AmeriCorps Teen Engagement Specialist

Job Overview

Position Summary

 

AmeriCorps Teen Engagement Specialist

Example Contract dates:

• September 2nd, 2025 – August 8th, 2026  (50 Week Contract);
• September 15th, 2025 - August 22nd, 2026 (50 Week Contract)

*Contract start and end dates are flexible and rotate on a bi-weekly schedule  

1700 Hours Contract - Minimum of 37 hours/week

Compensation: Living Allowance Total: $22,100  ($884.00 2 weeks over 50 weeks) + Education Award: $7,395.00*   

Closing Date:  September 9th, 2025

Description: 

AmeriCorps is a national service program that takes a different approach to improve lives and fostering civic engagement. AmeriCorps Members commit their time to address critical community needs.  In Dubuque, AmeriCorps Members serve at the intersection of education and mental health to help youth understand their emotions, reactions, and relationships through social-emotional learning to improve academic, career, and social success. City of Dubuque AmeriCorps Members implement key skill-building program to have the following impacts:

1. Youth experience programs promoting healthy lifestyles resulting in decreased youth risk-related behaviors. 

2. Youth development skills to build meaningful and healthy relationships while experiencing being valued and respected.

3. Providing every young person with the opportunity to grow up safely and access their best possible future.

The AmeriCorps Teen Engagement Specialist serves at the Multicultural Family Center and works closely with the Teen Empowerment Coordinator and the AmeriCorps Academic Advocate. This position's goal is to provide Dubuque's teenage youth with community connections, healthy opportunities, and engaging activities year-round. This vital role involves developing programs, implementing them, evaluating their impact, and reaching out to a broad representation of youth populations. The Teen Engagement Specialist focuses on supporting students and families from communities facing barriers helping them navigate their out-of-school time in meaningful ways. This position will lead Teen Night programming for high school students, engage middle school students, build relationships with disadvantaged youth and their families, connect talents and interests to potential careers, and create sustainable support systems within the community.

Benefits:

• Education Award received upon successful completion of their term of service.
• Living Allowance
• Healthcare
• Childcare coverage, if the member qualifies.
• Student loan forbearance and interest payments for eligible loans

 

Job Duties

 

Service Responsibilities

1. Program Development and Implementation:

1. Collaborate with the Teen Empowerment Coordinator to develop and implement engaging programming and outreach initiatives for teen-aged youth in the Dubuque community.

2. Design program curricula that focus on community engagement, healthy choices, and positive social skill development for teenagers.

3. Collaborate closely with AmeriCorps members serving at program partners (Carnegie-Stout Public Library and Multicultural Family Center) to establish collaborative teen-focused programming efforts.

4. Collaborate with community partners, local businesses, and community leaders to create and execute "Teen Night" programming throughout the school year and summer months.

5. Plan and facilitate activities that engage teenagers, promote learning, and foster a sense of belonging and community.

6. Recruit and engage youth to participate in Teen Empowerment Programs throughout the school year and summer.

2. Teen Night Programming:

1. Develop individualized success plans for Teen Empowerment participants focus on individual needs/supports. IE: Social-Emotional Learning, Healthy Habits, Life-skills.

2. Follow up with Teen Empowerment participants for updates to their success plan on a quarterly basis and make changes/new goals as necessary.

3. Develop and implement weekly Teen Night Programs for groups of approximately 20-30 students.

4. Coordinate monthly experiential learning opportunities focused on new experiences, local 'hidden gems', creating community, exploring identity.

5. Coordinate bi-weekly visits from program partners to lead programs around trending teen engagement activities.

6. Develop and implement weekly mentoring services, while seeking volunteer mentors to expand the program capacity.

7. Host quarterly "try-it" sessions in partnership with local sports, cultural, arts, civic/volunteering and leisure organizations and networks.

3. Teen Coaching and Support:

1. Coach teenagers on appropriate behaviors, conflict management, de-escalation and self-regulation practices.

2. Provide guidance and mentorship to teens during activities, programs, and events.

3. Encourage academic engagement, recreational participation, and positive peer interactions among at-risk youth.

4. Carry out developmental activities that promote skill-building in areas such as such as self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, personal responsibility, goal directed behavior, decision-making and optimistic thinking.

5. Create opportunities for teens to enhance their social, emotional, and life skills through workshops, discussions, and experiential learning activities.

4. Volunteer Management:

1. Recruit, manage, monitor, train, and document volunteer involvement with teen programming.

2. Coordinate with volunteers to support the implementation of activities and ensure a safe and supportive environment for participants.

