The Youth Coach is responsible for identification of and outreach to at-risk youth from multicultural backgrounds in the community. MYP Program Associate will provide brief intervention, programming, and education about and referral to Spectrum and community resources to youth and families.
They will also represent Spectrum in community forums addressing service and resource needs of new Vermonters, truant, runaway, homeless, and/or at-risk youth. The associate will have knowledge and connections to various community resources and partners that provide services to the various and existing multicultural communities and advocate for policy and new resources that will support and empower the New American Community and youth and families of underserved communities. This is a nonexempt, 20 hour per week position which pays $20.00 per hour.
Essential Functions
Develop and implement community outreach strategies, activities, and events to attract, engage, educate, and empower youth to access community resources to support healthy growth, development and progress toward positive life goals.
- Advocate for youth-identified resource needs to support healthy growth and development within the agency and in the community.
- Support and assist youth in accessing and utilizing resources and services within Spectrum Youth & Family Services and in the community; provide resource information and referrals as culturally appropriate to individual and family needs.
- Provide case management services that may include supporting access to health care, crisis intervention, problem-solving skill building and support, decision-making skill development, education about resources, referral to mental health and substance abuse services, connection to community resources for employment, education, food, clothing, housing, etc.
- Provide or arrange appropriate cultural brokering services for youth and families to support and enhance the health and wellbeing of youth and families who self-identify as having a different cultural background and a need to bridge, link, or mediate different cultural norms/expectations/understandings to effect change and increase access to resources and support.
- Advocate for, provide and arrange meetings with possible community partners that will benefit the work done by the Multicultural Youth Program.
- Promote Multicultural Help Desks by meeting with school staff, teachers and youth while supporting and assisting youth in an educational context.
Participate in supervision, staff meetings, and trainings as scheduled and needed. - Other duties may be assigned as needed.
Knowledge and Skills Required
- Must be at least 18 years old.
- Must be knowledgeable about issues facing target population (e.g. information specific to cultural groups identified as being at-risk, homelessness, HIV/AIDS, substance abuse, mental health problems, family conflict, physical health issues, criminality, etc) or be willing to learn.
- Must also be knowledgeable about and/or have experience with language and interpretation services offered in the community relevant to identified target populations.
- Ability to engage and build rapport with both adolescents and young adults and set effective limits and boundaries with youth and others.
- Ability to work independently, as a team member, and abide by the Spectrum code of Ethics policies.
- Willingness to participate in supervision, identify needs and issues, ask for assistance, support and training, and be able to accept and utilize feedback.
- Commitment to the values of diversity with respect to culture, race, ethnicity, gender identity, age, socio-economic level, sexual orientation and religion.
- This position may include transporting clients. Reliable transportation and comprehensive insurance may be required.
- Bilingual in English and language of identified target population (e.g. Nepali, Somali, etc.) or ability to identify and navigate language differences through use of interpreter services.
Work Environment
The above duties will be carried out in a variety of settings including on-site, street settings, various community meeting settings, schools, and public gatherings. This is a part-time position, and the working hours will correspond to the operation and needs of MYP activities.
Youth and adults of all social and cultural identities; including race, religion, ethnicity, class, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, age, country of origin, immigration status, and mobility; should be treated with respect, dignity, and equity.