Youth Empowerment Specialist – PT

Job Summary

Casa Corazón Emergency Beds Program is aimed at transforming the lives of homeless and at-risk youth, ages 18-24, by providing them with the stability, support, and guidance they need to become thriving members of society. The program is open 365 days a year, 24 hours per day and provides immediate housing and other enriching activities to impact the lives of youth and help them achieve their life goals.

Expected Goals and Objectives

• Supervise and monitor resident activities to maintain a safe and stable living environment.
• Maintain professional relationships with all residents.
• Safeguard the safety of the milieu.
• Communicate in a timely and accurate fashion within the program (i.e. client intakes, incident reports, contact with youths’ families, facility inventories, and all shift log entries) and complete all required documentation.
• Support and implement the policies and philosophies of the program and of La Casa Norte including but not limited to Harm Reduction and Sanctuary Model frameworks.
• Utilize de-escalation and crisis intervention skills when needed in a supportive and caring manner.
• Work in a team approach to assist residents in achieving service plan goals.
• Conduct intake needs assessment, create an initial action plan, and refer residents to appropriate services.
• Engage youth in discussions relevant to goals, strengths, and barriers to stability.
• Collaborate with other staff including Drop-in Case Manager to ensure continuity of services.
• Help youth develop important life skills.
• Model effective and respectful communication with residents and other staff members while creating a standard of healthy communication for other staff and residents.
• Create and foster leadership opportunities for youth to encourage their personal development and the overall health of the community of Low Threshold Shelter Program.
• Implement established structure of support and accountability within the program to allow youth to fully develop in all areas of their life.
• Implement standards of cleanliness and maintenance by performing duties and requesting repairs.
• Lead residents in the upkeep of the Low Threshold Program and work with residents to ensure that necessary tasks are completed.
• Clean and sanitize areas as needed to ensure standards of cleanliness and sanitation are always kept up.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferable, but not required with relevant experience.
• Ability to interact with youth to alleviate social, emotional, or environmental crisis.
• Skilled in the techniques of de-escalating aggressive behavior.
• Demonstrate desire and ability to work with homeless, runaway, and at-risk urban youth.
• Be knowledgeable in the social, economic, and cultural patterns of Latino and African American populations.
• Willing to work in a diverse environment in regard to race, ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation, and gender.
• Demonstrate the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Have excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Willing to work flexible hours as needed including nights and/or weekends.
• Have the desire, creativity, and flexibility to work in a new and fast-growing agency.
• Must be bilingual (English, Spanish).

Bargaining Unit Status

This position is represented by the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU), Local 39. La Casa Norte is an equal opportunity employer.