Youth Development Specialist

About our Agency:

The Administration for Children’s Services protects and promotes the safety and well-being of New York City’s children and families by providing child welfare, juvenile justice, and early care services. Our Children, young people, and families are our priority and we service them with respect, cultural competence, accountability and transparency. Promoting a culture of respect, professionalism and staff development, ACS is committed to supporting all aspects of our agency’s workforce.

As of August 2, 2021, all new hires must be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus, unless they have been granted a reasonable accommodation for religion or disability. If you are offered city employment, this requirement must be met by your date of hire, unless a reasonable accommodation for exemption is received and approved by the hiring agency.

Job Description:

Business Title: Youth Development Specialist

Civil Service Title: YOUTH DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST

Division/Work Unit: Crossroads Juvenile Center

Proposed Salary Range: $ 47,393.00 - $ 62,138.00 (Annual)

New York City Administration for Children’s Services, Division of Youth and Family Justice (DYFJ) provides secure and non-secure detention (NSD) services for Juvenile Delinquents and Juvenile Offenders whose cases are pending in the Family or Criminal Courts. Judges decide whether youth should be detained while their court cases are being resolved, and in which type of residential setting youth should reside, depending on the youth’s risk level.

The Administration for Children’s Services is currently seeking qualified applicants for the position of Youth Development Specialist (YDS). This position is an integral part of an interdisciplinary team responsible for the custody, direct care, supervision, counseling, and accountability of youths in the custody of the Administration for Children’s Services in juvenile detention facilities. Youth Development Specialists, under direct supervision during an assigned tour of duty, will perform the following duties:

• Facilitate, engage and support youth in all activities, including school, wake-up and bedtime routines, meals, chores, recreation, religious services, court preparation, court attendance, family visits, health care visits and other activities as necessary.
• Facilitate youth learning of pro-social, academic, and vocational skills.
• Mentor and guide youth individually and in groups while using a behavior management system to shape youth behavior.
• Facilitate youth group meetings in the residential unit and elsewhere.
• Address conflicts with crisis intervention methods such as verbal de-escalation, reframing strategies, and physical de-escalation techniques, using the least amount of physical intervention necessary.
• May serve as part of a rapid response team to respond to emergency situations.
• Work with youth to provide gang remediation activities and anti-bullying and violence reduction interventions.
• As part of an interdisciplinary team, develop individualized and group treatment, programming, and safety plans and support for academic achievement.
• Follow all policies and procedures including health, safety, and security protocols such as those concerning searches, headcounts, bed checks, intervention in volatile situations, the use of restraints, and others.
• Observe youth closely and record observations.
• Complete required reports on attendance, incidents, and behavior observations.
• Participate in youth admission and orientation processes.
• Drive transport vehicles and ensure youth safety in vehicles and court detention rooms.

Experience, Skills & Education:

Minimum Qualification Requirements

• A four year high school diploma or its educational equivalent approved by a State’s department of education or a recognized accrediting organization, and two years of full-time satisfactory experience working directly with juveniles or young adults (ages 10-24) in a group, community, educational, or institutional setting or program performing recreational, juvenile detention, vocational, mentoring, or anti-violence work; or youth leadership development, young adult leadership development, youth and family health promotion, community organizing with youth and families, and/or closely related activities, which can include internships, volunteer work, athletic programs, or closely related experience; or
• An associate degree from an accredited college or completion of 60 semester credits of study at an accredited college, including or supplemented by one year and three months of full-time satisfactory experience as described in “1” above; or
• An associate degree from an accredited college or completion of 60 semester credits of study at an accredited college, including or supplemented by 12 semester credits in social work, counseling, education, recreation, criminal justice, psychology, biology, sociology, human services or a closely related field; and nine months of full-time satisfactory experience as described in “1” above; or
• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college including or supplemented by at least six months experience as described in “1” above; or
• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college including or supplemented by 12 semester credits in social work, counseling, education, recreation, criminal justice, psychology, biology, sociology, human services or a closely related field; or
• A satisfactory combination of education and/or experience equivalent to “1”, “2”, or “3” above:
• a. Honorable full-time United States military service commanding young adults (up to age 24) may be substituted for experience as described in “1” above, on a year-for-year basis, up to a maximum of two years of military service for two years of experience;
• b. Academic coursework in social work, counseling, education, recreation, criminal justice, psychology, biology, sociology, human services or a closely related field may be substituted for experience as described in “1” above, at the rate of 12 semester credits from an accredited college for 6 months of experience;
• c. General undergraduate education may be substituted for experience as described in “1” above, at the rate of 60 semester credits from an accredited college for 9 months of experience;
• However, all candidates must possess a four year high school diploma or its educational equivalent.

How to Apply:

Please go online and apply at www.nyc.gov/careers.

Search for JOB ID# 474684

City Employees: Apply through the Employee Self Service portal (ESS) at www.nyc.gov/ess. Search for JOB ID# 474684

Salary range for this position is: $ 47,393.00 - $ 62,138.00 (Annual)

NOTE: Only those candidates under consideration will be contacted.

Residency Requirement:

New York City Residency is not required for this position