Juvenile Justice Ministry & After-Care Specialist

Position Summary

The Juvenile Justice Ministry & After-Care Specialist reports to the Juvenile Justice Ministry/After-Care Coordinator and provides direct services, case management, and wraparound support to justice-involved youth, primarily in Stanislaus County. This position supports youth during detention, reintegration, and after-care while ensuring that services, documentation, and data collection meet applicable grant requirements.

The Specialist builds trusted relationships with youth and families, facilitates assigned curriculum, connects youth with appropriate community resources, and helps youth establish and pursue personal goals for successful reintegration. The position may also serve in Merced County or other locations as directed.

Essential Functions

Personal and Spiritual Development

Practice the discipline of abiding in Christ according to John 15.
Regularly seek God through prayer, Scripture reading, and other spiritual disciplines.
Pursue continued spiritual, leadership, and personal development.
Ensure that ministry sites and programming reflect the mission, standards, and ministry models of Youth for Christ.
Teach and lead using Scripture, pray with and encourage others, and cultivate an abiding relationship with Christ.

Team Participation

Participate in Monday leadership and all-team meetings, or other meetings as directed.
Participate in other team member connections as needed to further the mission of Youth for Christ through ministry collaboration.
Remain engaged with the broader YFC Central Valley team and ministry leadership for alignment, encouragement, and accountability.
Communicate regularly with the Juvenile Justice Ministry/After-Care Coordinator regarding youth services, program needs, documentation, and grant requirements.
Assist with coaching, training, guiding, and shepherding staff and volunteers as assigned.

Juvenile Justice Ministry & After-Care Services

Provide direct services, case management, and wraparound support to justice-involved youth, including youth transitioning from detention into the community.
Establish appropriate, supportive relationships with youth and families while maintaining professional and ministry boundaries.
Communicate appropriately and professionally with Probation staff, school personnel, community organizations, service providers, families, and other partners.
Participate in reintegration meetings and similar support meetings, providing resources, assistance, referrals, and connections.
Connect youth and families with appropriate services, including church, education, employment, housing, mental and emotional health, transportation, and other community supports.
Follow up consistently with youth after release from custody and document contacts, services, referrals, progress, and outcomes.
Help youth create and implement personal goals for success, including Individual Service Plans or other plans required by applicable grants.
Facilitate Project WITH curriculum or other approved curricula as required by the applicable program or grant.
Provide teaching materials and other appropriate resources to participating youth.
Track youth progress and ensure that all required paperwork is completed accurately and submitted on time.
Provide required documentation to the Project Analyst, Administrative Assistant, Coordinator, Director, or other designated staff to support complete and accurate data compliance.
Provide spiritual guidance, encouragement, discipleship, and appropriate pastoral care to youth and families.
Advocate for justice-involved youth and help them identify practical steps toward stability, healthy relationships, and successful reintegration.

Administration, Data Compliance & Confidentiality

Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential youth records in accordance with organizational requirements, grant expectations, and applicable privacy standards.
Administer, collect, and maintain Individual Service Plans and other required youth documentation.
Record program participation, referrals, contacts, progress, outcomes, and other required data.
Provide program and participant data to the Coordinator, Director, Project Analyst, or other authorized staff as requested.
Protect confidential and sensitive information obtained through youth services, family contacts, schools, Probation, and community partners.
Respond within two business days to communications from youth, parents, community partners, Probation staff, school personnel, and YFC staff unless circumstances require a more immediate response.
Complete administrative work, reports, expense documentation, calendars, and other organizational requirements in a timely manner.
Participate in program evaluation, grant monitoring, and compliance activities as assigned.

Networking & Partnership Development

Participate in relevant community networks, collaborative meetings, and service-provider gatherings.
Develop additional community partnerships that support justice-involved youth and their families.
Strengthen existing relationships with Probation, schools, churches, community organizations, mental health providers, and other youth-serving partners.
Work collaboratively with partners to identify service gaps, avoid unnecessary duplication, and improve access to resources.
Represent YFC Central Valley professionally and communicate the organization’s mission, ministry approach, and services clearly.
Demonstrate excellent, mature communication skills with a broad range of audiences.

Volunteer and Leader Empowerment

Assist with recruiting, equipping, coaching, and supporting volunteers who serve justice-involved youth.
Provide leadership, prayer, pastoral care, and encouragement to volunteers as needed.
Help volunteers understand appropriate boundaries, confidentiality expectations, ministry procedures, grant-related requirements, and YFC ministry standards.
Assist volunteers in completing required YFC onboarding and training processes.
Help volunteers identify meaningful opportunities to support youth during detention, reintegration, and after-care.

