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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Youth Specialist

💰 $36,000 - $60,000

Youth ServicesSocial WorkCommunity OutreachEducation

🎯 Role Definition

The Youth Specialist is a frontline practitioner who engages directly with children and adolescents to assess needs, implement individualized service plans, deliver trauma-informed interventions, coordinate case management, and connect youth and families to community resources. This role emphasizes safety, positive youth development, behavioral support, documentation, and multi-disciplinary collaboration to promote stable outcomes for at-risk and system-involved youth.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Youth Mentor / Youth Worker
  • Behavioral Health Technician
  • After-School Program Coordinator

Advancement To:

  • Senior Youth Specialist / Lead Youth Worker
  • Case Manager / Family Advocate
  • Program Manager (Youth Services)

Lateral Moves:

  • Juvenile Probation Officer
  • Residential Counselor
  • School-Based Behavioral Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Conduct comprehensive intake assessments with youth and families to identify strengths, risks, trauma history, service needs, and safety concerns, and translate assessment findings into individualized service or treatment plans.
  • Provide direct one-on-one counseling and evidence-informed interventions (e.g., CBT-informed techniques, trauma-informed approaches, motivational interviewing) to address behavioral health, substance use risks, school engagement, and family conflict.
  • Develop, implement, and monitor individualized treatment or care plans in collaboration with youth, caregivers, clinical supervisors, and multidisciplinary teams to ensure measurable progress toward goals.
  • Deliver group-based programming and psychoeducational workshops (life skills, anger management, social skills, job readiness) designed to build resilience, self-regulation, and pro-social behavior among adolescents.
  • Maintain accurate, timely documentation in electronic health records and case files, including progress notes, incident reports, safety plans, discharge summaries, and court or school reports in compliance with agency policies and legal requirements.
  • Facilitate crisis intervention and de-escalation during behavioral incidents, including safety assessments, physical intervention per policy when necessary, and coordination with emergency services when risk exceeds program capabilities.
  • Coordinate referrals and linkages to community-based services such as mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment, vocational training, housing assistance, and legal supports to ensure continuity of care.
  • Conduct home visits, school visits, and community outreach to assess environmental factors, build rapport, advocate for youth needs, and strengthen family engagement and support networks.
  • Monitor youth compliance with court-ordered conditions, program rules, medication protocols, and school attendance plans; prepare and present accurate reports to probation officers, judges, or school administrators as required.
  • Implement culturally responsive and developmentally appropriate interventions that respect the diversity of youth and families, including language access and consideration of cultural norms and family structure.
  • Support transition planning for youth moving between placements, returning home, or transitioning to independent living by coordinating services, identifying resources, and teaching independent living skills.
  • Participate in multidisciplinary case conferences, treatment team meetings, and family meetings to review progress, adjust goals, and ensure consistent service delivery across providers.
  • Provide advocacy and case navigation for families, helping them access benefits, complete paperwork, enroll children in school, and secure transportation or housing resources essential for stability.
  • Supervise and mentor junior staff, volunteers, or youth interns during program activities and provide feedback to ensure safe and effective direct care practice.
  • Prepare and submit detailed incident and critical event reports, assist in root-cause reviews, and implement corrective action plans to prevent recurrence and improve program safety.
  • Monitor and enforce behavioral contracts, point systems, and positive reinforcement techniques while ensuring consistent application of disciplinary policies to maintain a safe therapeutic milieu.
  • Assist with intake triage, bed management, and acute placement decisions in residential or crisis settings while balancing clinical need, safety, and capacity constraints.
  • Collect and track outcome data, participate in program evaluation, and use measurable indicators (recidivism, attendance, behavioral incidents, school performance) to inform service adjustments and quality improvement.
  • Provide education and training to caregivers, school staff, and community partners on behavioral strategies, trauma-informed practices, and youth development to promote consistent support across settings.
  • Participate in after-hours on-call rotations, overnight shifts, or weekend coverage as required by residential or crisis programs and provide timely support during emergencies.
  • Ensure compliance with confidentiality (HIPAA, FERPA) and mandated reporting laws by identifying and reporting suspected child abuse, neglect, or imminent risk to the appropriate authorities in a timely manner.
  • Support recruitment and engagement efforts for youth programming, including outreach to referral sources, intake screening, orientation sessions, and individualized engagement strategies to reduce no-shows and dropouts.

