Youth Engagement Specialist

Washington, DC | Hybrid | $25.96 - $26.92 per hour | Washington Post Top Workplace

Do you have a passion for working with families and individuals in need of healthcare, housing, and community support services? Community of Hope is seeking a Youth Engagement Specialist who is eager to serve underserved individuals in DC and values the impact that having hope can offer by working in our Short Term Family Housing Programs (STFH). We follow a Housing First model and philosophy, and work to keep families all along the continuum of homelessness – safe with a roof over their heads. As a Youth Engagement Specialist, you will work to ensure that children are safely engaged in enriching educational, recreational, and social activities. This position will splits time between our two STFH sites - The Triumph in Southeast, DC and and The Aya in Southwest, DC.

Our Approach and Values:

• We celebrate people’s strengths and acknowledge the impact of trauma on people’s lives.
• We embrace diversity, welcome all voices, and treat everyone with respect and compassion.
• We lead and advocate for changes to make systems more equitable.
• We strive for excellence and value integrity in all that we do

What You’ll Do

• Ensures that children are enrolled in appropriate educational settings.
• Coordinates with Case Managers and Housing Data and Administrative Specialist to ensure that school release of information forms are completed, stored electronically and in client binders, and submitted to schools.
• Creates relationships with school homeless liaison officers and attendance officers. Conducts school visits to assist in getting school attendance records, as needed.
• Creates partnerships between neighborhood/city agencies that have children/youth programs and serves as liaison between them and COH. Provides those resources to Girard, Hope, The Triumph, and The Volunteer Team
• Is present at afterschool and evening activities to work with volunteers and program partners to develop appropriate activities for children, including; coaching volunteers, setting up program space, tracking attendance, enforcing rules and program expectations, cleaning up the room, and communicating any schedule or program changes.
• Meets with Volunteer Manager/Volunteer Specialist at least monthly to create programs to ensure volunteer involvement and review volunteer performance. Provides feedback after activities and programs.
• Develop monthly calendar of activities for Girard Kids Club and The Triumph’s Fam Club nights using client feedback to help increase client participation. Provide activity to support to Play Night at Hope Lead Volunteer, as needed.
• Ensures that programs have activities targeted for all age groups, including older children and/or teens.
• Utilizes Trauma Informed Care approaches and models Positive Behavioral Supports and Interventions when working alongside volunteers.
• Works with Youth Specialists, Volunteer Team, and housing staff on programs and resources.
• Works with Development Team on fund raising needs and responds to requests for information on a timely basis.

Must-Haves

• High school diploma.
• Minimum three years of experience working in an urban setting with high risk youth ages 3-24 (e.g. after-school program, summer camp, etc.)
• Ability to work evening hours.
• Strong cross-cultural and interpersonal skills.
• Competent computer and internet skills.
• Ability to work well with parents as well as youth.
• Strong initiative.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently.

Must-Haves

• Bachelor’s degree preferred in a field relating to education, social work, human development, etc.

Why You’ll Love Working Here!

At COH, we prioritize the following well-being and work-life balance-centered benefits:

• 8 x Washington Post 150 Top Workplaces winner
• 8-hour workdays with paid lunch
• 3 weeks vacation (additional week after two years), 2 weeks sick leave, + 11.5 paid holidays and one personal floating holiday on an annual basis.
• Annual performance-based raises, up to 5% of your annual pay.
• Tuition reimbursement & loan repayment (NHSC & DCHPLRP), Licensing reimbursement & CEU funding.
• Medical, dental, vision, life & disability insurance + 403(b) retirement.
• Leadership development, internal promotions and career growth opportunities.
• A culture grounded in equity, compassion, and well-being.

About Us

Community of Hope is a mission-driven, innovative, rapidly growing nonprofit, and Federally Qualified Health Center. For over 45 years, we have provided health and housing services, perinatal care coordination, and community support services to make Washington, DC more equitable. Community of Hope also strongly emphasizes maternal and child health, with midwifery practice and the only free-standing birth center in DC. We are honored to be one of DC’s largest providers of housing and homelessness prevention services for families and individuals throughout DC. Through our Family Success Center, our WIC nutrition centers, and our various partnerships, we have reached hundreds and believe that everyone in DC deserves to be healthy, housed, and hopeful.

With the help of our amazing staff, we have successfully provided:

• 50,000+ medical visits
• 6,300+ dental visits
• 17,000+ emotional wellness visits
• 1,384 families and 220 individuals with housing/homelessness prevention services

Ready to bring hope and health to our DC community? Apply today!

To request a reasonable accommodation to complete an employment application or for general questions about employment with Community of Hope, contact a Recruiting Coordinator. Email: hr@cohdc.org Phone: 202-407-7747. Community of Hope is an equal opportunity employer.