Youth Engagement Support Staff (Swing Shift On-call Per-diems) AC

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 facilitating 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, walks, college campus visits, and other enriching experiences.
• Provide crisis de-escalation and intervention as needed, following training and best practices.
• Document intake, orientation, transitions, and daily progress notes in ETO, HMIS, and case files.
• Maintain accurate records, including 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, and replenish youth supplies.
• Handle laundry for youth linens and clean/prepare residential spaces for new intakes.
• Maintain cleanliness of youth common areas according to standards.
• Count and document medication nightly, reporting inaccuracies to supervisors.
• Rotate youth files annually and attend supervision and meetings as assigned.
• Participate in professional development training and respond to daily agency communications.
• Cover the front desk, transport youth in agency vehicles, and assist with fundraising or special events as needed.

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 NJ.
• Self-starter and team player with the ability to build positive rapport with youth.
• Understanding of adolescent development and excellent communication skills (written and verbal).
• Bilingual in Spanish is preferred but not required.
• Valid driver’s license with an insurable record.

Schedule

On-call per-diem shifts available: 2:30 PM – 10:30 PM.

Pay

Hourly rate: $20.00.

Benefits

• 403B Retirement Plan.