Youth Care Specialist I 901302

Position: Youth Care Specialist I #901302

Program: Youth Center

Department: Youth Services

Reports to: Program Supervisor

Compensation: $21.00$26.39/hour plus $1.75 per hour shift differential premium for hours worked between 6pm6am

Schedule: SundayTuesday 9:00am 5:30pm and WednesdayThursday 12:00pm 8:30pm

Compensation: 100 FullTime NonExempt Union

Probation: 90 days

Benefits: Medical Dental Vision Life and LongTerm Disability Insurance Employee Assistance Program and 403(b) Retirement Plan

Centers Mission:

Building a world where LGBT people thrive as healthy equal and complete members of society.

DEPARTMENT SUMMARY: The Youth Center serves youth up to the age of 24 who are currently atrisk of or experiencing homelessness. The Youth Center offers services in an LGBTQ safe and affirming environment and serves as an entry point to assist youth making the transition from homelessness to housing. Our services include meals clothing support groups a charter high school GED and college prep program an employment preparation training and placement program street outreach case management counseling a crisis shelter a transitional living program (TLP) and supportive apartments. Our communitybased programs include services for youth athome in school or in systems of care.

JOB SUMMARY The Youth Care Specialist provides a variety of supportive services including but not limited to direct oversight and supervision of dropin and 24/7 interim & permanent supportive housing programs assistance with basic needs street outreach employment preparation and placement assistance education housing navigation individualized case management crisis intervention and behavioral support transportation and other services that address the overall needs of dropin residential and community members. This position works with a population that is currently or formerly experiencing homelessness and has high rates of mental health health and substancerelated issues. The ideal candidate must be familiar with and have experience with this population.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Provide a welcoming presence onsite for members to engage with by answering questions providing information and facilitating engagement opportunities;

Provide a comprehensive continuum of homelessness prevention services including street outreach employment preparation and placement assistance individualized case management education housing location and retention and other supportive services;

Follow a framework of care goals and department protocols to ensure member and resident safety provide crisis intervention and deescalation along a spectrum of intervention techniques;

Provide direct supervision and assistance with basic needs (meals clothing hygiene) and day to day program operations;

Conduct intake CES assessment and individualized needs assessments and collaborate with youth to develop a services and housing stability plan that addresses barriers to obtaining services housing and healthcare;

As the primary Point of Contact work in collaboration with a team of service providers in an effort to obtain stabilize and maintain housing;

Implement a philosophyofcare including housingfirst harmreduction and traumainformed care principles;

Collaborate with other LA LGBT Center departments and outside organizations agencies on youth events resources and youth development opportunities;

Plan and facilitate programming events and activities utilizing a Positive Youth development framework that develops a sense of competence usefulness power and belonging among atrisk youth youth experiencing homelessness athome/atschool youth and youth who see themselves as the leaders of the future;

Conduct outreach and engagement;

Complete general operational and administrative work such as compiling data statistics preparing reports and drafting correspondence;

Organize and maintain program files and materials through data entry and database maintenance;

Assist with special projects as directed by management staff;

Other duties as assigned;

JOB QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

Knowledge of or experience working with the LGBTQ community and familiarity with issues of particular relevance to LGBTQ people;

A passion for the Centers work and its mission to make the world a better place for LGBTQ people;

Knowledge and understanding of the issues affecting LGBTQ youth including experience working with high risk youth (specific work with gay lesbian bisexual transgender and/or runaway youth a plus);

Minimum 3 years of experience in related field specifically working with youth experiencing homelessness/housing instability foster youth and/or mental illness lowincome or individuals experiencing homelessness or Bachelors Degree (Social Work Social Services Public Health or related field);

Experience with substance abuse/mental health case management and crisis intervention;

Be able and willing to work flexible hours which may include evenings weekends and holidays;

Knowledge of housingfirst harmreduction traumainformed care principles;

Ability to work with a high acuity population and able to deescalate threatening/volatile situations with clients;

Ability to perform under circumstances of possible emotional stress and conflict including dealing with uncooperative clients;

Ability to apply principles of professional boundaries and ethics to on the job situations;

Ability to build rapport and trust with youth and demonstrate active (reflective listening);

Ability to engage youth in activities and facilitate workshops;

Bilingual skills a plus (English/Spanish fluency preferred American Sign Language fluency a plus);

Access to reliable transportation and the ability to be insured;

Must be able to pass a fingerprint clearance background check including criminal history personal references employment and education verifications;

Demonstrated ability to work effectively with people of diverse races ethnicities nationalities sexual orientations gender identities gender expression socioeconomic backgrounds religions ages Englishspeaking abilities immigration status and physical abilities in a multicultural environment.

The Los Angeles LGBT Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to fostering diversity within its staff. Applications are encouraged from all persons regardless of their race color ancestry religious creed national origin sex sexual orientation gender identity gender expression medical/physical/mental condition pregnancy/childbirth and related medical condition age marital status or veteran status.

The Center has implemented a policy requiring all staff to be fully vaccinated against COVID19 as a condition of employment subject to applicable federal state and local laws. For more information please contact jobs@lalgbtcenter