Youth Development Specialist (Child, Adolescent And Family Health)

Job Description
The mission of the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) is to protect, preserve, and promote the health and wellbeing of all Boston residents, particularly the most vulnerable. The BPHC envisions a thriving Boston where allresidents live healthy, fulfilling lives free of racism, poverty, violence, and other systems of oppression. The BPHC setsan expectation that all staff and leadership commit, individually and as part of the BPHC team, to hold ourselvesaccountable to establishing a culture of antiracism and advance racial equity and justice through each of our bureaus,programs, and offices.
PROGRAM/DEPARTMENT DESCRIPTION
The Youth Development Network (YDN) is a program in the Child and Adolescent Health Division (CAHD) inthe Child, Adolescent and Family Health Bureau of the Boston Public Health Commission. In partnershipwith Boston Public Schools (BPS), YDN works to increase school attendance and engagement for youngpeople experiencing or at risk of chronic absenteeism. YDN believes that all youth can achieve their fullestpotential with the support of caring adults and is founded on research that places education as a key social
determinant of health and other quality life issues, especially in marginalized communities. YDN's goal is toreconnect chronically absent youth to their learning and to a network of support.
The Youth Development Specialist directly works with young people to provide case management services.They are embedded in one of three partner BPS Highschool (Brighton, Jeremiah E. Burke, Madison ParkTechnical and Vocational School) and work to engage young people and their families to school. YouthDevelopment Specialists hold one on one meetings with students, deliver educational interventions duringthe school day, after school, and during summer, and conduct home visits as necessary.
DUTIES

• Supports Youth Development Network and provides case management and referrals to youth in high priorityschools and neighborhoods to increase healthy behaviors associated with successful school achievement atassigned school(s).
• Provides case management including home visitations of high school students referred for chronic absenteeismfrom Boston Public high schools.
• Works with students, families, and schools to identify and address barriers to school attendance.
• Ensure protocols are followed including screening, assessment, counseling, and referrals.
• Develops a plan with students, family, and school; carries a caseload of clients.
• Links families to community resources to address barriers to school attendance.
• Maintains client records including precise and accurate case notes, timely data collection, and consistentdatabase entry.
• Collaborates with other City of Boston (COB) departments and programs including Boston Public Schools inaddressing absenteeism; ensures consistency in practice and protocols.
• Develops, coordinates, and implements after school programing.
• Helps to coordinate and participates as an instructor of the Youth Development Network's summer.
• Monitoring daily school attendance during academic year and during summer school.
• Research and coordinate services/resources for students and families.
• Performs various administrative functions; manages client records including precise and accurate case notes,timely data collection, and consistent database entry.
• Attends student meetings and provides support at high schools, as required.
• Works in a confidential capacity with youth, peers, adults, parents, Boston Public Schools, CommunityOrganizations, Faith Based Organizations, police and other law enforcement agencies, Boston Public HealthCommission (BPHC) Programs, City of Boston agencies, BPHC Management, and Executive Office.
• Working to help BPHC become an antiracist organization by meeting or exceeding the standards set by theBPHC Anti-Racism Policy.
• Some evening and weekends.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• High school diploma or equivalent and three (3) years of related work experience supporting programcoordination, management, and/or community organizing.in a public health or public school setting. Collegedegree preferred.
• Knowledge of Boston Public Schools, local community agencies, and health care.
• Knowledge of coordinating and implementing youth programming.
• Skill in communicating, both verbally and in writing.
• Skill in organizing.
• Skill in interacting with others.
• Skill in planning, prioritizing, and managing time.
• Ability to write clear and concise reports.
• Ability to follow and to give written and oral instructions in a precise, understandable manner.
• Ability to understand, explain, apply the laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures of unit activities.
• Ability to provide oversight, including planning and assigning work and motivating staff.
• Ability to establish rapport with others.
• Ability to maintain harmonious working relationships with others.
• Ability to develop timelines and meeting deadlines.
• Ability to work with diverse ethnic, cultural, and socio-economic groups.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Passionate commitment to health equity and racial/social justice issues.
• Knowledge of or willingness to learn about the role of public health in addressing racism, the socialdeterminants of health, and inequities in health outcomes as well as strategies to advance racial justice andhealth equity.

Preferred or Plus:

• Bilingual and/or bicultural applicants are encouraged to apply. Fluent (reading, writing, and conversation)Spanish or Cave Verdean Creole a plus for this position.
• 1 year of demonstrated formal or informal social justice advocacy experience and/or communityorganizing/mobilization experience.

Additional Information
City of Boston Residency Required, A Criminal Offenders Records Information request must be completed for this position. However, a record is not an automatic bar to employment but is reviewed in relation to the job applied for., This position requires direct client/patient contact and as a result of such direct contact, certain immunizations will be recommended and/or required prior to commencement of employment duties., Any position that requires an advanced degree will be subject to education verification, This is a grant funded position, The Boston Public Health Commission is an EEO Employer and all applicants meeting the minimum requirements are eligible to apply
Shift
35 hours per week.
Shift to be determined and will include school hours/evenings to 8 PM
Some weekends may be required.