Youth Engagement Support Staff - Per-Diem (Swing or O/N Shift)

About the role

The Youth Engagement & Support Specialist (YESS) will provide strength-based, trauma-informed, and harm-reduction-focused support to young people. The role 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 by:
  • Welcoming young people to the program, ensuring they feel comfortable, safe, and understand program structure, engagement opportunities, and access to supplies.
  • Building supportive relationships that encourage youth to find their voice and connect them to opportunities, experiences, and resources.
  • Supporting identified Success Plan goals for each young person.
  • Coaching youth to plan, implement, and follow through with self-identified goals.
  • Motivating youth to explore and improve wellness, education, employment, financial literacy, and social navigation goals.
  • Monitoring youth while taking medication and entering Medication Logs.
• Engage with youth in daily House Activities, including chores, dining, gym visits, fun activities, and providing bus tickets.
• Participate in outside activities with youth, such as trips, walks to parks, and visits to college campuses.
• Provide crisis de-escalation and intervention according to training and best practices.
• Document Intake, Orientation, and Transitions in ETO, HMIS, and case files.
• Document daily progress notes in youth case records (HMIS and ETO).
• Record pertinent information in Youth Incident Reports, Medication Logs, and House Activity Logs.
• 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 closets, and replenish youth supplies.
• Perform laundry for youth linens as assigned.
• Clean and prepare vacant residential spaces for new intakes.
• Maintain youth common areas according to cleanliness standards.
• Count medication nightly, document on Medication Log, and notify supervisor of inaccuracies.
• Rotate youth files according to the annual system.
• Attend supervision, meetings, and professional development training as assigned.
• Read and respond daily to emails, calendar invites, and agency communications.
• Cover the front desk and other building areas as assigned.
• Transport youth in agency vehicles when assigned.
• Utilize agency resources (vehicles, computers, telephones) for agency use only.
• 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.
• Preferred experience with young people ages 18-24 experiencing homelessness, human trafficking, or lived experience.
• Knowledge of public benefits and community resources in NJ.
• Must be a self-starter and team player with the ability to work well with others.
• Knowledge of adolescent development and ability to build positive rapport with young people.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Bilingual in Spanish preferred but not required.
• Valid driver’s license with an insurable record.

Schedule

Candidate must be available to work one of the following shifts:

• 2:30 PM – 10:30 PM
• 10:00 PM – 8:00 AM

Pay

Hourly Rate: $20.00 (This is an on-call as needed position).