Youth & Family Engagement Specialist (GRANT FUNDED)

The Position

Incumbent works under the direction of the Douglas County Sheriff or designee, providing gang intervention, prevention, career education and support services to reduce gang membership and increase at-risk youth support.

Essential Functions

• Provide gang prevention training to staff, parents, youth, and community organizations; and intervene with identified gang members and youth on the fringes through direct contact with youth, families, and the Metropolitan Community College (MCC) Community and Workforce Program Coordinators.
• Meet and provide support to parents and guardians.
• Establish and maintain effective work relationships with clients, supervisors, County employees, elected officials, attorneys, law enforcement, judges, other agencies, and the public.
• Comply with Civil Service rules, collective bargaining agreements, County policies, department policies and laws to create a cooperative, safe, respectful and quality work environment.
• Maintain various confidential and non-confidential information (e.g. interventions, affiliations) compiling and documenting activities in compliance with requirements.
• Complete at-risk youth assessments establishing a baseline level of needs (e.g. ensure community safety, supervision, stability resources).
• Provide input and implement community-based programs and / or services aiding in stabilization of at-risk youth remaining in the community.
• Provide gang members with information on removing themselves from gang membership, referring youth seeking counseling and monitoring impact of counseling.
• Develop programs / activities assisting youth seeking alternate activities from gang membership.
• Serve as a liaison with schools and Douglas County Youth Center (DCYC) Community Program Specialists, providing information, helping staff cope with gang members in the classrooms, avoiding conflicts, and increasing student and school safety.
• Connect system-involved youth or young adults (e.g. diversion, public schools, service providers, juvenile and adult probation, DCYC, adult correction, adult parole) with micro credentialing, job training and career resources through MCC.
• Recruit at-risk youth to become students in MCC's Micro credentialing programs.
• Work with various employment and educational program entities assisting youth to set positive goals, remain in or return to school, and avoid gang membership.
• Plan, organize, and conduct special training events and presentations, informing and engaging community / providers in efforts to attract youth to education programs and appropriate responses to youth gang behaviors.
• Attend meetings (e.g. community-based organizations, social services, law enforcement) coordinating gang eradication efforts.
• Incorporate activities promoting cognitive, social and emotional development in youth interactions.
• Provide critical thinking and problem-solving skills activities and interactions.
• Design guidance techniques and strategies supporting youth individually and in group experiences, developing behavioral tools (e.g. self-regulation, self-concept, coping mechanisms, positive interactions with peers and adults).
• Enhance group experiences using appropriate methods, services and resources (e.g. technology).
• Prepare and maintain various documents (e.g. records, reports, correspondence).
• Maintain job knowledge and skills (e.g. research, meetings, webinars, seminars, conferences, continuing education).
• Safely operate a motor vehicle when required to travel on County business.
• Report to assigned work location with regular, consistent attendance.
• Perform other duties as assigned and directed.

Education and Work Experience and Other Requirements

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions

Douglas County is an EOE - Disability / Veterans