Social Worker (Part-Time - Jamaica, Queens)

Who we are: The Police Athletic League (PAL) of New York City is an independent youth development nonprofit organization and has been a vibrant and vital institution, serving as an effective, critical bridge between police and communities across all five boroughs of the City since 1914. PAL operates diverse programs for children as young as 2 years old to young adults. Programs include Head Start, after-school programs and summer day camps for elementary, middle and high school youth, and summer Playstreets. PAL also runs evening teen centers and college readiness programs, youth employment, and juvenile justice programs. Staying true to PALs roots, a cornerstone of our youth development strategy includes offering competitive and recreational sports for children of all ages. At PAL, were devoted to empowering communities and building the best places to work, and that goes for our own teams too.

Position Summary:

PAL is seeking a Part-Time Social Worker to support the social-emotional well-being, healthy development, and overall success of high school youth participating in Youthlink programs. The Social Worker will provide individual and small-group support, facilitate social-emotional learning and wellness programming, identify youth who may benefit from additional support, and connect young people and families with appropriate school, community, and mental health resources. The Social Worker will build trusting relationships with youth and serve as a supportive resource for teens navigating challenges related to stress, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, family circumstances, relationships, school, and other social-emotional concerns. The Social Worker will work collaboratively with Youthlink staff, school personnel, families, mental health providers, and community partners to strengthen protective factors and ensure youth have access to appropriate supports.

The Part-Time Social Worker will report to the Teen Supervisor and receive additional support and supervision from the EBC Director and PAL leadership.

What youll do:

Major Duties & Responsibilities

- Foster social and emotional competencies and mental and physical well-being in a safe, welcoming, inclusive, and nurturing environment.

- Provide individual and small-group social-emotional support to youth experiencing challenges related to stress, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, family circumstances, peer relationships, school, or other concerns affecting their well-being and participation in programming.

- Collaborate with program staff, school personnel, mental health professionals, and community partners to support youth wellness, maintain appropriate documentation, and ensure programming reflects the needs of participating teens.

- Be aware of students with IEPs and medical conditions in your groups and follow support plans to help the student with special needs to thrive.

- Respond appropriately when time-sensitive mental health services are needed such as suicide prevention, grief, and loss due to death or incarceration of a family member. Provide referrals to appropriate mental health services as needed.

- Work cooperatively with Group Leaders, professional staff, teachers, and other Program and school staff.

- Build positive relationships with youth and caretakers and serve as a role model with respect to demeanor, communication, and behavior.

- Attend meetings with staff, caretakers, volunteers, and community residents as needed.

- Interact with caretakers and keep open lines of communication.

The Commitment

Able to work 15 hours per week (Tuesday to Saturday 3 hours a day).

Able to attend 15 hours of orientation prior to the beginning of programming and complete 30 hours of Building Resiliency in Youth training.

Able to attend scheduled staff meetings and professional development throughout the year.

Qualifications

What you bring:

- Masters degree in Social Work (MSW) from an accredited social work program required.

- New York State LMSW or LCSW preferred. Candidates eligible for licensure may be considered.

- Minimum of two years of experience working with adolescents, preferably in a school, youth development, community-based, behavioral health, or social service setting.

- Experience facilitating workshops, group discussions, or activities focused on stress management, coping skills, wellness, or personal development preferred.

- Good communication skills and ability to work collaboratively. Bi-lingual in Spanish, French, or Chinese preferred.

- Open to learning and growing. All staff will be learning mental health, SEL, and special needs inclusion skills and expected to integrate them into programming.

Compensation: The range for this role is $40-42 an hour where the finalist falls in this range will be commensurate with skills and experience.

Benefits: PAL offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes health insurance, flexible spending account options, an employee assistance program, tuition reimbursement, pet insurance, life insurance, retirement savings options, a generous paid time off policy, training and more!

Location: Edward Byrne Center 116-25 Guy R. Brewer Boulevard

At the Police Athletic League, we seek people who are talented, creative and passionate to help create a more inclusive city and better futures for our youth. Were devoted to empowering communities and building the best places to work, and that goes for our own teams too.

The Police Athletic League is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected characteristic including, but not limited to, an individuals sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy

Employment with PAL is contingent upon successful completion of all the Agencys lawful pre-employment checks, which may include a background check.