Financial Partner Development

Build and maintain a Circle of Influence with a minimum of 20 contacts.
Work with the appropriate supervisor or development staff to enter and maintain Circle of Influence information in the organization’s donor management system.
Participate in chapter-wide fundraising events and other assigned development activities.
Assist in recruiting financial partners to support Juvenile Justice Ministry outreach, youth services, program supplies, and student needs.
Cultivate a ministry-centered approach to relationships with financial partners.
Execute assigned communication strategies and provide ongoing relational communication with financial partners.

Primary and Secondary Steward Responsibilities

Employees may be assigned a Primary Steward role for any of the following: Volunteer(s), Donor(s), Vendor(s), Chapter(s), and Process, Standard and Best Practices (PSBPs).

All employees are assigned the role of Secondary Steward, which plays a supporting role to the Primary Steward to serve a chapter in a specific way, for a specific timeframe as determined by the Primary Steward. Secondary Stewards can be assigned to focus on specific management issues like YFC compliance, legal, risk, strategic planning, fund development coaching, staff development coaching, new ministry site development, process stewardship, or a variety of other equipping roles.

Spiritual Responsibilities

Because the overriding religious purpose and mission of Youth for Christ USA is to communicate and introduce the Gospel of Jesus Christ to young people and their families, and in that regard to make, educate, and encourage lifelong disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, it is very important that each employee in the movement of Youth for Christ be recognized as an associate minister of the Gospel.

As an employee of Youth for Christ and an associate minister of the Gospel, YFC expects all employees to:

Seek God’s guidance and wisdom through prayer and meditation for the organization as a whole, as well as for specific ministry initiatives.
Participate in and lead regular times of prayer, devotion, and worship as a regular aspect of the employee’s role within YFC.
Teach and preach from the Holy Bible at YFC staff meetings, conferences, camps, and events.
Model empathy, humility, and care for all people, including promoting equity and inclusion in word and in the practice of faith expression.
Perform sacramental functions, such as taking communion and leading times of corporate prayer, confession, and praise.
Perform and lead religious ceremonies, such as weddings, baptisms, and funerals, when called upon by staff and other members of the YFC community.
Participate in the established Youth for Christ process to be commissioned or licensed as a minister of the Gospel, and/or pursue ordination through an outside body recognized by Youth for Christ USA.

Position Requirements

Knowledge & Skills

A growing follower of Christ who is involved in and supportive of a local church through service, community engagement, and regular attendance.
Demonstrates a godly example for staff, volunteers, and students, with a humble and teachable spirit.
Passionate about the mission and vision of YFC and willing to minister within YFC guidelines and standards.
Must pass all county, state, background, reference, and facility-clearance requirements necessary to fulfill the position.
Able to work effectively with justice-involved youth and families experiencing complex or high-need circumstances.
Understanding of case management, wraparound services, documentation, referrals, and community collaboration.
Able to help youth establish meaningful goals and develop practical plans for successful reintegration.
Able to facilitate structured curriculum and adjust teaching methods for different learning needs.
Demonstrates excellent interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence, and mature judgment.
Communicates effectively with youth, families, Probation staff, school personnel, churches, community partners, volunteers, and coworkers.
Demonstrates a high level of character and integrity, uses appropriate boundaries, and operates with humility, wisdom, honor, and joy.
Able to balance professional expectations with the provision of spiritual guidance, encouragement, discipleship, and comfort.
Able to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive youth and family information appropriately.
Organized and capable of maintaining accurate records, meeting documentation deadlines, and complying with grant requirements.
Flexible and adaptable in responding to changing youth, program, facility, and scheduling needs.
Able to work with minimal supervision while also collaborating effectively in a team environment.
Demonstrates dependable communication, follow-through, time management, and problem-solving skills.

Cultural Attributes

Our cultural attributes are not about competency. They represent obedience to the call of Christ on our lives. YFC believes that spiritually healthy adults foster healthy relationships with young people. We place a significant commitment and emphasis on developing and equipping a Christ-centered life marked by Enduring Humility, Relentless Trust, Joyful Camaraderie, Courageous Faithfulness, and Kingdom Inspired Diversity.

