Parents and Children Together with Art (PACT)
Program Facilitator
This position is supervised by the PACT Program Manager and Program Coordinator

Free Arts NYC Mission: Free Arts NYC provides under-served children and families with a unique combination of educational arts and mentoring programs that help them to foster the self-confidence and resiliency needed to realize their fullest potential.

Parents and Children Together with Art (PACT) Program: PACT is an eight week, theme-based art experience for families.  Working as a design team, families use art as a vehicle to enhance their communication and problem-solving skills.  PACT activities are designed to increase parental involvement and graduate in complexity to encourage positive forms of family communication and sustained teamwork. With a 1:2 volunteer to family ratio, program facilitators and trained volunteers implement a creative arts curriculum that requires them to develop ideas and work collaboratively.  Each session begins with exposure to a professional artist that serves as an inspiration image, followed by an art experience, and concludes with a sharing circle.

Job Summary: PACT Program Facilitators take primary responsibility for providing leadership, structure and on-going support for their weekly PACT groups.  This includes ensuring each group embodies Free Arts NYC’s philosophy “There are no mistakes in art!”; supporting and guiding positive engagement between volunteers and families and between parents and children; and maintaining groups as safe spaces for participants and volunteers at all times.  

Responsibilities
1. Attend a PACT program Training (3 hrs, paid), and semesterly PACT Facilitator Staff Meetings  (2 hours paid, at beginning of cycle), Curriculum Reviews (3 hrs, paid), and PACT Facilitator Roundtables (2 hrs, paid, at the end of cycle).
2. Review the curriculum and plan how to best adapt lesson plans for your group prior to the program session.
3. Track participant and volunteer attendance using forms provided by Free Arts NYC, and return completed forms to PACT staff at designated dates.
4. Maintain a safe, supportive group environment in accordance with Free Arts NYC’s policies and trainings.
5. Lead, explain, and demonstrate group activities, and/or create opportunities for volunteers to be active participants/learners and lead group activities.
6. Remain alert to the needs of your volunteers; assist them when required, encouraging them to fully participate in all group activities and engage with the kids & families.
7. Remain alert to the needs of kids and families and assist them as required
8. Take primary responsibility for classroom management and handling any challenging behaviors that arise.
9. When appropriate, provide feedback to partner agency staff about kids and families’ progress and well-being.
10. Lead pre-session Group Prep and post-session Group Debriefs with volunteers.
11. Evaluation Activities:
• Promptly complete weekly online surveys reporting on each session;
• Promptly complete “Post” Individual Family Progress Surveys at the end of the cycle ;
• Promptly complete 1 Family Case Study at the end of the cycle at the end of the cycle.

Requirements:  
• Candidates will have a Masters in Art Education, Art Therapy, Studio/Fine Arts, Social Work or a related field
• Experience working with families and/or group facilitation with adults
• 2-3 years’ experience working with under-served populations – in school, community center and/or social service agency settings that includes:
 Team teaching or collaborative teaching
 Working with a wide variety of art materials and techniques;
 Developing programming for under-served/at risk youth and families
• Demonstrable commitment to engaging with values related to diversity
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and on-line data collection systems
• A genuine passion for engaging families via the arts.  


MORE ABOUT YOU:
• You have a genuine enthusiasm for Free Arts NYC’s mission.
• You are a team-player and have a positive attitude.
• You are organized, with strong multi-tasking skills.

Ideal Characteristics:  Ideal candidates have experience working collaboratively with people from diverse backgrounds, are game for creative experimentation, welcome constructive feedback and regularly seek to identify and address areas for improvement. Spanish-speaking candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Salary: $100/program session, $33.33/hour for meetings and trainings

Time Commitment: This position is contracted to lead approximately 8 x PACT sessions over the course of 1 cycle (Fall, Spring, or Summer). Each session includes a 30 minute set-up period, 1.5 hour workshop, 30 minute debrief with volunteers on-site at one of Free Arts NYC’s partner agencies – plus approximately 30 minutes to complete a weekly online report.

Location: Positions are available in Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Bronx (afternoon-early evening).

To apply: Email a cover letter, resume and 3 reference contacts to Jennifer Tamayo (PACT Program Manager) at              Jennifer@freeartsnyc.org  

No phone calls; Free Arts NYC will contact all applicants we are interested in interviewing.

Free Arts NYC is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to seeking a diverse staff with respect to gender, age, race, ethnicity, national origin, class, educational background, religion, sexual orientation, and physical ability. All applicants are welcome. Individuals who are bilingual in Spanish and English are strongly encouraged to apply.