Youth Advocate Streetwork - Overnight - Casual Per-Diem

Responsibilities

• Learn and integrate a trauma-informed, client-centered approach, using an anti-oppressive lens, into your work with clients.
• Coach and guide staff in their client practice that reflects these approaches.
• Engage adolescents into program structure (harm reduction philosophy, rules, mutual respect).
• Provide case management, prepare case records, prepare monthly and quarterly statistical reports.
• Conduct overnight street outreach to homeless and street involved young people.
• Identify new resources appropriate for population.
• Maintain current sources of areas of congregation of homeless youth.
• Assess individuals seeking assistance.
• Escort homeless youth to appropriate services and provide transportation.
• Maintain all nightly client records, files and documentation.
• Intake and assess individuals seeking assistance.
• Advocate on behalf of under 18-year-old clients for Administration for Children’s Services support.
• Provide reparative interventions using a comprehensive harm reduction approach.
• Facilitate access to daily living needs (food, clothes, hygiene supplies, space to rest).
• Provide information to homeless adolescents regarding shelter options and other referrals.
• Mediate internal conflicts.
• Provide crisis intervention.
• Facilitate group facilitation and conduct educational presentations on HIV/AIDS, risk reduction and topics related to sub-populations of homeless youth.
• Participate in staff meetings, staff trainings, and appropriate training workshops.
• Serve as an advocate and liaison for clients negotiating the shelter system and other social service programs.

Requirements

• Knowledge and Skills:
• Compassionate approach to others and openness to new ideas.
• Dynamic energy, able to multi-task and negotiate multiple demands on attention.
• Non-judgmental approach and ability to empathize with others.
• Clear and concise verbal and written communication skill, excellent interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Genuine interest in working with disenfranchised youth and young adults.
• Desirable:
• Bi-lingual Spanish.
• Demonstrate the ability to work independently.
• Education:
• Required: GED or High School Diploma.
• Desirable: Bachelor’s degree in social services, creative arts, liberal studies or any field related to working with youth.
• Experience:
• Required: Two (2) years of relevant experience working with RHY and youth at risk for homelessness.
• Desirable: At least 1 year working with the homeless population, youth, or harm reduction.
• At least 1 year working in an outreach program.

Secondary Job Functions

• Petty Cash reconciliation.
• Identification of new resources appropriate for population.
• Provide wellness and recreational (engagement) activities.
• Coordinate services with other Streetwork staff and on-site legal, medical, and psychiatric service providers.
• Meal Preparation.

Interacts With

• All Streetwork program sites and staff.
• All internal Safe Horizon programs and departments that can comprehensively support the client and case plan.
• All external agencies and organizations that can provide appropriate services to the client.