Position Summary

Reporting to the Youth Program Manager, the Youth Program Specialist will work full-time in Our House’s Youth Development Center, Our Club, which serves 90 school age youth in grades Kindergarten-12th grade. Our Club operates every day after school and all day during school breaks (winter break, spring break) and teacher in-service days. Our Club also operates a Summer Program for nine weeks over the summer. The Youth Program Specialist is responsible for providing a safe and enriching out-of-school program in accordance with Arkansas’ Minimum Licensing Standards for School Age Programs. The Youth Program Specialist will uphold the two-generation approach in collaboration with other teams at Our House to ensure families enrolled in our programs have access to Our Club services and family support, such as parenting education.

Responsibilities

Integrate Positive Youth Development into our program, including physical and psychological safety, appropriate structure and schedule, supportive relationships, opportunities to belong, positive social norms, community service, skill building, and the integration of family, school, and community. Examples include:

● Create an enriching, fun and safe environment that is guided by youth input and feedback.

● Build youth’s self-esteem; Be alert and responsive to youth.

● Demonstrate competence in daily classroom management.

● Integrate special needs youth in a positive and respectful manner.

● Develop relationships with the youth and nurture them through behavioral and family challenges.

Develop and implement age appropriate programming for the youth. Examples include:

● Work with AmeriCorps Members to plan enrichment activities in the programmatic areas: STEM, Cultural Enrichment, Health/Nutrition/Physical Fitness, Arts, Life Skills, and College & Career Readiness (6th-12th grade) that engage and educate the youth.

● Support the youth with homework and provide tutoring when needed. Understand and incorporate AR Dept. of Education K-12 Frameworks; communicate with the youth’s schools and teachers.

● Plan and execute fun and educational field trips during school breaks and summer, and submit proper financial documentation to the Youth Program Manager.

● Create a sustainable ‘club’ focused on STEM, sports, drama, dance, music or visual art.

● Create and retain community partnerships that will enhance enrichment programming.

● Collaborate with the Mental Health team to ensure youth’s mental health needs are met.

● Strategically plan for programmatic growth and retention.

Understand best practices in the field, assess youth program quality, and meet all grant requirements.

Examples of this include:

● Participate in Youth Program Quality Assessment (YPQA) and ensure that the program meets and exceeds YPQA standards. Formulate ongoing quality improvement plans.

● Understand and comply with program grant requirements and School Age Minimum Licensing Requirements.

● Ensure that best practices are being used by everyone in the classroom and lead by example when working with AmeriCorps Members, volunteers, and partners.

● Participate in and/or conduct assessments on all of the youth on a quarterly basis

Communicate with other Our House program staff, parents, members of the community, and professionals. Examples of this include:

● Collaborate with Our House Case Managers and Mental Health Therapists about shared client and family needs, goals, and available resources.

● Discuss youth’s development and behavior with parents on a daily basis as needed.

● Discuss identified needs and referrals with educators and partners as appropriate.

● Participate in and promote Our Club and Our House activities (Family Fun Night, Parenting Education, Black History Program, etc.)

Work with National Service Members who are serving their term in Our Club. Examples of this include:

● Communicate programmatic norms and procedures to National Service Members in the classroom.

● Support National Service Members in carrying out lessons and activities that they have prepared.

● Ensure that all Our Club expectations are being fulfilled, and that the AmeriCorps Members feel part of the Our Club team and Our House community.

Perform other related duties as required:

● Complete a minimum of 30 clock hours of professional development every year

● Actively observe and enforce all safety-related procedures when working on and off-campus.

● Record client information in the Our House database. Track outcomes and understand performance measures for Our Club.

● Engage and energize Our House staff members, volunteers, board members, event committees, partnering organizations, donors, and grant funders.

Qualifications

The Youth Program Specialist will be thoroughly committed to Our House’s mission. All candidates must enjoy working with school-aged youth, have a positive attitude and serve as a role model for the youth in the program. Experience and other qualifications include:

● High School diploma required; Bachelor’s degree preferred

● At least 2 years of experience working with youth is required

● A background or college courses in education, social work, or psychology preferred

● Ability to work effectively with diverse staff, parents, and community members

● Action-oriented, entrepreneurial, adaptable, and innovative approach to planning

● Ability to work effectively in collaboration with diverse groups of people

● Passion, idealism, integrity, positive attitude, mission-driven, and self-directed

● Must be able to lift 30 lbs.

● Must pass drug test and submit to background checks

● Complete Youth Worker Certification within 6 months of hire

● Valid driver’s license and willingness to transport youth

● Ability to swim is preferred

● Obtain CPR / First Aid certification within first 90 days of employment

Other Requirements

● COVID-19 vaccination required or must meet the legal guidelines for an exemption.

Salary and Benefits

● This is a full-time, non-exempt position

● Benefits include employee health insurance (paid by Our House) and optional dental, vision, and life insurance (paid by employee) (all available the first of the month after hire date) and 401k with Our House matching up to 4% of wages contributed (available after 12 months of employment).

● 10 days of annual leave per year.

● 10 days of holiday leave per year including a “birthday holiday.”

● 15 days additional leave for illness/”requirements of life.”

● Employee Assistance Program

To Apply

Please send a resume and cover letter to careers@ourhouseshelter.org and include “Youth Program Specialist” in the email subject line. The deadline to apply for this position is May 10, 2023.

Our House is a drug free workplace.

Our House is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all team members. People of color and members of the LGBTQ community are encouraged to apply.

Organization

Founded in 1987, Our House is a nonprofit organization based in Little Rock, Arkansas. Our House empowers homeless and near-homeless families and individuals to succeed in the workforce, in school, and in life through hard work, wise decision-making, and active participation in the community. The diverse workforce that makes up the 100+ person team at Our House includes salaried and hourly staff, AmeriCorps and VISTA national service members, interns, and resident job trainees. Our House operates on a budget of approximately $4 million per year. Over the last decade, Our House has experienced tremendous growth, with an operating budget that has quintupled in size and a campus expansion that has included $16 million in capital investment. For more information, please visit: www.ourhouseshelter.org.

Corporate Culture

Our House has a uniquely positive and mission-focused corporate culture. Team members are encouraged and expected to take their positions seriously, work hard, work together, engage supporters wherever possible, and always remain focused on the Our House mission. The Our House team has defined a set of seven “Guiding Principles” that characterize our culture and that we intentionally seek to uphold. They can be found at www.ourhouseshelter.org/guidingprinciples.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Application Question(s):

• What is your email address?

Work Location: In person

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