Peer Buddy Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Description

The YWCA of the City of New York (YWCA NYC) is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. Established in 1858, the YWCA NYC is one of the nation's oldest nonprofit organizations committed to the personal and social development of women, their families, and their communities. In honor of this history, and in service of our mission, the YWCA NYC currently provides leadership and advocacy training for young women through our Girls Initiatives program, and youth development through our Out-of-School Time (OST) program for elementary and middle school students in culturally diverse communities in Brooklyn and Manhattan.

The YWCA-NYC's OST Programs empower the community by giving children the necessary tools to succeed in all facets of life. This is accomplished through creating strong partnerships with the schools, families, children, and community leaders. We strive to positively impact our school community by providing support to children academically, socially, culturally, and physically through a strong model of youth development.

We are seeking an Inclusion Coordinator to join our team to provide services at our school-based programs providing direct services to children in elementary and middle school OST programs.

The Inclusion Coordinator is responsible for ensuring that all programs and activities are accessible and inclusive for diverse populations. This role involves developing and implementing strategies to support individuals with varying needs, fostering an inclusive environment, and ensuring compliance with relevant regulations and standards. The ideal candidate will have experience in providing counseling, support to children and adolescents with different behavioral and mental health diagnoses.

Key Responsibilities:

Individualized Planning:

• Develop and maintain individualized plans for participants requiring accommodations.
• Review and adapt school day IEP/504 plans for the after-school setting, ensuring accommodations are implemented discreetly and confidentially.

Support Services Coordination:

• Recruit and assign paraprofessionals, bilingual staff, and aides to support full participation in programs.
• Identify specialized support needs such as transportation assistance or one-on-one aides and initiate accommodation requests through appropriate channels.
• Act as a liaison between school, families and programs.
• Maintain communication and relationships with DYCD to support student success and inclusion after school.

Monitoring and Documentation:

• Maintain a confidential support log tracking accommodations, referrals, staff assignments, and follow-up actions.
• Act as a liaison between families, regulatory bodies, and school-based support teams to ensure consistent support across environments.

Training and Coaching:

• Provide and organize ongoing professional development on disability inclusion, universal design for learning (UDL), trauma-informed care, and confidentiality.
• Coach staff to modify curriculum activities, create sensory-friendly spaces, and use inclusive language and strategies.

Fostering Inclusivity:

• Ensure anti-bias practices are embedded into group norms and activities.
• Implement systems like peer buddy structures, choice-based participation, and flexible activity formats to support diverse learners.

Evaluation and Improvement:

• Monitor program inclusivity and effectiveness, using data to drive continuous improvement.
• Engage with stakeholders to gather feedback and implement changes that enhance inclusivity.

Requirements

Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor's degree or associate in education, Special Education, Social Work, or a related field.
• Experience: Minimum of 3 years of experience in an educational or programmatic setting with a focus on inclusion or special education.

Skills

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills combined with strong problem-solving abilities to facilitate productive interactions and resolutions.
• Proven experience in working with students, families, and community agencies to create supportive networks.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and capable of maintaining accurate and timely clinical documentation.
• Strong conflict resolution skills and competence in data collection and analysis to drive informed decision-making.
• Familiarity with ADA, IDEA, and special education practices to ensure compliance and support inclusive environments.
• Excellent organizational abilities with the capacity to develop and implement effective training programs.
• Experience working with diverse populations, including students with special needs, and connecting with children and adolescents.
• Skilled in trauma-informed practices and social-emotional learning, with an understanding of mental health service coordination.

Additional Qualifications:

• Ability to work effectively with individuals with special needs, fostering an inclusive and supportive environment.
• Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish is a plus.
• Must obtain and maintain the following clearances throughout employment:
• NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) Sex Offender Registry (SOR)
• New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH)
• New York State Central Registrar (SCR)
• New York State Staff Exclusion List (SEL)
• Criminal History Review

Training and Certification:

• Completion of a 5-hour Foundations in Health and Safety and Mandated Reporter training is required.
• Must obtain a CPR certificate within one month of employment.
• Submission of a physical exam with a valid TB test dated within the last year is mandatory.

The hours for this position will fluctuate depending on the school's needs, general operation hours can range from 9:00am - 7:00pm. This role requires occasional travel across New York City.

Pay Rate/Salary: $25-$28
Schedule: 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Job Type: Part - Time

Start Date: August 1, 2026

Locations Available: Brownsville, Brighton Beach, Coney Island, Astoria, Harlem and Hell's Kitchen

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and listen. This position is very active and requires standing, walking, bending, kneeling, and stooping all day. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move items under 20 pounds. During fire drills, the employee, unless physically unable, will need to use the stairs to go to ground level from the fourth floor. Typing is required for composing emails and writing reports. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.?

The YWCA of the City of New York is an equal opportunity employer and contractor. We provide equal employment and contracting opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.