Salary: $24.00 Hourly

The YMCA of Greater New York is here for all New Yorkers — to empower youth, improve health, and strengthen community. Founded in 1852, today the Y serves a diverse population of more than half a million New Yorkers who learn, grow, and thrive through programs and services at our 24 branches. Community is the cornerstone of the Y. Together, we connect active, engaged New Yorkers to build stronger communities. 

To help fulfill our mission, we cultivate a culture of learning, leading, and collaboration to enhance community impact. Through our talented staff and “LEAP” career framework (Leadership, Empowerment, Accountability, Personal Growth), we are committed to a people-first approach that fosters trust, inclusion, growth, and development for all. 

The Dodge YMCA is seeking a Behavior Specialist who will be responsible for providing direct support to young people enrolled in the Afterschool program to ensure they are mentally and emotionally present and display proactive behaviors and choices. This will involve developing, managing, and ensuring consistent implementation of the Afterschool site's behavioral support systems, including discipline policies, codes of conduct, individual behavior contracts, and individual and group incentives. This can include directly addressing or consulting with other staff to address any behavioral and emotional issues that may arise day to day, or proactively. When required, the Behavior Specialist will advise Program staff on content, support social work interns in developing groups for students with special needs, and conduct staff training on social development topics, including behavioral, psychological, and social issues. The Behavior Specialist will build relationships with community partners in social, emotional, and behavioral health and serve as a resource to young people, families, and staff when needed.

Key Responsibilities:

• Act as a mediator for participants in the YMCA Afterschool programs.

• Provide resources/information/coaching for young people and Y staff on social-emotional and behavior-related issues.

• Lead/Co-lead workshops for students on healthy emotional development and related issues for students and staff training.

• Develop, manage, and ensure consistent implementation of the Afterschool site's behavioral support systems, including discipline policies, codes of conduct, and positive reinforcement group and individual prevention systems.

• Create a resource center for students, their families, staff, and the host school to ensure ongoing support for topics and issues as they arise.

• Conduct technical assistance with YMCA staff in programming related to behavior challenges, engagement, and social-emotional development.

• Consult with site management to ensure social-emotional development and behavior management are infused into all programs, services, and lessons. 

• Support the implementation of systems for tracking student behaviors and consult with staff as needed to identify individual behavior support techniques for students experiencing challenges.

• Provide support to students at risk of program suspension by leading/co-leading individual behavior contract development meetings with the participant, caregivers, and school personnel, and providing outside referrals as needed.

• If applicable, work with social work interns to provide purposeful roles that support the behavioral, emotional, and psychological needs of the participants.

• Adhere to all Department of Health, Department of Education, YMCA of Greater New York, and funder standards, expectations, and regulations.

Desired Skills & Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree in social sciences, social work, counseling, psychology, or a related field required. MSW/MHC student or graduate preferred.

• Minimum of two (2) years of experience working with youth.

• General knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

• Must complete the YMCA Mandatory Reporting Training within six (6) months of hire.

• Strong interpersonal skills, leadership qualities, and comfortable working with diverse youth and adults. 

Benefits:
The YMCA of Greater New York offers a variety of benefits to its staff members, including retirement benefits, medical benefits, paid time off, free YMCA membership, and more! Benefit eligibility is determined by an individual’s employment status (i.e., full-time or part-time), tenure, and/or the number of hours scheduled to work. Click here for more information.

How to Apply:
If you would like to be a member of our dynamic team, please complete our online application and submit your résumé and a thoughtful cover letter that explains your interest in the role and our organization.

If you are a current YMCA employee, please submit your application through the Internal Career Site in Cornerstone.