3. Collaborate with local colleges and community leaders to recruit volunteers and mentor to support Teen Empowerment programming throughout the school year and summer months.

5. Impact Assessment and Documentation:

1. Document and maintain records of the impact on area youth who participate in the teen empowerment programs through weekly data reporting processes.

2. Collect data and feedback to evaluate program effectiveness and identify areas for improvement.

3. Conduct the DESSA assessments to measure students' social-emotional competencies.

6. Disaster Response (AmeriCorps-Disaster Response Team)

1. Participate in A-DRT training(s) to ensure the member has knowledge and ability to respond to disasters

2. Complete other training necessary to support disaster deployments, including but not limited to Volunteer Reception Center (VRC), first aid, mental health first aid, and chainsaw training.

 

Qualifications

 

Physical Requirements: 

• Walk and carry materials up and down steps 

• Stand and walk for extended periods of time 

• Lift 30 pounds 

• Bend, squat and kneel

Desired Skills/Qualifications:

• Must be competent in working with at-risk youth, teenaged youth, and communities facing barriers.
  

• Applicant must have reliable transportation. 

• Applicant must be creative, energetic, dependable and a self-starter.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Must have a high school diploma or equivalent OR agree to obtain one while under service to the AmeriCorps Program

• Be 17 years or older at the start of service (no upper age limit) 

• Pass a national service criminal history check prior to first day of service due to reoccurring access to vulnerable populations

• Hold one of the following citizenship statuses: US citizen, US national, or Lawful Permanent Resident

 

Supplemental Information

 

Service Schedule

The Teen Engagement Specialists’ scheduled hours may fluctuate based on Teen Programming scheduled throughout the year. Typical schedule: Mon - Thurs: Serve flexibly between the hours of 9am - 8pm, with three days/week served during the 12pm - 8pm timeframe, with one day from 10am to 6pm; Friday: 9am - 5pm. During the summer, 4 nights/week (typically Mon-Thurs) must be served during the 12pm – 8pm hours. Opportunities for weekend hours or special events may become available during the year.

Example schedule for illustrative purposes:

• Monday: 10am – 6pm

• Tuesday: 12pm – 8pm

• Wednesday: 12pm – 8pm

• Thursday: 12pm – 8pm

• Friday: 9am – 5pm

• Saturday: Off

• Sunday: Off

Sick Leave: Sick leave, personal leave, and holiday leave is allowed, but such time off does not count towards the required number of hours needed to successfully complete the term of service. There are additional benefits offered if the member has a compelling personal circumstance.

Disaster Deployments: Member who opt-in to be engaged in disaster deployment/activities will need to ensure availability for the term of the disaster deployments, generally 2-4 weeks.  Make plans for pets, family members, other employment and responsibilities that need regular attention.

Evaluations and Alternative Service

AmeriCorps Members are required by the program to complete Self-Evaluations. 

Mid-Term Evaluations: At the member’s halfway point during their term of service, the member will complete a self-evaluation and their Site Supervisor will complete an evaluation on the member through AmericaLearns. The member and site supervisor will meet, with or without Program Staff, to discuss the evaluations in-depth. These evaluations must be submitted to the AmeriCorps Program. 

End-Term Evaluations: Upon the completion of their AmeriCorps Contract, all members will complete an End-Term Evaluation through AmericaLearns. The End-Term Evaluation must be completed, signed, and submitted to the AmeriCorps Program within 30 days of the member’s final date of service. Non-submission of this document within the 30-day timeframe will lead to the member being exited for cause (see section 9 of the Member Service Agreement) and will forfeit the member’s right to the Education Award.

Members may engage in other allowable activities that are not specifically outlined in the position description, but that support the AmeriCorps program design, and which will help the Program meet its goals. Under no circumstances will members be asked to perform prohibited activities. Volunteers recruited and/or managed by AmeriCorps members will not participate in prohibited activities as outlined in the approved grant.

APPLICATION: all applications are submitted electronically via this website.

Questions? CONTACT: City of Dubuque AmeriCorps Program

Phone: 563.690.6171 Email: americorps@cityofdubuque.org

*AmeriCorps member will receive education award in the form of an electronic payment through myamericorpgs.gov. Education award may be used to pay educational costs at eligible post-secondary educational institutions or qualified student loans. Members who are 55+ years of age can transfer award to child or grandchild under specific conditions.

Note: AmeriCorps Members are compensated through the national AmeriCorps program and are not considered employees of the City of Dubuque.