Youth Housing Support Staff (Swing Shift)

At Cocoon House, we empower young people, families, and communities in Snohomish County to break the cycle of homelessness through outreach, housing, and prevention. As a Youth Housing Support Staff (Residential Youth Counselor), you will provide a safe and supportive environment for teens, promoting positive interaction, life skills, social skills, and enrichment activities at our Transitional Living Program in Everett and Emergency Shelter in Monroe. You’ll build supportive relationships with clients, model healthy boundaries, and work alongside youth in a residential setting. The ideal candidate has a passion for working with youth, knowledge of best practices in youth development, and a desire to make a positive impact.

Cocoon House is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion. Candidates with lived experience or who identify as BIPOC and/or LGBTQ+ are strongly encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodations are available for qualified persons with disabilities upon request.

Responsibilities

• Build supportive relationships with youth and staff using a positive, collaborative approach.
• Maintain and model healthy, safe boundaries with youth.
• Accept a variety of lifestyles, behaviors, and cultural and spiritual practices.
• Assess emergency situations, gather pertinent information, and provide proper support.
• Follow mandating reporting and licensing policies and procedures.
• De-escalate youth in crises using anti-racist, inclusive, equity-based, and trauma-informed care.
• Process intakes and exits for youth, provide orientation, and enter required data for recordkeeping.
• Partner with case managers to support youth case plans and interact with youth in alignment with their plans.
• Supervise youth, ensure safety, and hold youth accountable to policies and rules.
• Assist, demonstrate, and teach youth household tasks.
• Maintain cleanliness of facilities.
• Provide meals, including grocery shopping, planning, and cooking.
• Arrange appointments, fill prescriptions, and dispense medication for youth.
• Communicate with other providers to ensure youth follow through with commitments.
• Respond to community calls, drop-ins, and referrals with appropriate information.
• Participate in enrichment activities programming and planning.
• Provide information and directions for off-site services to youth.
• Transport youth to appointments as needed.

Requirements

• High school diploma/GED or equivalency.
• Must be 21 years of age or older.
• 6 months minimum experience working with youth.
• Must attend weekly team meetings and bi-weekly supervision.
• DCYF background clearance.
• Acceptable driver’s abstract with no more than 2 violations within the last 3 years.
• Valid driver’s license, auto insurance, and reliable transportation.
• Ability to diffuse escalated youth and document information for case planning and CPS reporting.
• Familiarity with local services and how to access them.
• Ability to assess situations, gather pertinent information, and prioritize youth needs developmentally.
• Ability to build rapport with youth and staff while maintaining professional boundaries.
• Acceptance of a variety of lifestyles, behaviors, and cultural and spiritual practices.
• Commitment to the agency’s mission, positive youth development model, and trauma-informed practices.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to effectively communicate with all internal and external clients.
• Ability to hear voices and alarms.
• Ability to read and comprehend a variety of materials.
• Ability to operate phone, computer, and record information for files and logs.
• Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs.
• Ability to run up and down indoor and outdoor stairwells in case of youth emergency.
• Ability to go up and down stairs.

Schedule

• Full-Time, Part-Time | On-site in Monroe.
• Set shifts: Sunday–Wednesday Swing (3:30 PM to 11:30 PM) or Thursday–Monday Swing (3:30 PM to 11:30 PM).
• Must have weekend availability.

Pay

• Starting wage: $21/hour.
• +$1.50/hour pay differential for multilingual skills (with additional paperwork).

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision health options with employer contribution.
• 403(b) retirement plan with agency match.
• 21 days PTO accrual in the first year.
• 10 agency-recognized holidays.
• Multilingual pay differential opportunities.
• Paid training & testing: CPR/first aid, food handler’s permit, bloodborne pathogens, abuse awareness, TB testing, and additional in-depth practical trainings.
• Benefits available for qualifying part-time and full-time employees.