Per-Diem Youth Skills Worker
The Opportunity
Family and Children's Association (FCA) is seeking a passionate, community-minded Youth Skills Worker to empower children and young adults across Suffolk County. This rewarding, field-based role grants you the professional autonomy to work directly with youth (ages 5–21) who are at risk of or diagnosed with a mental health condition, engaging them in transformative individual and group skill-building activities. Designed for an empathetic, purpose-driven changemaker, this position offers a front-row seat to witnessing youth breakthroughs, the flexibility to design creative, hands-on interventions, and an exceptional launchpad for building a meaningful career footprint within the behavioral health and human services landscape. Responsibilities
- Community-Based Skill Building: Provide impactful, in-person therapeutic services to assist youth in developing, practicing, and applying vital life skills within their natural home and neighborhood environments.
- Goal-Oriented Action: Design and facilitate engaging, hands-on, and task-oriented activities that directly align with the youth’s personalized plan of care and behavioral goals.
- Empowerment & Advocacy: Model, teach, and promote robust self-advocacy skills, empowering the youth being served to confidently navigate their social, educational, and emotional landscapes.
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Maintain ongoing, systematic collaboration with each youth’s Case Manager and care team to maximize service integration and elevate continuity of care.
- Clinical Documentation: Complete and submit accurate, behavioral-focused progress notes for all youth and family contacts within audit-ready compliance frameworks.
- Strength-Based Milieu: Operate consistently from a strength-based, culturally competent, and family-driven perspective, honoring the unique resilience of every household.
- Adaptive Program Support: Execute additional operational responsibilities as assigned by leadership to keep community programming agile and highly responsive.
Qualifications
- Educational Foundation: High School Diploma or equivalent required; foundational coursework in human services or child development is a plus.
- Subject Matter Experience: Minimum of TWO (2) years of dedicated, progressive experience working directly with children and adolescents within the mental health, behavioral health, or broader human services field.
- Communication Mastery: Excellent verbal and written communication skills to effectively build trust with youth, document progress, and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams.
- Technical Literacy: Proficient computer skills and functional knowledge navigating MS Office suites and electronic data entry.
- Operational Mobility: Valid and clean New York State Driver's License required to ensure seamless community integration and reliable transport across field locations.
Compensation
- Hourly Rate: $20.00 per hour
- FCA offers competitive compensation within a supportive, highly inclusive organizational culture that deeply values internal growth and ongoing mentorship opportunities. Final salary decisions are based on experience and unique skill sets, allowing you to expand your value in the field.
Additional Information
- Schedule: Varies fluidly based on client availability, family schedules, and regional programmatic needs.
- Classification: This role is Per Diem (up to 15 hours per week), offering ideal flexibility for students or working professionals.
FCA is proud to be an equal opportunity employer! We celebrate and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
