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About the Role

The Performing Arts Youth Engagement Specialist is a part-time direct service role supporting youth in foster care and child welfare programs. This position provides trauma-informed, culturally responsive performing arts programming using theater, movement, voice, storytelling, and creative expression to support youth emotional regulation, identity development, communication skills, and positive engagement. The role aims to strengthen youth well-being and engagement in care through consistent, relationship-based expressive arts programming.

Responsibilities

Design and facilitate weekly performing arts workshops for youth in foster care programs.
Deliver structured instruction in theater, improvisation, movement, voice, spoken word, and devised performance.
Create safe, consistent, trauma-informed creative spaces that support engagement and emotional expression.
Adapt activities to meet diverse developmental, emotional, and behavioral needs within group settings.
Support youth in developing original or collaborative performance work.
Use arts-based strategies to promote emotional regulation, self-expression, communication skills, and positive identity formation.
Provide opportunities for informal showcases or presentations of youth work.
Ensure all programming is youth-centered, strengths-based, and culturally responsive.
Implement trauma-informed approaches in all interactions with youth.
Utilize creative modalities such as movement, rhythm, voice, improvisation, and storytelling to support regulation and engagement.
Build consistent, trusting relationships with youth in foster care settings.
Maintain awareness of safety, triggers, and behavioral dynamics in group environments.
Coordinate with case planners, residential staff, and program teams to support youth engagement goals.
Provide informal modeling of arts-based engagement strategies for staff.
Communicate attendance, participation, and engagement observations to supervisory staff.
Maintain accurate attendance records for all sessions.
Submit timely program documentation, including activity summaries and participation reports.
Support grant, contract, and internal reporting requirements.
Ensure compliance with all agency policies, including confidentiality, consent, media release, and mandated reporting obligations.
Support youth participation in selected arts and cultural experiences.
Translate enrichment experiences into follow-up creative programming or reflective activities.
Ensure all external activities are structured, supervised, and aligned with youth safety protocols.

Requirements

Minimum Education: high school diploma or GED
Experience working with youth in community-based, residential, or child welfare settings
Demonstrated experience in performing arts instruction or facilitation (theater, movement, voice, spoken word, or related discipline)
Experience working with youth in foster care or child welfare systems strongly preferred
Familiarity with trauma-informed care, youth development, or restorative practice approaches
Strong group facilitation and classroom/group management skills
Trauma-informed youth engagement practice
Strong facilitation and creative instruction skills
Ability to build trust and rapport with youth in care settings
Emotional intelligence and de-escalation capability
Cultural humility and responsiveness
Strong communication, collaboration, and documentation skills
Flexibility in dynamic, high-need environment

Skills

Performing arts programming
Theater
Improvisation
Movement
Voice
Storytelling
Creative expression
Emotional regulation
Identity development
Communication skills
Positive engagement
Youth development
Trauma-informed care
Group facilitation
Classroom/group management
Youth engagement practice
Creative instruction
Building trust and rapport
De-escalation
Cultural humility
Cultural responsiveness
Collaboration
Documentation

Location

Queens, NY
Brooklyn
Staten Island

Work Type

Part-Time
0.50 FTE
Evening hours as needed
Weekend programming may be required

Experience Level

Up to 75% travel

Education Level

High School Diploma or Equivalent
Bachelor's degree from four year college or equivalent preferred

Salary/Compensations

$34.00 - $34.00 Hourly

Benefits

Rewarding Work in a team environment
Paid vacation, sick, personal days, and holidays
403(B) retirement plans with employer contribution
Health, dental, vision and life insurance
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Flexible spending account (Dependent Care, Medical, Parking, and Transit)
Employee Appreciation Programs and Events
Tuition Assistance Program
Professional Development opportunities
Wellhub Discount
Verizon Wireless Discount
BJs Membership discount
Discounts on Broadway tickets, movie tickets, theme parks, sporting events, gift certificates & more

About the Company

For over 150 years, Heartshare has been dedicated to championing and empowering New Yorkers society has too often overlooked and underestimated.
HeartShare Human Services of New York nurtures and empowers children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Equal Opportunity

HeartShare is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE).
If you need to request accommodation during the recruiting process, please reach out to Leaves@heartshare.org.