Department: Prevention

Location: Chicago, IL (Portage Park)

Schedule: Monday-Friday, 9:00am-5:00p (flexibility w/ school schedules), occasional optional weekend hours

Position Overview

A Prevention Specialist at Youth Outreach Services (YOS) is a full-time employee in the prevention department who is responsible for providing substance use prevention in Chicago. Specialists work with community members and other staff within YOS to provide prevention services through several different means, including but not limited to facilitation of substance use prevention education in Chicago schools, creation and promotion of National Prevention Week events, establishment and leadership of a Youth Advisory Committee, membership and support of the Substance Use Prevention Coalition, and recruitment for the bi-annual Illinois Youth Survey.

Prevention Specialists will travel locally if needed as per job duties. The Prevention Specialist's at YOS will also aid in youth workforce development through the annual One Summer Chicago program and manage youth employees for the duration.

Primary Responsibilities and Essential Functions:

Youth Prevention Education (50%)

• Implement and teach evidence-based substance use prevention curricula in schools
• Project ALERT and Generation Rx – middle school curriculums
• Too Good For Drugs – high school curriculum

Secondary Grant Deliverables (25%)

• Illinois Youth Survey recruitment/assistance
• National Prevention Week event planning and promotion
• Resource Directory creation and distribution
• Drug Take Back event promotion and assistance
• Establishment and retention of a Youth Advisory Committee
• Communication Campaign posting and distribution
• Coalition membership and assistance

One Summer Chicago (20%) - summer youth employment program

• Match applicants in the youth employment system ages 16-24 with worksites based on their interests and location, communicate program expectations, and guide them through an onboarding process
• Provide mentorship to youth employees to assist them in creating and achieving professional, educational, and/or personal goals
• Provide technical support to worksites, internal departments, and youth throughout the duration of the program to ensure program goals and documentation requirements are being met
• Travel to/from worksites and other YOS offices to conduct site visits with youth employees to check in, deliver items (bus cards, t-shirts, paychecks, etc.), and collect weekly timesheets

Other Duties (5%)

• Content creation for Prevention Instagram
• Office upkeep
• Training and webinars
• Other necessary documentation

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in a related field (Public Health, Health Sciences, Education, Social Work, Substance Abuse Counseling, etc.) required
• Experience working with youth in a community or school setting
• Familiarity with substance use prevention
• Proficient Communication skills
• Comprehensive knowledge of youth development
• Valid driver's license, proof of insurance, and reliable transportation
• Ability to efficiently use or learn to use Microsoft Teams, Word, Excel, and SharePoint
• Bilingual in Spanish is preferred

Benefits:

• Health, Dental, Vision
• Life Insurance
• Short/Long-Term Disability options
• 403(b) Retirement
• Paid Time off (PTO)
• Mileage Reimbursement
• Eligibility for Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness

Compensation:

• Compensation can vary based on education and experience
• Annual salary general range $44,000-$46,000

Youth Outreach Services is a drug-free workplace and compliance with this policy is a condition of employment and continued employment

COVID-19 Policy : In compliance with Illinois Executive Order, Youth Outreach Services is requiring all employees to be fully vaccinated against or an approved exemption. Approved exemptions will require weekly testing for COVID-19.