Job Description

Part Time Position - Must be between the ages of 17-23 years old.

Children’s Center of Wayne County (TCC) The Children’s Center, founded in 1929, provides evidence-based clinical therapy to children who deal with mental, behavioral, emotional, intellectual, and developmental health and educational challenges or may have experienced trauma.

School Community-Based Partnerships: We partner with K-12 schools and community organizations that serve children to provide clinical therapy, counseling, psychological services, and psychiatric evaluations, treatment & interventions.  

Child Welfare: In addition to the clinical therapy programs offered, The Children’s Center places children in licensed foster homes, and supports them throughout their time in the child welfare system.   

Child Well-being Family Success: We operate an onsite family success center that promotes child-wellbeing and offers children and youth from all walks of life to access relevant mental health crisis prevention and child abuse and neglect prevention services.

Advocacy: We champion child and youth well-being for those experiencing poverty-related issues, those within the child welfare system, and those in need of evidence-based, clinical therapy. 

TCC’s mission is to help children and families shape their own futures.  If as many children as possible, and their families can easily access comprehensive, evidence-based, clinical therapy that is integrated into and supports their everyday lives then, children will experience an improved quality of life where they have a true sense of agency and empowerment in their lives. 

We embrace and demonstrate a set of Core Values as the foundation of our culture.  They define how we do what we do, and what we value in our work with each other and our community.  Daily demonstration of these values, in mindset and behavior, is required to be successful as a TCC team member. 

• Dedicated-We are devoted, dedicated and always willing to pitch to accomplish our mission.   
• Passionate-We are passionate about what we do and helping the people we serve.   
• Accountable-We do what we say and accomplish all aspects of our responsibilities.   
• Can Do Attitude- We approach our responsibilities with a positive attitude.  
• Respectful- We always treat co-workers, donors, children and families with the utmost respect, courtesy, and patience. 

Job Summary

Youth Advocates, employed by The Children’s Center, serve as representatives of the Youth United Initiative led by the Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network. Youth United is a youth-led initiative that promotes youth voice, youth involvement, and positive youth development throughout Wayne County’s System of Care. Youth Advocates promote and advocate on behalf of youth ages 14-25 who are actively involved in the mental health, child welfare, special education, foster care, and/or juvenile justice systems. Youth United advocates by providing positive youth involvement activities and workshops to youth in Wayne County in the areas/regions of leadership, stigma reduction and advocacy.

Job Requirements

• Must be between the ages of 17-23 years old.
• Current or prior involvement with mental health, child welfare, special education, and/or the juvenile justice system is required. Second-hand experience is acceptable as well (i.e. having a family member involved in the mental health system).
• High School Diploma or Equivalent
• Basic knowledge of the Wayne County system of care (mental health, child welfare, special education, foster care and/or juvenile justice services) and community resources for youth.
• Knowledge of issues and needs that today’s youth are experiencing
• Have past leadership, work, or volunteer experience
• Ability to demonstrate basic computer skills including familiarity with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Teams, PPT), Canva and/or graphic design tools, and general office equipment.
• Knowledge of social media, including how to create posts, share information, and align with current social media trends and topics
• Ability to effectively manage time, information, and meet deadlines
• Ability to work in a team environment and independently
• Strong communication, critical thinking, and creativity skills
• Event planning experience is a plus
• Must be able to work some evenings and weekends
• Must be able to provide clearance that there is no record and/or convictions as a perpetrator of child abuse and/or neglect in the State of Michigan Child Abuse/Neglect Central Registry and other states of residency over the past 5 years.
• Must have reliable transportation to and from work sites. If driving, you must be able to provide proof of having a current valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and current automobile insurance.

Essential Functions

• Use of personal expertise to advocate for Wayne County Connections (System of Care) and provide training to staff and other stakeholders regarding youth involvement, positive youth development, and youth-led programming and participation.
• Work directly with Regional Youth Coordinator/Supervisor to identify and support youth involvement activities and programming. 
• Participate in the System of Care Advisory Council, which will advise Connections Cross System Transformation team on youth related programming and policies.
• Participate in activities as requested by The Children’s Center, Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network, and other local, state, or national stakeholders.
• Participate in the planning of various events and workshops geared towards youth and community engagement.
• Participate in evaluating existing programs for youth.
• Be able to work flexible hours, including weekends and evenings.
• Recruit youth participants through written, phone, and face to face outreach.
• Help plan and facilitate morale boosting and team building activities.
• Assist in identifying youth-led activities related to assigned focus area (stigma, advocacy, training).
• Develop Performance Goals and Expectations with immediate supervisor annually.
• Support the values of The Children's Center's mission and the commitment to the ongoing safety and family stability.
• Collaborate and maintain professional standards at all times while conducting agency business.
• Assist with coordinating Youth United’s Youth MOVE Detroit Advisory Council.
• Create and identify content for Youth United and Youth MOVE Detroit’s social media pages.
• Be able to conduct public speaking and group facilitation at youth related events.
• Perform other related duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Additional Functions

• Contribute to a positive workplace culture that demonstrates evidence of high accountability, inclusivity, and collaboration. 
• Demonstrate a commitment to anti-racist practices, diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace.
• Actively support and encourage creating a safe, welcoming, and inclusive administrative and service delivery environment.
• Adhere to best practices, ethical standards, and compliance with relevant laws and regulations.

Physical Requirements

• Hybrid work environment, with a required 2 days in the office per week
• Must be able to attend in person events when scheduled
• Ability to lift up to 10 lbs.
• Ability to sit for extended periods of times. 
• Ability to stand for extended periods of times.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• 100% completion of the annual Wayne County Youth United Workplan Initiatives for Central Region
• Plan and implement two advocacy events, per year
• Maintain a minimum of five active youth members on the Youth MOVE Detroit Advisory Council
• Participate in 6 community events per year to raise awareness of youth related issues

Other

Benefit Package including 

• Accrued Paid Sick Time
• Matching 3% 403(b) retirement plan after one year and 1,000 hours, fully vested after two years of employment  
• Longevity Pay   
• Employee Assistance 

Voluntary Benefits  

•  Pet Insurance 
•  Legal Shield (prepaid legal services) 

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin.