Youth Workers, Adolescent Violence Reduction Project

Posted by on June 9, 2006

[posted from Neighbors On Line Philadelphia 6/5/2006]

Job Announcement

Youth Workers

Philadelphia Opportunities Industrialization Center (POIC) is recruiting Youth Workers for The Adolescent Violence Reduction Project (AVRP). AVRP is part of the City of Philadelphia’s overall intensive effort to reduce youth violence.

Youth Workers will be assigned to specific AVRP youth to monitor them in their homes and on the street, track school attendance and behaviors, and establish rapport/trust with the youth and their families. Youth workers will also serve in a mentoring role as well as intervene in crises effecting their assigned youth. To ensure effective service coordination, the Youth Worker will collaborate with the center-based prevention provider on youth-directed activities. As such, the Youth Worker must be aware of on-site activities to more effectively perform youth monitoring and outreach. The caseload is one Youth Worker to every 10 youth. The service period should be long enough to ensure that the youth has completed their required intensive services as determined by the AVRP Operations Committee. It is expected that the average length of service will be at least six months. Supervisors will oversee and direct the activities of the Youth.

There are six (6) service areas and it is preferred the prospective live in, or are familiar with area in which they will work

Service Areas and Zip Codes:
Northeast: 19111, 19114, 19115, 19116, 19124, 19135, 19136, 19149 19152, 19154
East: 19122, 19125, 19133, 19134, 19137
North: 19120, 19121, 19126, 19129, 19132, 19140, 19141
North West: 19118, 19119, 19127, 19128, 19138, 19144, 19150
West: 19102, 19103, 19104, 19130, 19131, 19139, 19151
South: 19106, 19107, 19112, 19123 19145, 19146, 19143, 19147, 19148

AVRP will begin July 3, 2006 and the salary range for Youth Workers is $24,000 to $26,000.

Required Qualifications, Skills and Knowledge
* Familiarity with targeted geographic area
* Ability to gain the confidence of and establish relationships with hostile and aggressive youth
* Ability to instruct and provide positive social direction for targeted youth
* Available for day, evening AND weekend duty
* Available 24 hours a day to respond to crisis situations
* Effective verbal communication skills
* Ability to document activities in writing
* Previous experience working with youth.

Education and Training
* Minimum of one (1) year of college.
* H.S. Diploma or GED (acceptable if applicant has prior experience with youth)
* Less that HS. Diploma or GED if applicant has 3 or more years with an established Neighborhood/Community engagement organization involved with youth.

Attached is a recruitment application and full job description. Applicants may fax applications to 215-827-5604. In addition to the application, applicants are encouraged to submit a cover letter and indicate service area preference and attach a current resume.

Direct all questions and inquiries to:
Warren P. Evans, Jr., 215.236.7700 ext. 308 or Dr. Billy Floyd, 215.236.7700 ext. 306