Youth Engagement Support Staff TLP (Nancy's Place)

About the role

The Youth Engagement Support Staff (YESS) will provide strength-based, trauma-informed, and harm reduction support to young people, modeling absolute respect and unconditional love. The role involves continuous youth engagement, activities, and implementation of youth-identified success plan goals within a multi-disciplinary team to create a safe, inclusive environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide unconditional positive regard to young people regardless of behavior
• Support case management services, including welcoming youth, ensuring comfort and safety, and explaining program structure, engagement opportunities, and available supplies
• Build supportive relationships that encourage youth voice and connect them to enriching opportunities, experiences, and resources
• Support progress on each youth’s self-identified success plan goals, coaching them to plan, implement, and follow through with tasks
• Motivate youth to explore and improve wellness, education and employment, financial literacy, social navigation, and other success plan areas
• Monitor youth while taking medication and enter Medication Logs
• Engage with youth in daily house activities, including chores, dining, gym use, bus ticket assistance, and movement throughout the day
• Participate in outside activities with youth, such as trips, park visits, college campus tours, and other enriching experiences
• Provide crisis de-escalation and intervention as trained
• Document intake, orientation, and transitions in ETO, HMIS, and case files; maintain daily progress notes in HMIS and ETO; complete Youth Incident Reports, Medication Logs, and House Activity Logs
• Facilitate assigned youth group activities supporting the five resiliency objectives: Wellness, Social Navigation, Financial Literacy, Education, and Employment
• Perform supervisor-assigned duties to meet youth needs while adhering to daily program schedules
• Prepare welcome kits, sort donations, organize storage, replenish supplies, do laundry for youth linens, clean and prepare vacant residential spaces, and maintain youth common areas
• Count medication nightly, document on logs, and notify supervisor of inaccuracies
• Rotate youth files annually, attend supervision and assigned meetings, and participate in professional development training
• Read and respond daily to emails, calendar invites, and agency communications; cover the front desk and assigned building areas; transport youth in agency vehicles when assigned
• Use agency resources (vehicles, computers, telephones) exclusively for agency purposes
• Assist with fundraising and special events as needed, including outside normal work schedule

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in psychology, sociology, social work, or related field preferred
• Preferred experience with youth ages 18–24 experiencing homelessness or human trafficking, or lived experience
• Knowledge of public benefits and community resources in New Jersey
• Self-starter and team player with strong collaboration skills
• Knowledge of adolescent development and ability to build positive rapport with youth
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Bilingual in Spanish preferred but not required
• Valid New Jersey driver’s license and good driving record; may transport clients/staff using agency vehicles

Schedule

Thursday, Friday & Saturday 10:00 PM – 8:00 AM; days off: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday

Pay

Hourly rate: $21.77

Benefits

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• 403(b) Retirement Plan