Job Summary:

YouthConnect is a program of Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston in partnership with the Boston Police Department. YouthConnect is designed to address the unique needs of at-risk and high-risk urban youth who are referred to the program by Boston police officers.  Social workers assist in improving the youth’s overall behaviors and performance in school, home, and community.  Using YouthConnect’s four-tier service model, social workers develop and provide appropriate intervention and treatment strategies including: referrals to community-based agencies, clinical case management, individual and family therapy, parental guidance and advocacy.  

Essential Duties and Responsibilities                                              

• Introductory and regular phone calls to youth and families.
• Home visits, intakes and assessments, referrals, advocacy, clinical case management, crisis intervention and linkage to community-based services.
• In-person, community-based individual and family counseling.
• Convene and lead case conferences for clients with families and providers.
• Be present at assigned Boston Police Department to be an onsite resource as matters arise.
• Develop and maintain relationships with community-based service providers and other public/private providers such as the Department of Children and Family, Department of Youth Services, churches, schools, courts, etc.
• Attend community-based meetings pertinent to needs/issues of youth in community.
• Maintain accurate and timely case records via an electronic database.
• Participate in weekly individual supervision, group supervision and staff meetings.

General BGCB Expectations:

• – Teaching youth/teens the importance of living an active, healthy lifestyle is a BGCB priority.  As a result, all staff is expected to model healthy behavior while working with our members.
• – BGCB values creating child-friendly environments, where youth/teens of all abilities can be successful and participate.  BGCB expects employees to embrace its focus on inclusion of all members, regardless of disability or developmental challenge.
• – Building the capacity of staff is central to BGCB.  The organization encourages and requires that all staff participates in annual professional development opportunities that continue to cultivate their skills in the youth development field.
• – Every staff member shares the responsibility for ensuring BGCB is, and remains, an environment free of sexual, physical, or emotional abuse.

Position Requirements

• MSW required.
• LCSW to be obtained and maintained within 3 months of employment.
• 1-3 years work experience with high-risk urban youth and their families.
• Access to a reliable vehicle and valid driver’s licenses to travel and access youth/family homes within the community.
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team as well as being highly self-directed.
• Excellent written, verbal & organizational skills
• Ability to adapt to and be flexible to clients’ needs for meeting places and times.
• Demonstrated ability to work across cultures, ethnic backgrounds, and socio-economic groups. 

This position may require some occasional evenings and weekend hours.