Self Determination Coordinator

About the Role

The Self-Determination Coordinator role is grounded in YWFC’s approach to personal and structural transformation and is guided by the organization's guiding principles of Sisterhood/Siblinghood, Self-Determination, Spirituality, and Social Justice. The Self-Determination Coordinator works to ensure that participants of YWFC’s programs have the space, resources, access, and advocacy needed to support them in their healing journey, as well as accessing their own power and voice to navigate the systems and conditions that impact their lives.

The Self-Determination Coordinator works closely with all program staff and program participants, playing a critical role in supporting young cis and trans women and girls, trans men and boys, and gender-expansive youth in finding their voice, building self-determination, and using their expertise and experiences to advocate on behalf of themselves and others. The role ensures that youth at YWFC are provided support from a peer-based, restorative justice framework that is culturally grounded and gender-specific. Additionally, the Self-Determination Coordinator ensures the organization has the proper resources, support, and partners in place to support this work.

They are responsible for conducting initial intakes and assessments, working with youth to identify their needs and strengths, assisting them in developing personal and professional goals, and providing support in accessing community resources such as housing, child care, educational programs, and more. This position also ensures that all coaching approaches and methods align with the organization's mission, vision, values, theory of change, and methodology, while fulfilling grant requirements and YWFC’s annual and site goals.

Responsibilities

• Build rapport with youth on-site at YWFC and off-site at program locations including juvenile hall, jail, group homes, and county jail, to ensure folks receive appropriate support through phone calls, mail, advocacy letters, and referrals to appropriate services.
• Conduct interviews, assessments, and develop Self-Determined Life Maps; provide resources for youth onsite at the Center and off-site at program locations including juvenile hall, jail, group homes, and in the community.
• Work as part of the YWFC team to support youth connecting to YWFC after detention through self-determination advocacy and leadership programs, ensuring activities are cohesive and coordinated among program staff.
• Provide orientation and training to new staff, interns, and volunteers on YWFC’s guiding principles, methodology, and policies and procedures.
• Plan, facilitate, and oversee Self-Determination Advocacy activities, including Culture and Healing Circles and Programs, youth-driven community projects, special events, and other outings.
• Coordinate early career exploration and leadership development, including sharing job opportunities, scholarship information, college tours, financial aid workshops, career mentoring, and healing-centered opportunities.
• Engage participants as community experts and provide leadership-based economic opportunities for participants to begin engaging in YWFC’s work as appropriate and as part of a larger site-based strategy.
• Collaborate with other program staff on building organizing and advocacy capacity and skills for youth ready to step into leadership roles and engage in YWFC advocacy initiatives.
• Monitor referrals and maintain relationships with staff of external stakeholders and system partners working with participants, including Probation Departments, Public Defenders, community-based agencies, school districts, and social workers.
• Participate in necessary meetings with other team members to ensure holistic support and additional support strategies needed to better support participants.
• Participate in YWFC’s movement, policy, and local campaign work on an ongoing basis, including strategy meetings, advancing local campaigns, representing the organization publicly as requested, and participating in coalitions and community-based work.
• Support participants in navigating systems (juvenile justice, foster care, mental health, etc.) by providing advocacy, resources, and ongoing support in self-advocacy strategies and education.
• Build authentic, deeply supportive relationships with youth participating in programs and ensure staff working with youth maintain YWFC standards of conduct, exemplify YWFC values, and utilize YWFC methodologies and frameworks.
• Maintain and enter data into appropriate data collection systems for reporting for city, county, and foundation grant requirements, as well as internal organizational systems/databases in a timely manner.
• Maintain weekly program notes and reporting, and collect data pertaining to programmatic goals to contribute to quarterly progress reports.
• Oversee all reporting requirements for respective work plans (monthly reports, data collection, operations reports, supervision check-ins, etc.) and ensure all proper forms are completed, progress is monitored, and data is updated.
• Provide monthly program summaries to the Site Director, including quantitative and qualitative data of all programmatic activities, trainings, and outcomes pertaining to programmatic goals.
• Ensure programs and program activities are evaluated and updated on an ongoing basis, using feedback and findings from evaluations to develop, revise, and update programs and activities.
• Track participant attendance and engagement, and provide support and accountability to youth around consistent attendance and engaged participation.
• Ensure program forms, overviews, flyers, curriculums, and any other significant program data is updated and stored appropriately, in accordance with YWFC’s filing and storage procedures.
• Participate in special projects and tasks as needed and directed by supervisor and other YWFC Directors to support the advancement of YWFC and site goals.
• Create ongoing opportunities for leadership development of youth, including opportunities to learn new tasks and skills, take leadership in the work, and engage in ongoing opportunities.
• Respond to emails, text messages, and other correspondence in a timely manner.
• Participate in YWFC events, staff meetings, trainings, and staff development opportunities on an ongoing basis.
• Embody and model the values of the organization: Sisterhood/Siblinghood, Self-determination, social justice, and spirituality.

Requirements

• Deep familiarity with California and local site socio-political landscape and youth service providers, and passion for youth, community development, and issues of youth leadership.
• Comfortable, mature, and professional in interacting with diverse community partners, custody staff, students, and colleagues with diverse heritage and backgrounds.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, demonstrating the ability to interact effectively with program participants, staff colleagues, board members, external stakeholders, and at public speaking events.
• Strong organizational skills, ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects simultaneously, and meet multiple deadlines.
• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Suite, and general computer/internet use.
• Willingness and ability to grow professionally, be accountable, and expand skills to adapt to evolving organizational environments and changing circumstances.
• Advanced problem-solving skills; ability to tactfully address and resolve questions/concerns.
• Ability to meet participants in the field and community, and attend external meetings outside of the designated office as an essential function of this role (Driver’s License strongly preferred).

Pay

$31.25 / hour