The employee must be willing to demonstrate or possess the following:

Ability to humbly serve and honor others, even in difficult situations, with prayer, consistency, transparency, and resilience. Enduring Humility
Demonstrates proper reliance on God, others, and self through the generous giving of time and skills, collaboratively incorporating others’ ideas, welcoming candid input, recognizing others’ need for grace, and extending forgiveness and empathy. Relentless Trust
Prioritizes others’ needs for a missional outcome, characterized by joy, active listening, problem-solving, and the encouragement and empowerment of fellow believers. Joyful Camaraderie
Trusts God with new approaches and changes, communicates needs and limits with emotional intelligence, and seeks confidence and wisdom in Christ. Courageous Faithfulness
Seeks and fosters authentic, Christ-centered relationships with people of various backgrounds and creates an inviting environment through active listening, inclusion, advocacy for those who are vulnerable, and respect for others’ experiences. Kingdom Inspired Diversity

Credentials Required & Preferred Education

Bachelor’s degree preferred.
A minimum of three years of relevant experience in youth services, case management, juvenile justice, social services, ministry, education, community programs, or a related role preferred.
Experience working with justice-involved youth, high-need youth, or families facing complex challenges strongly preferred.
Experience with case management, service plans, grant-funded programs, community referrals, or youth data documentation preferred.
Must be willing to obtain a minister’s license through the established Youth for Christ process.
On-the-job training will be provided as needed through YFC leadership development opportunities, which may include One Heart retreats, New Leader Cohorts, National Leadership Conventions, and other assigned training.
Must be able to use Microsoft Office Suite, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, electronic recordkeeping systems, donor management systems, and other computer-based tools.
Local travel within Stanislaus and Merced counties is expected.
Occasional long-distance travel for training, conferences, or organizational events may be required.
Must possess a valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and automobile insurance meeting organizational requirements.

Schedule & Travel Requirements

This is a full-time position.
The primary service area is Stanislaus County, with work in Merced County or other locations as directed.
The position requires a flexible schedule based on youth, facility, program, and grant-related needs.
The normal schedule may include later evenings and one to two weekend days per week.
Schedule modifications may be approved to accommodate required work hours.
Local travel within Stanislaus and Merced counties is expected and may be reimbursed in accordance with YFC Central Valley policies.
Long-distance travel is expected to be infrequent, generally one to two times per year or every other year.

Scope of Authority

The position does not currently have direct supervisory responsibility for paid staff.
The position may provide guidance, training, coordination, and support to volunteers.
The number of staff and volunteers connected with the program may vary.
The position may assist with expenditures and financial decisions related to Juvenile Justice Ministry Department 50 within the authority assigned by the Coordinator, Director, or Executive Director.
Any financial commitment outside an approved budget or assigned authority must receive prior authorization from the appropriate organizational leader.

Fundraising Responsibilities

All YFC employees are expected to regularly and actively participate in faithful activities that advance the stewardship functions of YFC/USA and Youth for Christ Central Valley. These activities may include extending invitations to fundraising events, recruiting personal Circle of Influence/YFC donor contacts, sending letters, writing handwritten notes, making personal calls, personally ministering to donor contacts, participating in chapter-wide fundraising events, and supporting other opportunities as provided.

YFC staff are encouraged to approach fundraising and financial-partner relationships with this ministry-centered commitment:

Love the person. Cast the vision. Communicate the needs.

Full-time employees may be given greater fundraising and development expectations based on their position and responsibilities.

Benefits

YFC Central Valley offers qualified leaders a variety of benefits, including life insurance, dental, vision, 401(k), and more.

As a small nonprofit employer, we do not provide a group health plan. Staff typically enroll in individual plans, for example through Covered California, and may qualify for reduced rates based upon minister’s housing allowance credits.

EEO Statement

Youth For Christ (YFC) provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, age, handicap, marital status, or other unlawful discriminatory characteristics in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.

YFC is classified as an Association of Churches and as such our hiring practices reflect that designation. As a religious nonprofit organization, YFC incorporates within each leader role, the requirement to model, teach, share and live the faith. The relationship between YFC’s mission and each of its leaders is its lifeblood and as such does at all times and in all instances reserve the right to make employment decisions based upon a person’s religious beliefs, personal character and lifestyle consistent with our understanding of the Bible or with our overall goals and requirements for Christian ministry.

We seek to create a workplace that is intentional about Kingdom Inspired Diversity. Our commitment to our employees extends to their opportunities for growth, development, promotion, training and compensation.

We will make reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with known disabilities, unless doing so would result in an undue hardship to the organization.

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