Social & Community ServicesResidential & Direct Support
About the job
Requirements
Must have the ability to establish and maintain warm, consistent relationships with youth, parents or guardians, and other Youth Ranches personnel.
Must possess basic knowledge of group dynamics, child development, and group living.
Must have adequate educational background to provide guidance to youth having difficulties, maintain cottage records, and monitor cottage expenditures in accordance with agency guidelines.
Must have knowledge and appreciation of spiritual values and the ability to develop moral and ethical values in youth.
Must have the ability to work under pressure and in crisis situations.
Must have the ability to accept and give constructive feedback as a means of developing personal skills.
Must have the ability to communicate effectively using verbal and written skills.
Must have a valid Florida Driver License and be able to maintain a safe driving record consistent with state laws and agency policy.
Requires a high school diploma or equivalent.
Must be at least 21 years of age.
Responsibilities
Provide direct care and supervision to a group of youth in a cottage setting, maintaining continuous supervision in accordance with agency standards and applicable licensing or contractual requirements.
Teach and model social, academic, and independent living skills.
Relieve Cottage Parents during their time off and handle the cottage’s day-to-day operations when doing so; assist Cottage Parents under their direct functional supervision when assigned.
Use attentiveness, alertness, and discretion to help provide a safe and caring environment for youth.
Steward cottage and program resources, including equipment, buildings, and vehicles, and ensure the cottage, campus grounds, and other assets are maintained to Youth Ranches’ standards.
Support other cottage staff during the daily cottage schedule and assume Cottage Parents’ responsibilities in their absence.
Follow agency policies regarding discipline, family and youth rights, child abuse, and confidentiality of youth and program information.
Keep appropriate team members informed of youth- and cottage-related activities, updates, and concerns.
Complete required paperwork, including daily notes, Medication Administration Records, weekly and monthly cottage paperwork, incident reports, and work program timesheets; maintain cottage operational documentation and accounts when necessary.
Build connections with youth by actively participating in cottage crew, work programs, education, chapel, and recreational activities.
Assist other staff members or programs as needed or requested.
Exercise discretion and appropriate judgment as a role model for youth and fellow staff members.
Facilitate the moral and spiritual character development of youth in the cottage.
Participate in and positively implement Trust-Based Relational Intervention techniques.
If applicable, provide awake supervision during sleep hours for assigned cottage.
Desired Qualifications
Direct experience with youth in an educational or residential care setting is preferred for all levels.
Are you passionate about caring for disadvantage youth? Do you have a heart for ministry and a love for children?The mission of the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches is to prevent delinquency and develop lawful, resilient and productive citizens. Make a difference in the lives of disadvantage youth! Join our team today!
SUMMARY
The Youth Engagement Specialist provides direct care and supervision to a group of youth in a cottage setting. The Youth Engagement Specialist teaches and models social, academic, and independent living skills. The Youth Engagement Specialist relieves Cottage Parents during their time off and, when doing so, handles the day-to-day operations of the cottage. When scheduled to work with the Cottage Parents, assists Cottage Parents while working under their direct functional supervision when assigned. The Youth Engagement Specialist is responsible directly to the Unit Director. Work performance is reviewed through regular supervisory conferences and performance evaluations. This position is classified as non-exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and is eligible for overtime pay in accordance with applicable law.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The following duties and responsibilities are given as examples of the various types of work performed in this position. Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned.
1. In order to provide a safe and caring environment, the Youth Engagement Specialist must demonstrate attentiveness, alertness, and discretion of each aspect of the Youth Ranches program while actively engaging with and supervising youth. Maintains continuous supervision of assigned youth in accordance with agency standards and applicable licensing or contractual requirements.
Demonstrates resourcefulness and thriftiness in the wise stewardship of the cottage and programs resources including all equipment, buildings, and vehicles. Ensures cottage, campus grounds and other assets are maintained at Youth Ranches’ standards.
Demonstrates availability, benevolence, and responsibility by providing support to other cottage staff during the daily cottage schedule. Assumes the responsibilities of Cottage Parents in their absence.
Abides by agency policies in discipline, family and youth rights, child abuse and maintaining confidentiality of youth and other program information.
Demonstrates integrity and truthfulness while maintaining effective communication with all members of the team. Ensures that all appropriate team members are kept informed of youth and cottage related activities, updates and concerns.
Practices punctuality, thoroughness, and orderliness in completing required paperwork such as daily notes, Medication Administration Records (MAR), weekly and monthly cottage paperwork, incident reports, and work program time sheets. Maintains cottage operational documentation/accounts when necessary.
Build connections with youth through active participation in cottage crew, work programs, education, chapel, and recreational activities.
Displays dependability, flexibility and availability when faced with change and a willingness to assist other staff members or programs as needed or requested.
Exercises discretion and appropriate judgment to always be an appropriate role model for our youth and fellow staff members.
Facilitates the Moral Spiritual Character Development of youth in the cottage.
Participates in, practices, and positively implements Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) techniques.
12. If applicable, provides awake supervision during sleep hours for assigned cottage
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each area of responsibility satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required.
Must have the ability to establish and maintain warm, consistent relationships with youth, parents and/or guardians, and other Youth Ranches personnel.
Must possess basic knowledge of group dynamics, child development, and group living.
Must have adequate educational background to provide guidance to youth having difficulties, maintain cottage records, and monitor cottage expenditures in accordance with agency guidelines.
Must have knowledge and appreciation of spiritual values and the ability to develop moral and ethical values in youth.
Must have a willingness to work as a team member for the development of youth and families served.
Must have the ability to work under pressure and in crisis situations.
Must have the ability to accept and give constructive feedback as a means of developing one’s own personal skills.
Must have the ability to effectively communicate utilizing verbal and written skills.
Must have a valid Florida Driver License and be able to maintain a safe driving record consistent with state laws and agency policy.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
This position requires a high school diploma or equivalent. Must be at least 21 years of age. Direct experience with youth in an educational or residential care setting is preferred for all levels. Must have a valid Florida Driver License and be able to maintain a safe driving record consistent with agency policy.
Job Type: Full-time (Schedule Varies)
Pay: $16.00 per hour
Benefits:
401(k) Plan with up to 4% company match
Annual Leave and Sick Leave
11 Holidays
Company Paid Long Term Disability
Company Paid Life Insurance
Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
Employee assistance program
Eligible for Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Program
Health Savings Account, Supplemental Life Insurance, Short Term Disability and Aflac products available
We are an equal opportunity employer and a drug free workplace. We have a very extensive and strict background screening process.
Background Screening Requirement Employment in this position is contingent upon successful completion of a Level 2 background screening through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse, as required by Florida law. Pursuant to House Bill 531 (2025), applicants are encouraged to review the Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse Education and Awareness information available at: https://info.flclearinghouse.com