meetings, planning group activities, leading group activities, supporting or engaging in all group spaces or events.  

Core Job Accountabilities: 

• Develop and sustain a long-term, caring, trusting and accepting relationship with youth across their assigned youth and mentors. 
• Step in to provide consistent service to youth during vacation, extended leave or when Friends transition out of the organization.
• Spend time each week with youth and mentors in the community or at the Friends Ranch. 
• Build awareness of each Roadmap Goal Plan or Transition Plan for each youth across their assigned group.     
• Set realistic expectations and goals based on each youth’s strengths, talents, abilities and needs when serving as an interim mentor.  
• Work with the Program Director and Education Program Specialist to create youth centered activities that support youth spark, goals and build a sense of belonging.  
• Teach and model life skills and healthy habits to contribute both to basic development and learning, and to contribute to building positive self-esteem across all youth 
• Provide enrichment resources and activities which include opportunities for cultural awareness, diversity, and community service for youth across the organization
• Contribute to youth acquiring behavioral management skills, tolerance, respect for others, courtesy and compassion
• Develop positive relationships with families, teachers and others involved in a youth’s life
• Reinforce basic academic skills and learning
• Model and promote good problem-solving and decision-making skills
• Contribute to the vision, planning and implementation of group activities with the Program Team. Share resources available through the organization, effectively utilizing program resources to meet the needs of each youth 
• Maintain spending within budgetary guidelines
• Attend and actively participate in Admin team meetings 
• Provide information and support to Development team and related activities as needed
• Fulfill other responsibilities as required 

Essential Skills and Abilities: 

• Ability to relate to youth and to develop and sustain trusting, supportive relationships with them 
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated ability to work with youth in varied capacities and settings to help them learn and grow 
• Ability to cultivate trusting relationships with caregivers, teachers, and community member
• Ability to develop working knowledge of community, systems, and resources of the Central Oregon region
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and communicate appropriately within the workplace 
• Ability to work independently in diverse environments with limited supervision 
• Ability to manage several concurrent issues and solve problems effectively exercising appropriate discretion and judgment 
• Ability to set goals and develop plans to meet those goals to ensure the development of youth 
• Ability to complete administrative tasks accurately and on time 
• Ability to be physically mobile and meet vehicle driving demands safely while exercising good judgment 
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; organizational and time management skills
• Basic computer and keyboarding skills, proficiency with e-mail systems, familiarity with MS Office 
• Ability to exercise good judgment independently, in various situations and environments, and under varying levels of stress
• Understanding, awareness and demonstrated commitment to equity and a willingness to learn more
• Ability to maintain boundaries and life balance while still completing work expectations and accountabilities to ensure sustainability and longevity for the youth we serve.  

Education and Experience Required: 

Associates degree and one year of experience working or volunteering with youth, or three years of direct experience in lieu of degree. Lived experience will be considered. Experience with youth who have experienced trauma is preferred. Program Planning experience preferred. Bilingual/b cultural candidates >span class="NormalTextRun SCXW249513332 BCX0"> preferred. Candidates with >span class="NormalTextRun SCXW249513332 BCX0"> knowledge of systems that youth encounter preferred.  

Additional Job Requirements: 

• Maintain current driver’s license, good driving record, and vehicle insurance
• Maintain First Aid/CPR certification 
• Transport youth in personal vehicle as required for mentoring activities (we reimburse for mileage)
• Must pass a pre-employment drug screen and background check 

Working Hours: 

This is a full-time, exempt position.  Work hours are generally 9:00am – 6:00pm, Monday - Friday; flexibility is essential. Due to the nature of our role, the work hours are somewhat nontraditional and include late afternoon and evening work. We recognize that the daily work schedule will vary due to the uniqueness of the role and the needs. During the school year, the general work week is Tuesday through Saturday, with Sunday and Monday as days off. During the summer, and for spring and winter breaks, there is an option to work a standard Monday through Friday work week. 

Friends of the Children - Central Oregon is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to addressing discriminatory practices. The equal employment opportunity policy of Friend of the Children - Central Oregon provides fair and equal opportunities for all employees and job applicants.  Friends of the Children - Central Oregon hires and promotes individuals solely on the basis of their qualifications for the job to be filled.