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Employment
Youth Development AmeriCorps Member
Young people in the Northland need your support! Offer your time and talent as a True North AmeriCorps member. First Witness Child Advocacy Center is looking for people to support youth by planning and leading activities and games that promote social emotional learning.
Members will be providing much needed support for social emotional learning, serving 25 hours per week for one year.
Ready to make a difference in your community? To learn more, email TrueNorth@duluthymca.org
APPLY: duluthymca.org/tnac/serve
POSITION SUMMARY
The Y’s True North AmeriCorps (TNAC) program is dedicated to enhancing long term education equity outcomes by increasing K-8th grade students’ social emotional learning (SEL) skills. TNAC members facilitate daily interventions including positive relationship building, academic enrichment, and SEL skill building. By engaging positive adults as mentors to provide interventions for youth, the program will improve participants’ social and emotional skills, attitude towards learning, and resiliency; ultimately increasing their likelihood to graduate high school on time. This is an AmeriCorps member position.
DESCRIPTION OF SITE
For over 30 years, First Witness Child Advocacy Center has been committed to strengthening the communities’ response to child abuse and ending child abuse. First Witness has two programs: forensic interviews and family advocacy. The AmeriCorps member will support the advocacy program using the Safe and Strong Child curriculum, direct youth and family advocacy, and support groups. In this role, the member will help present to thousands of kids in greater Duluth, Carlton County, and Lake County schools. The goal is to empower children with knowledge and skills regarding safe and unsafe touches, what sexual abuse is, who to tell, and how they can identify unsafe situations. We work with not only children, but teachers, school staff, and parents/caregivers. As a part of the First Witness team, the AmeriCorps member will get to become an expert in child abuse prevention. You will join our tight-knit team that values cultural humility, trauma-informed care, positive workplace culture, and team member mental health. This role is unlike others because of the advocacy perspective, you will be working with children, families, and teachers. You will get to be on the forefront of the field of child abuse prevention and will experience how communities come together to support children.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS & POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES
- Coordinates and delivers social emotional learning activities, lessons, and interventions in small groups or one-on-one using evidence-based resources
- Facilitates social emotional learning “teachable moments” in response to minor emotional regulation needs, relationship repairs, or other SEL challenges
- Regularly tracks caseload attendance and progress on SEL competencies
- Completes observational surveys and other data collection with fidelity, reviews results with site supervisors to develop and implement intervention plans and goals
- Follows procedures to maintain accurate and timely AmeriCorps-specific data entry
- Assists site staff with planned enrichment programming in ways that do not duplicate or displace staff or volunteer duties
- Builds positive developmentally appropriate relationships with youth at site
- Maintains safe and respectful environment for students
- Fosters an inclusive environment appreciative of differences.
- Meaningfully participates in and leads efforts to support the Y’s commitment to equity and diversity
- Assists in the mentorship of program volunteers (if any), documenting impact
- Develops and implements a project to engage youth in service learning and leadership, documenting impact including volunteers engaged
- Communicates regularly and effectively with True North staff, Site Supervisor, and other site personnel via phone, email, online systems, and verbal interactions
- Participates in all required True North AmeriCorps meetings and trainings
- Serves as an ambassador of the program by submitting Great Stories and participating in outreach activities
BENEFITS
- Monthly Living Allowance up to about $1,200 pre-tax
- Education Award up to $4,862.50 at end of service term dependent on position size
- Student Loan Forbearance and Interest Repayment
- Free Family YMCA Membership
- Ongoing Professional Career Development
QUALIFICATIONS
AMERICORPS ELIGIBILITY
- 18 years or older at start of service term
- High school graduate with diploma or GED
- U.S. citizen, U.S. National, or Lawful Permanent Resident Alien of the United States
- Complete and successfully pass the National Criminal History Check
- Served no more than 3 AmeriCorps terms previously
- Committed to completing the entire term of service
Required
- Interest and experience volunteering or working with youth
- Able to present oneself in a professional manner in a variety of settings
- Computer skills including effective use of email, word processing skills, information entry into spreadsheets, and the ability to learn new technology systems
- Strong written and oral communication skills effective with people from different backgrounds, cultures, and walks of life
- Commitment to supporting principles of equal opportunity to achieve a diverse service environment
- Able to effectively manage a variety of tasks, deadlines, priorities, and people
- Basic CPR/AED and First Aid for adults, children, and infants. Training will be provided and paid for by the program upon start. Must be obtained within 60 days
Preferred
- Training or education in education, social work, human services, recreation, mental health, trauma-informed care, healing-centered care, social emotional learning
- Demonstrates strong self-awareness and emotional maturity
- Accepts and celebrates cultural differences
- Strong self-care strategy in place prior to placement.
TYPICAL SERVICE ENVIRONMENT
- Includes a combination of inside computer / planning work in a shared office or cubicle and outside program facilitation in all weather conditions
- Noisy with many youth demanding attention in a classroom or large indoor space
- Travel will be frequently required and will be provided.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
- Visual and auditory ability to observe and respond to participant behavior, enforce safety regulations, and apply appropriate behavior-management techniques.
- Physical ability to respond to situations requiring first aid. Must be able to assist youth in an emergency including lifting up to 50 pounds occasionally (fire, evacuation, illness, or injury).
NON-DISCRIMINATION AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
Qualified individuals with disabilities and those from diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply. The Y provides equal opportunities to all applicants for AmeriCorps service without regards to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity/expression, marital status, military status, political affiliation, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, the Y complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination. Reasonable accommodations provided upon request for interviews and service activities.
APPLY: duluthymca.org/tnac/serve