Youth Division Aide 2, 3 and 4

Contents

Youth Division Aide 2

Duties

Work on an assigned shift, under the supervision of higher-level staff, provide direct care, supervision and guidance to youth placed by the courts into residential facilities run by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS). Ensure the security of these facilities by controlling access by operating security cameras, and screening visitors and staff at a designated post. Youth Division Aide 2s transport youth between all OCFS work locations and to other destinations; for example, courts and medical providers.

Minimum Qualifications

To qualify for a Youth Division Aide 2 position, you must meet the following requirements:

• Have one year of satisfactory, full-time experience in the care and programming of youth under 21 years of age
  OR
• Have one year of full-time experience in the care, programming and/or secure custody of residential clients in a health care, mental hygiene, or correctional institutional setting
  OR
• Possess a high school or equivalency diploma.

Youth Division Aide 3

Duties

Work in residential youth facilities (Highland, Red Hook, Brentwood, Youth Leadership Academy, Harriett Tubman, Taberg, Industry Upper, Industry Lower and Finger Lakes Residential Centers), work on an assigned shift and are supervised by and assist professional staff by serving as a member of a treatment team, participating in team discussions, providing observations and suggestions and developing and implementing individual youth treatment and safety plans. Youth Division Aide 3s also perform many of the same duties as Youth Division Aide 2s in residential youth facilities but with greater independence. Youth Division Aide 3s are also assigned to CMSOs, where they model appropriate skills, behavior and healthy adult-youth relationships for youth. They also help youth develop their community safety plans, evaluate youth progress and assist in planning and facilitating family days.

Minimum Qualifications

To qualify for a Youth Division Aide 3 position, you must meet one or more of the following requirements:

• Have two years of full-time experience in the care and programming of youth under 21 years of age OR
• Have two years of full-time experience in the care programming and/or secure custody of residential clients in a health care, mental hygiene, or correctional institutional setting OR
• Have an associate’s degree and six months of full-time experience as described above OR
• Have a high school or equivalency diploma and one year of full-time experience as described above OR
• Have a bachelor’s degree OR
• Have a satisfactory, equivalent combination of the above education and experience requirements.

Youth Division Aide 4

Duties

Work only in secure residential facilities operated by OCFS (Columbia, Brookwood, Goshen and MacCormick Secure Centers). Youth Division Aide 4s perform the same duties as Youth Division Aide 4s perform in non-secure and limited secure residential youth facilities; they supervise and lead groups, create and maintain a home-like environment, guide and encourage youth to improve their personal hygiene, appearance, manners and work and study habits, guide youth as they complete work assignments and plan and participate in organized, recreational activities with youth. Youth Division Aide 4s also seek to modify youths’ antisocial, maladaptive and self-destructive behavior patterns by modeling healthy behavioral alternatives. They employ established techniques to de-escalate volatile situations. Youth Division Aide 4s meet with youth counselors, establish and maintain productive relationships with youths’ families and attend case conferences and community and staff meetings.

Minimum Qualifications

To qualify for a Youth Division Aide 4 position, you must meet one or more of the following requirements:

• Have two years of full-time experience in the care and programming of youth under 21 years of age OR
• Have two years of full-time experience in the care programming and/or secure custody of residential clients in a health care, mental hygiene, or correctional institutional setting OR
• Have an associate’s degree and six months of full-time experience as described above OR
• Have a high school or equivalency diploma and one year of full-time experience as described above OR
• Have a bachelor’s degree OR
• Have a satisfactory, equivalent combination of the above education and experience requirements.

Physical/Medical Requirements

Your physical and medical condition will be evaluated to ensure that you are able to satisfactorily perform the duties of the Youth Division Aide 4 position with or without reasonable accommodation. The physical/medical standards include a fitness test, a medical standards evaluation, and a substance abuse screening. Drug testing prior to appointment. Failure to meet the standards may result in your disqualification.

You will be required to participate in a drug screening test and are responsible for the clinical laboratory fee.

Notes on Qualifications

• Appropriate, verifiable part-time experience will be accepted on a prorated basis.
• Qualifying experience with youth is defined as experience with youth involved in the juvenile justice system, or in an institution, camp, school, community center, youth rehabilitation program, or residential center.
• At the time of appointment and as a condition for continued employment, all youth division aides must possess a valid license to operate a motor vehicle in New York state. A conditional license is not acceptable.

Background Investigation/Justice Center Review

Prospective appointees will be

• checked against the Staff Exclusion List (SEL) maintained by the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs. Prospective employees whose names appear on the SEL as having been found responsible for serious or repeated acts of abuse or neglect will be barred from appointment and may have their names removed from the eligible list(s) for the title(s) if applicable;
• investigated through a Criminal Background Check (CBC). All convictions must be reported. Conviction of a felony or misdemeanor or any falsified or omitted information may bar appointment or result in removal after appointment. Each case will be determined on its own merits, consistent with the applicable provisions of state and federal laws; Prospective employees will be fingerprinted in order to obtain a record of their criminal history information, and may be required to pay any necessary fees; and
• screened against the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment (SCR). Prospective employees may be required to pay any necessary fees. Additionally, prospective employees whose names are indicated on the SCR may be barred from appointment.