Career Opportunity

Youth Program Educator

Office Location: Wisconsin Rapids, WI (Wood County)

Post Date: 08/02/2024 

Status: Permanent, Full-time (40 hours per week)

Wage: $24.65 - $25.36

Apply: Complete our online application and include your resume and cover letter. 


We are recruiting for a Youth Program Educator, called a LEO/BFI Coordinator, to join our team. This is a full-time position that provides services in Wood County, Wisconsin.

The Learn and Empower Oneself (LEO) is operated through the Brighter Futures Initiative (BFI), Substance Use Prevention program in Wood County. The program provides alternatives to substance use and risk behaviors for youth and emerging adults ages 12 through age 20. 

This program is an interactive resilience building program that seeks to empower youth to understand their unique brains and quickly improve resilience, adaptability, and healthy fearlessness in a rapidly changing world. By promoting higher-brain activation and resiliency through key tools, youth can reduce stress and anxiety, and improve memory, creativity, self-awareness, and overall quality of life – each of which are key factors in preventing substance use.  

Using concepts and ideas from the Life Ecology Organization, LEO Coordinators provide education, mentorship and support to youth ages 12-20 in Wood County through two primary functions, curriculum delivery and mentorship. Our programming is embedded in many schools in Wood County. 

The following duties are typical for this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned.


​1.  Teach the LEO curriculum in middle and high school classroom settings to youth 12 – ​19, generally in 1-hour increments over a six-to-eight-week period, though curriculum is ​adaptable to fit within a school classroom schedule.

​2.  Provide one-on-one support to youth by educating youth on LEO techniques and ​ ​      strategies, as a part of LEO Exploration and Mentorship (LEM).

​3.  Facilitate intensive, one-on-one mentorship for youth identified by school staff as ​      ​demonstrating significant behaviors that indicate a higher probability of future ​ ​ ​      substance use.

​ ​a)  Provide tailored support and guidance, focusing on the youth’s current ​ ​ ​ ​ ​challenges. Youth participating in intensive mentorship meet weekly, learning how ​ ​  to apply LEO tools in their daily life, while adopting healthy coping mechanisms and ​ ​  hobbies.

​ ​b)  Support youth in goal setting, progress monitoring, advocacy and referrals to ​ ​       prevent current and future substance use.

​4.  Complete required entries in the SAP-SIS outcomes data system.

​5.  Maintain accurate and detailed accounts of all youth in the program using internal ​tracking systems.

​6.  Develop and maintain relationships with alcohol and other drug abuse prevention ​      programs, coalitions, workgroups for continued relationship building and referral      ​              information.

​7.  Develop partnerships with school districts, community resources and agencies for ​      program growth, community building and support of program participants.

​8.  Manage publicity and recruitment through social media accounts, outreach ​ ​              presentations and publications.

​9.  Organize program and outreach supply inventory, replenishing as needed.

​10. Communicate with Survey Unit, to ensure accurate participant rosters and survey ​      completion.

​11. Provide skills training and reinforcement to promote substance use prevention ​              through resiliency skills during community events and trainings

​12. Participate in ongoing professional development to maintain current knowledge of ​      brain science and substance use trends and outcomes.

​13. Any other duties as may be assigned.

Education: Required - Bachelor Degree in Human Services or related field that provides the necessary skills to meet the expectations of the position.

Experience: No direct experience is required, but experience with youth services is preferred.

Key Knowledge: Preferred – Comprehensive knowledge of mental health and the criminal justice system. 

Transportation: Required - This position requires the staff member to hold a valid driver's license, maintain valid driver's insurance and use their personal and legally licensed vehicle. Mileage reimbursement is provided for all business-related travel.

Essential Skills:

  • Have belief that all individuals should be treated with dignity and respect, which includes a passion and excitement for serving others and a strong vision of hope and positive expectations for the future.
  • Sustain a non-judgmental, empowering approach to all individuals, including providing continuous opportunities for engagement, using a strengths-based framework.
  • Apply trauma-informed care, inclusion and allyship in all aspects of programming and support to serve individuals and communities with diverse backgrounds. This includes providing culturally sensitive and appropriate support to individuals within the context of their identity, family, community, tribe, history, culture and traditions.
  • Establish rapport and trust with youth to ensure they can engage in the program and feel respected and empowered to achieve their goals, while maintaining a clear sense of boundaries and confidentiality.
  • Ability to establish rapport with schools, educators and youth. This includes adhering to a strong sense of respect and honoring confidentiality.
  • Ability to work independently with a strong sense of focus.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, keyboarding and MS Office skills.
  • Demonstrate outstanding public speaking, presentation and teaching skills.


CW Solutions is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to have an inclusive workforce. CW Solutions provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits 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.