Direct Service Advocate-HYPP-2nd -FT

Department: Holyoke Youth Parent Program • Reports To: Program Director • FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

About the role

The Direct Service Advocate (DSA) provides support, advocacy, and role modeling to adult, teen, and child program participants living in the YWCA's residential programs. DSAs work within a team model alongside peers, supervisors, clinicians, and external connections to best serve program participants, supporting the agency's mission and trauma-informed service model to provide safe, consistent, and quality services to vulnerable populations.

Responsibilities

• Nurture and support a participant-guided, family-driven, strengths-based, and trauma-informed milieu approach, engaging with 100% of individuals and families on-site each shift.
• Encourage and support the development of life skills, positive parenting, and improved parent-child interaction through 1:1 or group formats, including recreational, educational, cultural, or family engagement activities.
• Follow and encourage the program’s daily schedule, facilitating resident participation and community responsibilities while considering individualized plans for each participant.
• Provide ongoing individual resident support, with 85% of shift time dedicated to direct service, including face-to-face contact and interaction with participants and their children.
• Ensure program procedures, rules, regulations, and policies are followed to maintain a safe and supportive living environment, including completing 100% of required safety sweeps (minimum four times per shift) to verify premises, alarms, doors, windows, appliances, and bedrooms are secure.
• Facilitate participant integration by providing orientation and emotional support upon arrival, and prepare rooms for new families within 1–2 shifts of a previous exit.
• Complete daily data collection and outcome measurements through 100% of AWARDS logs prior to the end of each shift.
• Maintain required documentation and daily program communication, including case notes, resident files, and communication logs, completing 100% of all documentation before the end of each shift.
• Perform regular job duties while observed by new staff during the job shadowing portion of program orientation.
• Engage with residents at 100% of all meal times, ensuring participants clean up the dining area after meals and the kitchen before cooking.
• Ensure thorough communication between shifts.

Requirements

• A.A. or equivalent education or experience in a human service field (preferred).
• At least one year of counseling and direct service experience.
• Experience in a domestic violence setting.
• Experience with survivors of gender-based violence and exploitation.
• Experience addressing the impacts of decisions and actions on multiple communities.
• Reliable transportation, a safe driving record, and a valid driver’s license; must be insurable under the agency’s policy.
• Ability to lift 40 lbs.

Pay

$21.00 hourly

Schedule

Full-time, 75 hours bi-weekly • 3:00 PM – 11:00 PM