Youth Development Recreational and Drop-In Specialist

About the role

The Youth Development Specialist for Recreation & Drop-In (“R&D Specialist”) is responsible for assisting in the creation and implementation of safe and enriching creative arts programming initiatives at Covenant House New York (CHNY)’s crisis shelter.

Reporting to the Youth Development Coordinator, the RD Specialist is an energetic, creative, and detail-oriented self-starter who is mission-focused and thrives on working with and building trusting relationships with adolescents and young adults. The R&D Specialist is expected to support the creation and implementation of an appropriate blend of social and recreational activities and Life skills workshops, geared towards providing CHNY youth with a variety of opportunities for growth and development. This includes designing, implementing, and overseeing comprehensive recreational activities for Covenant House youth, including agency-wide sports leagues, tournaments, clinics, specialty camps, sports-related trips, and one-off sporting events. The R&D Specialist will also coordinate, implement, and track weekly drop-in services, providing ongoing after-care services for youth no longer in residence at CHNY. This includes assisting non-resident youth in getting their immediate needs met (food, clothing, shelter) and connecting them with internal support services for healthcare, education, and employment. The R&D Specialist is also expected to provide staff coverage as needed and perform other related work as required.

What you'll do

Sports and Recreation

• Work collaboratively with the Youth Development team to plan, implement, and evaluate sports and recreational programs to ensure high-quality programs and events are available to all Covenant House youth.
• Work collaboratively with the Youth Development team, Volunteer Coordinator, and volunteer partners to coordinate agency-wide sports leagues, tournaments, clinics, specialty camps, sports-related trips, and one-off sporting events.
• Assist with implementing scheduled recreational activities.
• Work with the Youth Development team to coordinate gym schedules with other agency-wide gym bookings.
• Create and maintain a consistent sports and recreation schedule to ensure residents have equal and fair access to sports and recreation activities.
• Instruct/demonstrate to clients the basic rules of various sports/activities.

• Regularly promote recreation and sports programs and motivate residents to participate in program offerings.
• Work with the Youth Development team to arrange weekly advertising of the program.
• Monitor recreational activities to ensure compliance with established regulations.
• Distribute, collect, and account for all recreation equipment.
• Report damaged equipment and monitor supplies.
• Provide staff coverage for scheduled nightly program activities as assigned.
• Adhere to current policy and vetting processes for internal and external projects and partnerships.
• Comply with the relevant policies and procedures of Covenant House.
• De-escalate conflicts among clients through non-violent intervention.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Drop-In

• Maintain Drop-In service hours as needed
• Perform emergency runaway/homeless drop-in assessments and provide in-house referrals and assistance with essentials like food, clothing, and immediate shelter, as well as access to counseling, support, and referrals to other services relating to education, employment, housing, and health and wellness.
• Input and track all data relating to Drop-In clients in ETO. 
• Always upholds CHNY’s mission, vision, and principles, standards of conduct, policies, and procedures.
• Performs other duties as assigned and needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred and a minimum of two years’ experience working with homeless and runaway youth.
• Experience in providing recreational support and programming for a childcare non-profit organization is preferred.
• Must have a valid New York State Driver’s License and be willing to drive.
• Organized, forward-thinking, and detail-oriented.
• Flexible and able to manage in a fast-paced and ever-changing environment and maintain a positive, upbeat attitude.

About Covenant House New York

Join a Legacy of Hope and Empowerment at Covenant House New York!

For over 50 years, Covenant House New York (CHNY) has been at the forefront of transforming lives by providing comprehensive shelter, housing, and wrap-around support services for vulnerable homeless, runaway, and exploited youth. As the largest provider of these essential services in New York City, CHNY impacts the lives of over 1,500 young people aged 16-24 every year.

At CHNY, our doors are open to all young people in need, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression. Our dedicated team offers various services, including shelter, housing, education, employment, health, mental health support, youth development, and anti-human trafficking initiatives. We operate with harm reduction and trauma-informed principles to ensure the best care for our youth.

But our mission goes beyond immediate support. We are passionate advocates for systemic change, influencing public policy, and raising awareness of the critical issues surrounding youth homelessness. Our ultimate goal is to provide a safe refuge and empower young people to build a brighter future founded on compassion, unconditional love, and absolute respect.

Join us in making a difference in the lives of countless young people. Join a team that inspires long-term transformation and hope.