Youth United Advocate

AGENCY OVERVIEW

Centers For Family Development, Inc. (CFDI) is a private, non-profit comprehensive family counseling agency that was originally established in 1978 as Black Family Development, Inc. (BFDI) by the Detroit Chapter of the National Association of Black Social Workers (DNABSW). By establishing BFDI as a family counseling agency, DABSW sought to promote and provide quality community-aligned social work services in Detroit. Since that time, BFDI has grown to accommodate the increasing demand for a variety of specialized family-focused counseling and services in the community.

CFDI’s programming includes early childhood resources and literacy development, a 3-tiered juvenile justice service array, mental health prevention and treatment, substance use disorder prevention and treatment, R.E.A.L Brothers supportive resources, school-based intervention, and trauma-informed care. Most importantly, our staff are heroes who strive to match passion for service with equal parts best practice to partner with families to achieve their goals.

 Our organization is seeking a Youth United Youth Advocate with the corresponding experience requirements: 

 GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

The youth advocate will work with Youth United and Connection to support youth voice and youth leadership within Wayne County by planning and facilitating trainings, youth groups, workshops, and other related activities.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Participates on the Connecting’ Youth Advisory Council.
• Actively participates in Connections and all related activities.
• Plans and co-facilitates youth groups, training and technical assistance for Connections and its stakeholder.
• Works collaboratively with public and private partners to establish youth voice throughout Wayne County in support of Connections.
• Participates on Connections’ committees, work groups, focus groups and project teams.
• Participates in youth involvement activities on behalf of Youth United and Connections, including; local and national presentations, community organizing activities and policy making.
• Supports implementation of and provides leadership for youth-led initiatives within connections.
• Assist in the development of youth voice and Youth United sites throughout Wayne County.
• Participates in developing new and evaluating existing programming for youth.
• Represent Youth united and youth served public and private agencies at community meetings/events.
• Recruits youth participants through written, phone and face-to-face outreach. Provide training and technical assistance to staff and other stakeholders regarding youth involvement, positive youth development and you led programming and participation.
• Identify and engage established youth groups with similar goals in youth involvement activities.
• Participates in activities as requested by Michigan Department of Community Health and other national stakeholders.
• Help plan and facilitate Advocate Relief day and other activities that promote the sustainability of youth voice within the System of Care.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

COMPETENCIES

Working knowledge of System of Care principles and values.

• Ability to work in teams.
• Displays leadership skills.
• Past leadership, work or volunteer experience.
• Knowledge of services and community resources for youth.
• Current or prior involvement with the public mental health, child welfare, special education and/or juvenile justice systems.

QUALIFICATIONS

Must be a young adult ages 18 through 26 with a High School Diploma/GED who is willing and able to self-identify as a person who has current or prior involvement with the public mental health, child welfare, special education and/or juvenile justice systems services as a youth and has lived experience and is prepared to use that experience in helping other youth). Experience with other child-serving organizations (DHS, Court, School) preferred. Possess a valid Driver’s License and Reliable transportation in order to perform job activities.