Duties Description The Youth Support Specialist (YSS) reports directly to the Youth Support Coordinator 2 (YSC2) or Community Multiservice Office (CMSO) Supervisor. The YSS provides assistance to the Youth Support Coordinator I as they manage youth who are in the custody of OCFS.
The YSS will engage youth and families in residential settings and provide support and transportation as needed.
The YSS is charged with providing assistance in efforts to engage youth in community programs, the monitoring of youth attendance in community programs, school and other academic programs, as well as curfew checks.
In addition, the CMSO YSS is required to be flexible in this role as they will be required to take on a variety of tasks that assist the efficient functioning of each CMSO office.
Additional duties will be discussed in detail during the interview.
Please note: These positions exist in limited secure and residential programs operated by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services. Anticipated vacancies are located throughout the state.
The nature of this position requires shift, weekend, holidays, and overtime assignment, including mandatory overtime.
Youth Support Specialists are required to attend training in approved Office of Children and Family Services restraint techniques two times a year (four hours each).
Training Requirements
Attend a 2-week Juvenile Justice Basic Training orientation, be proficient in OCFS-approved physical skills and youth restraint techniques (given two times a year for eight hours total), take NYS employee mandated annual trainings, and other annual training refreshers.
·Some intrastate travel may be required (., supervision at youth medical appointments, intramural games, extracurricular activities, or other events)
·The YSS position is physically demanding. A candidate must be prepared to act to ensure the health and safety of youth and staff, which may include use of approved physical restraint techniques.
Additional duties will be discussed in detail during the interview.
Minimum Qualifications Two years full-time direct care experience* in the care and programming of youth from ages 6-21;
OR a Bachelor’s degree;
OR an Associate’s degree AND six months experience;
OR a high school graduation or equivalency diploma AND one year of experience*
OR a satisfactory equivalent combination of the above education and experience requirements;
*Direct care experience with youth involved in the juvenile justice system or in an institution, camp, school, community center, youth rehabilitation program, mental health or correctional institution, or residential center.
Appropriate verifiable part-time experience will be accepted on a prorated basis
Satisfactory completion of the probation period must include possession of a valid motor vehicle operator’s license and the ability to operate a motor vehicle legally in New York State.