Secondary Functions

  • Assist program leadership with grant reporting, outcome measurement documentation, and compiling data for funders and accreditation reviews.
  • Help design and refine curricula for life skills, employment readiness, and prevention education to increase program relevance and impact.
  • Coordinate logistics for group activities, transportation, community internships, and off-site events while maintaining necessary safety and permission documentation.
  • Maintain supplies, safety equipment, and living-area standards in residential or group settings and report facilities issues promptly to operations staff.
  • Support marketing and community engagement efforts by representing the agency at neighborhood meetings, school fairs, and referral network events.
  • Participate in staff training and professional development activities, including clinical supervision, cultural competency training, and mandated reporter refreshers.
  • Contribute to internal policy development and revisions related to youth safety, behavioral management, and family engagement best practices.
  • Backup administrative tasks such as scheduling appointments, managing caseload lists, and coordinating with finance or HR for timesheets and payroll submissions.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Case management and care coordination, including assessment, treatment planning, referral, and discharge planning.
  • Crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques consistent with CPI, PBIS, or agency-approved methods.
  • Trauma-informed care practices and ability to implement trauma-sensitive interventions for complex youth.
  • Behavioral assessment and implementation of behavior support plans, contracts, and data-based progress monitoring.
  • Group facilitation and curriculum delivery for psychoeducation, life skills, and therapeutic groups.
  • Knowledge of child welfare, juvenile justice, education, and community resource systems; ability to navigate referrals and reporting.
  • Electronic documentation proficiency (EHR systems, case management software) and accurate progress note writing.
  • Safety planning, risk assessment, and mandated reporting procedures compliant with local and federal laws.
  • Familiarity with motivational interviewing, family engagement strategies, and strengths-based interviewing techniques.
  • Basic knowledge of psychotropic medication monitoring and coordination with prescribing clinicians.
  • Data collection and outcome tracking for program evaluation and grant reporting.
  • First Aid/CPR certification and understanding of physical intervention policies where required.

Soft Skills

  • Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills to engage youth, families, schools, and community partners.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills for case notes, reports, court testimony, and multi-disciplinary collaboration.
  • Empathy, cultural humility, and the ability to work respectfully with families from diverse socioeconomic, racial, ethnic, and linguistic backgrounds.
  • Resilience and emotional regulation to respond calmly in high-stress situations and model self-control for youth.
  • Problem-solving and critical thinking to adapt interventions and safety plans in dynamic contexts.
  • Time management and organizational skills to manage high caseloads, competing priorities, and documentation deadlines.
  • Collaborative team orientation with the ability to receive supervision and contribute to interdisciplinary treatment planning.
  • Boundaries setting and professional ethics to balance empathy with safety and program rules.
  • Conflict resolution and mediation skills to support family reunification and peer conflict reduction.
  • Coaching and mentoring skills to support youth skill-building and to train junior staff or volunteers.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High school diploma or GED required; many employers accept equivalent practical experience in youth work or behavioral health.

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor's degree in Social Work (BSW), Psychology, Human Services, Counseling, Education, Criminal Justice, or a related field.
  • Master's degree (MSW, MA Counseling, or equivalent) preferred for advanced clinical or supervisory roles.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Social Work
  • Psychology
  • Human Services
  • Education
  • Criminal Justice
  • Counseling

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 1–3 years of direct experience working with children and adolescents in social services, residential treatment, juvenile justice, school-based programs, or behavioral health settings.

Preferred:

  • 2–5+ years of experience providing case management, crisis intervention, or therapeutic supports for at-risk youth; experience with trauma-informed care, working with system-involved youth (juvenile justice or child welfare), and multi-disciplinary team collaboration preferred.
  • Demonstrated experience in documentation using EHRs, working with mandated reporting procedures, and coordinating community-based services is highly desirable.
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