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Youth Services Specialist – City Page 1 I 2 Jurisdiction: City of Cortland Jurisdictional Class: Competitive Adopted: 10/15/80 Amended: 4/1/99; 5/06/02; 11/15/07; 7/25/14; 5/5/23 YOUTH SERVICES SPECIALIST DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS: The work involves responsibility for planning, organizing, and initiating City-wide youth guidance and development programs. Incumbents supplement and reinforce Youth Bureau objectives by encouraging socially acceptable behavior and attitudes as well as assisting in the resolution of personal problems of youth. The work is performed under the general supervision of the Youth Services Supervisor with considerable leeway allowed for the exercise of independent judgment. Supervision may be exercised over the work of volunteers and interns, working in specific program areas and participation in the Youth Employment Program. A considerable portion of the work is performed at night and on weekends. Does related work as required. TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES: (Illustrative only) Seeks out youth in normal environments to establish supportive and cooperative relationships with them; Supervises a youth center to maintain a pleasant, comfortable, unstructured atmosphere; Provides informal counseling to youth at the Youth Center and other places frequented by youth; Refers individuals to appropriate public or private community agencies for specialized types of assistance; Develops new programs by communicating with youth to assess needs, performing research, planning, promoting, and initiating the programs; Coordinates with community agencies to provide services to individuals referred to the Youth Bureau; Encourages youth to participate in community service activities at the Youth Center and in the community; Oversees the Youth Employment Program at the Youth Center; Oversees the Youth Center Music Programs; Plans and promotes a variety of activities and special events utilizing community resources and recreation facilities to benefit program participants; Prepares oral and written reports concerning program activities, objectives, and program proposals; Confers with the Youth Bureau Director, Assistant Director, and the Youth Services Supervisor on matters of importance concerning youth services; May act as a youth advocate in an attempt to resolve serious problems of youth in the home, in court, or school. FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS: Good knowledge of the factors underlying juvenile delinquency and maladjustment; Good knowledge of the local socioeconomic conditions; Good knowledge of the problems, needs, and aspirations of modern youth; Good knowledge of the public and private agencies which provide youth services; ---PAGE BREAK--- Youth Services Specialist – City Page 2 I 2 Good knowledge of the organization and conduct of youth oriented activities; Good knowledge of accepted consultation and interviewing techniques; Good knowledge of adolescent behavior; Ability to establish and maintain comfortable relationships with youths; Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others; Ability to prepare oral and written reports; Emotional maturity; Sound professional judgment; Willingness to work evenings and weekends; Physical condition commensurate with the demands of the position. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Either: Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered four year college or university with a Bachelor's Degree or higher; OR Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered two year college with an Associate's degree or higher and two years of full-time paid experience working with youth in youth development, character building, delinquency prevention, education, or a similar field; OR An equivalent combination of education and experience as defined by the limits of and NOTE: Degree must have been awarded by a college or university accredited by a regional, national, or specialized agency recognized as an accrediting agency by the U.S. Department of Education/U.S. Secretary of Education. If the degree was awarded by an educational institution outside of the United States and its territories, applicant must provide independent verification of equivalency. A list of acceptable companies who provide this service can be found at http://www.cs.ny.gov/jobseeker/cfm. Applicants must pay the required evaluation fee.