Youth Development Specialist - PAL

Department: Family Intervention Services

Position Title: Youth Development Specialist - Positive Alternative Learning (PAL)

Supervisor: Program Coordinator

FLSA Status: Non-exempt

Date: July 2025

General Statement: The Salvation Army is a branch of the Christian Church, and the ultimate goal of all programs is a spiritual regeneration of all people.

MISSION STATEMENT: The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by love for God. Its mission is to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and meet human needs in His name without discrimination.

Unit Mission Statement:

"To provide youth with skills for a healthy life, and instill purpose, hope and vision to youth and their families."

JOB SUMMARY: The Youth Development Specialist (YDS) for the Positive Alternative Learning (PAL) program is a non-exempt full-time regular 40 hour position that is part of the larger the Hilo Outreach/Prevention programs. Services for (PAL) target to at risk youth and their families in the community. The YDS will carry out those services through the essential functions described in this job description. The YDS is supervised by the Program Coordinator of the Hilo Prevention services.

1. ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS:

1. BA degree in human service or related field and one year job-related experience, or A.S. degree in Human Services or related field with three years job related experience, or combination of education and experience to meet position requirements. Valid Hawaii driver's license.
2. Valid TB clearance and Pre-Employment Medical Clearance
3. Valid First Aid and CPR certification.
4. DHS FBI/Criminal History & CAN, and Salvation Army background clearances
5. MVR records check, must meet Authorized Driving standards of the Salvation Army

1. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Provide community-based outreach services to at-risk youth in schools, family setting, and community, connect youth and families to resources and services, and work with the respective communities assigned to assess their needs and resources.
2. Provide crisis intervention services to youth and families as indicated.
3. Utilizing a risk-focused prevention approach, perform intake/assessment, develop service plans, and provide appropriate prevention/intervention services utilizing a Youth Development Strategy.
4. Provide case management services as indicated, and assist youth and families to utilize community resources.
5. Monitor youth's progress in school, home and community.
6. Develop, organize, schedule and supervise group program recreational/craft activities for youths during after school, evenings, weekends as determined by program requirements. This includes both indoor and outdoor activities like team sports, group physical/health skills exercises.
7. Develop and implement skill building programs to assist youth to prevent involvement in the use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, teen pregnancy, and life-skills training such as problem-solving, career/employment development, decision-making, communication skills, and similar positive youth development activities. Utilize programs FIS curriculums and approaches and other youth development activities.
8. Insure that program rules and procedures are followed by lower classified staff and volunteers, including maintaining consistency in program rules and procedures in providing services to youth.
9. Maintain daily logs of participation and complete required reports to track performance targets and milestones contract requirements, including monthly and quarterly activity reports.
10. Obtain agency certification to operate a 12-15 passenger van to transport youths to and from activities as required.
11. Maintain professional worker/client and staff relationships at all times.
12. Participate in agency sponsored programs such as Project Family.
13. Maintain all required documentation on assessments and service activities with youths, including progress made.
14. Attend all staff meetings, training, conferences, workshops as requested or scheduled.

1. Must be able to carry out and fulfill work duties during assigned work schedule and at work location.

1. OTHER FUNCTIONS:
2. Performs other duties as assigned.

1. SKILLS AND PERSONAL QUALITIES:
2. Willing to accept and implement The Salvation Army philosophy.
3. Sound judgment, dependability, understanding, firm, caring, organized, high energy
4. Liaison with and knowledge of public service agencies and other community agencies.

MENTAL DEMANDS:

• Work under stressful conditions
• Interact with others with courtesy and tact
• Relate to wide range of people and situations including youth, parents, agency workers, police, school personnel, etc.
• Work within an interdisciplinary team concept; participate in staff training and growth group
• Manage and prioritize multiple projects in an organized and efficient manner
• Respond to crisis situations in a calm and effective manner
• Complete projects on schedule
• Maintain confidentiality
• Maintain regular and punctual work attendance; may require flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The position requires sitting; climbing and/or balancing; stooping, kneeling, bending, stretching, crouching and/or crawling; standing; walking; manual dexterity and eye-hand coordination; use of vision; driving a vehicle; pushing/pulling/lifting/carrying 25-50 pounds and occasionally more than 50 pounds; traveling by airplane. Implement safe restraints of youth involved in physical confrontation situations.

COMMUNICATION DEMANDS:

The position requires talking to co-workers, clients, vendors; requires written communication to and from co-workers, clients, vendor; talking on the telephones; requires responding to written or verbal requests of co-workers, clients, and vendors; requires training/giving verbal and written instructions; requires receiving verbal and written instructions; requires writing/composing written language; requires reading; requires visiting/working at other worksites; requires communication via the latest technologies. Implement safe restraints of youth involved in physical confrontation situations.

SKILLS/TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE:

Prioritize multiple work tasks to meet tight deadlines

EQUIPMENT NEEDS:

Use office equipment such as computers, photocopiers, scanners, calculators, etc.

DESCRIPTION OF WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Most work will be indoors at Family Intervention Services. Attendance at trainings, both in Hawaii and on the mainland, may be required.

NOTES:

The information in this job description indicates the general nature and level of work performed by an employee in this classification. It is not to be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory, or all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications of employees assigned to this job. Management has the right to add to, revise, or delete information in this description. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position. Employee will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by management.