Youth Engagement Support Staff (Overnight)

About the role

The Youth Engagement & Support Specialist (YESS) will provide strength-based, trauma-informed, and harm-reduction-focused support to young people. The YESS models the mission of offering absolute respect and unconditional love while working within a multi-disciplinary team to create a safe, inclusive environment. Responsibilities include continuous youth engagement, crisis intervention, documentation, and facilitation of activities aligned with youth-identified success plans.

Responsibilities

• Provide unconditional positive regard to young people regardless of behavior.
• Support case management services to develop positive relationships with youth, including welcoming them to the program, ensuring their comfort and safety, and explaining program structure and resources.
• Build supportive relationships that encourage youth to find their voice and connect them to opportunities, experiences, and resources.
• Support youth in achieving self-identified Success Plan goals, coaching them to plan, implement, and follow through on tasks.
• Motivate youth to explore and improve wellness, education, employment, financial literacy, and social navigation goals.
• Monitor youth while taking medication and maintain Medication Logs.
• Engage with youth in daily house activities, including chores, dining, gym visits, and other activities.
• Participate in outside activities with youth, such as trips, park visits, and college campus tours.
• Provide crisis de-escalation and intervention as needed, following training and best practices.
• Document intake, orientation, transitions, and daily progress notes in HMIS, ETO, and case files.
• Complete Youth Incident Reports, Medication Logs, and House Activity Logs as required.
• Facilitate youth group activities supporting the 5 resiliency objectives: Wellness, Social Navigation, Financial Literacy, Education, and Employment.
• Perform duties assigned by supervisors to meet youth needs while adhering to the daily program schedule.
• Prepare welcome kits, sort donations, organize storage, and replenish youth supplies.
• Handle laundry for youth linens and clean vacant residential spaces for new intakes.
• Maintain cleanliness of youth common areas according to standards.
• Count and document medication nightly, notifying supervisors of inaccuracies.
• Rotate youth files annually and attend supervision and meetings as assigned.
• Attend professional development training and respond daily to agency communications (emails, calendar invites).
• Cover the front desk and other building areas as assigned.
• Transport youth in agency vehicles when required.
• Assist with fundraising and special events, which may occur outside normal work hours.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in psychology, sociology, social work, or a related field preferred.
• Experience with young people ages 18-24 experiencing homelessness, human trafficking, or lived experience is preferred.
• Knowledge of public benefits and community resources in New Jersey.
• Self-starter and team player with the ability to work well with others.
• Understanding of adolescent development and ability to build positive rapport with youth.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Bilingual in Spanish is preferred but not required.
• Valid driver’s license with an insurable record.

Schedule

Sunday, Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday: 10:30 PM – 8:30 AM. Days off: Thursday, Friday & Saturday.

Benefits

• 403B Retirement Plan
• Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage
• Ten paid holidays
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Personal)