Arts Coordinator/Employment Specialist, Louis Nine House

Louis Nine House, located in the Bronx, has 46 studio apartments for young adults (aged 18-25) who have aged out of foster care or experienced homelessness and mental illness. Many of our tenants have experienced multiple foster care placements, emotional trauma, neglect and/or abuse, and many also have a history of substance use.

At Louis Nine House we provide affordable housing and an integrated continuum of support services designed to help young adults achieve stability, maintain sobriety, and work toward the self-sufficiency needed to obtain and sustain permanent housing and independence. Through case management; onsite psychiatric services; and Options, our vocational and educational program housed at LNH, residents are supported to advance their personal development, pursue their education, identify career interests, acquire vocational skills, and secure employment.

Aim High with the Arts! (AHA!), an arts program located at LNH, uses music, visual arts, performances and other forms of self-expression to engage residents and encourage their participation in personal and professional development activities.

REPORTS TO: Program Director, LNH

BASIC FUNCTION: As an Arts Coordinator, you will create and conduct the arts and recreational activities at Louis Nine House, supportive housing in the Bronx for youth aging out of foster care or homeless young adults, ages 18 to 26. The Arts Coordinator/Employment Specialist also serves as a bridge for tenants to the Louis Nine House vocational and employment program by helping to engage tenants in career-focused pursuits, especially those most reluctant to engage. As an Employment Specialist, you will assist residents at Louis Nine House to identify and pursue their educational and vocational goals through counseling, guidance and support services. You will also provide ongoing retention support by using therapeutic approaches helping to address behaviors that present barriers to employment, retention and success.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

· Create program of arts activities for Louis Nine House residents, including visual arts, music, dance, creative writing, and drama.

· Facilitate arts-related groups and activities; supervise Louis Nine House staff members and volunteers in facilitating arts groups for residents.

· Lead structured group programs designed to improve and maintain the general health and well-being of the residents such as arts and crafts, games, sports, dance and movement, exercise, drama, animals, music, community outings, culinary projects.

· Network and collaborate with other arts, human services, and community groups.

· Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings.

· Maintain attendance, group, and individual client records.

· Provide written program reports as necessary.

· Participate in clinical case review conferences.

· Develop and maintain vocational and educational resource/reference library to include vocational training opportunities, educational services and other similar materials.

· Counsel tenants pursuing educational and vocational training and connect them with internal and/or external resources and supports as needed.

· Maintain ongoing supportive retention services to participants.

· Maintain case records in accordance with program standards.

· Work cooperatively with staff at all levels to ensure quality service provision and the development and improvement of team performance.

· Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

· A Bachelor’s Degree in in therapeutic recreation, arts therapy, or a related field is required

· Work experience in human services, social services or related field.

· Experience working with young adults/ at-risk youth is preferred.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

· Regularly required to use near sight vision to operate a computer.

· Regularly required to use routine office equipment including a computer and a telephone.

· Regularly required to operate equipment associated with a variety of the arts.

COMPENSATION:

The pay range for this role is between $45,000 and $50,000 per year for a 35 hour work week.

HOW TO APPLY: Submit a cover letter including salary requirements and a resume to search@ncsinc.org

NCS is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered regardless of race, creed, color, religion, citizenship or national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability or handicap, sex, gender identity or expression, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation or any other protected status.