Youth Support Specialist

The Bloc

Youth Services Specialist Job Description

Organization Overview

The Bloc envisions a Chicago where every young person has the tools needed to be the champion of their own life. To achieve this in our community, we cultivate the love of boxing to share transformational resources with Chicago’s West Side youth and communities.

Youth in our program have maintained 100% high school graduation and college acceptance rates since 2016 while training to become championship boxers. Through our direct community support initiatives, we distribute over 6,000 pounds of fresh produce to our neighbors monthly and provide household supplies and seasonal items. By partnering with youth and our community, we create the conditions for enduring peace.

Youth Services specialist

The Bloc is seeking a Youth Service specialist (YSS) to organize and direct resources, opportunities, and relationships for young people in our program. The Youth Services Specialist will support a caseload of fighters by seeking, securing, and providing holistic support and services.

Responsibilities

• Case Management: Provide various educational, social/emotional, vocational, and critical needs case management services to youth ages 10-19
• Data Collection and Reporting: Collect, analyze, and report data about the case management process to improve organizational processes

• Relationship Building: Build intentional relationships with all stakeholders
• Ability to create a 360 assessment of a young person to seek wraparound support and services to fulfill fighters’ physical, psychological, and social needs
• Advise managers and directors on potential partnership needs to promote fighter success
• Support with community events and activities
• Complete outreach and coordination with partner organizations when appropriate
• Conduct home, school, and stakeholder visits as needed
• Complete other tasks as assigned to support program health and functioning
• Prioritize and understand student needs and take initiative to assess their needs on a regular basis

Qualifications:

• Dedicated to providing resources and opportunities to Chicago’s West Side youth
• Passionate about racial justice, gender equality, and equity with a knowledge of youth development and restorative practices
• Relationship-building skills with history of building connections with families, schools, and students
• History of social and casework as it pertains to youth

A proven track record of creating and investing youth in action plans

Previous experience with managing competing priorities of caseloads

• Ability to assess, understand, and prioritize student needs and react accordingly
• Possess a knowledge of outside support resources available to our fighters
• Organized and able to prioritize vital objectives
• Eager to take initiative
• Conversational Spanish speaking is strongly preferred
• MSW is strongly preferred

Working Conditions:

Full-Time/On-Site

This position requires frequent off-site locations

Occasional non-standard working hours (evenings, weekends) may be necessary to complete job duties

Compensation:

Salary: $55,000 - $62,000

Benefits: We offer comprehensive medical benefits packages with a generous time off policy

Location: The Bloc, 1345 N Karlov Avenue, Chicago, IL 60651  

Application:

Interested candidates should complete the application at theblocchicago.org/apply