Position Title: Program Coordinator, My Chi My Future Safe Spaces/Anchor Orgs. Program

Department: Youth Development Services (YDS)

Reports to:My Chi My Future Program Manager

Position Objective and Summary:

The Program Coordinator is responsible for the development and coordination of services for the My Chi My Future (MCMF), Safe Spaces and Anchor Orgs programs. In collaboration with the MCMF Program Manager, the Program Coordinator ensures program goals, outcomes, and grant deliverables are achieved in an effective and timely manner. The Program Coordinator will assist in the planning, coordinating and facilitation of events, and provide supervision and guidance to 15 youth participants. The Program Coordinator must have the ability to collaborate and communicate effectively.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

Monitoring Service Delivery

• Develop and maintain relationships with community stakeholders.
• In adherence with the My Chi My Future, Safe Spaces Program requirements, supervises and engages a team of 15 youth setting and evaluating clear and collaborative individual performance goals.
• In adherence with the Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) reporting requirements, ensure all participant enrollment, attendance and program reports are completed in City Span accurately and in a timely manner.
• Partner and collaborate with community stakeholders to assign work assignments for DFSS Safe Spaces participants and provide appropriate level of direction and supervision, maintaining an up-to-date monitoring system.
• Plan, coordinate and provide year-round community events and services for youth and their families according to the DFSS schedule.
• Plan, coordinate and implement weekly mentoring sessions, ensuring participants attend sessions and are actively engaged (including administering MCMF trainings and speaker series) guiding youth through milestones, and supporting and attending effective Kickback events.
• Coach and mentor participants around professional interests and career goals recognizing and rewarding performance, initiative and decision-making.

• Orients and trains new participants and stakeholders according to program and department guidelines to ensure all are ready and able to perform as necessary.

• Administer payroll wages to participants active and engaged in the Safe Spaces Program.

• Assist in the recruitment of North Lawndale Community organizations and stakeholders.
• Assist in the planning, coordination and facilitation of My Chi My Future Anchor Organization meetings and gatherings.
• Attend community meetings and program events representing MCMF and the Youth Development Department, ensuring program public awareness via outreach with community organizations, schools, law enforcement, churches and other entities.
• Promote service offerings within the continuum of Youth Development and UCAN.

• Able to become proficient with agency’s data management system.
• Work with UCAN Quality Improvement and external collaborators to develop best practice standards within the program.

• Complete and submit all required quarterly reporting and reporting requests in a timely and proficient manner.
• Basic understanding of the effects of trauma and operate from that perspective when interacting with youth and families.
• Ability to identify unique resources throughout the Chicago area.

Quality and Accountability

• Uses UCAN AAA processes to ensure quality and accountability in program performance.
• Ensures financial compliance for the contract and/or funder under the performance requirements as outlined in grant; executing fiscal financial decisions prior to approval.

Networking and Team Building

• Build strong interpersonal relationships within the MCMF team, Youth Development Department and UCAN agency.
• Attends and participates in regular MCMF team and Departmental meetings.

Professionalism and Work Conduct

• Behaves with integrity, demonstrates high ethical standards, and displays a positive image of UCAN.
• Acts in a professional manner at all times and maintains appropriate boundaries with clients and staff.
• Reports to work, meetings, trainings, and job-related activities prepared and as scheduled.
• Understands and supports UCAN’s standard of cultural proficiency and strives to meet it.
• Responds to clients and their families, UCAN staff, service providers and other stakeholders in a timely manner and ensures follow up to adequately address their need.
• Performs other related tasks as required or assigned.

Education/Job Experience/Certification:

• Bachelor’s degree in human services or related field
• 3+ years of experience in youth development programming.

Special Knowledge and Qualifications:

• Understands trauma-informed practice.
• Understands Positive Youth Development.
• Is open and respectful of cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of clients and is willing and competent to work with a diverse client population.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Working knowledge of the child welfare system.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a high functioning team.
• Experience and ability to use computers for data entry, communication and report writing.
• Car and valid Illinois driver’s license and insurance required.

Position Status: Full Time Exempt

Work Environment: This position requires work on-site and off-site in the community.

This position requires some evening and weekend work hours.

Work Conditions: This is not a hybrid position. This position may require some work on weekends and evenings.