Youth Care Specialist II - Connect LA #901351

Position: Youth Care Specialist II #901351

Program: Youth Residential

Department: Youth Services

Reports to: Program Manager

Compensation: $24.00$31.67 per hour plus $1.75 per hour shift differential premium for hours worked between 6pm6am

Schedule: TuesdaySaturday 11:00am7:30pm

Status: 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 for Connect LA 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 individualized case management crisis intervention transportation and other services that support the development of permanency community building and when appropriate family reunification. 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:

Develop a comprehensive wraparound plan of care to assess and address the complex needs of youth and document track and evaluate outcomes.

Under the supervision of the Program Manager provide leadership and promote highquality service delivery within the program.

Assist Program Manager with oversight compliance and development of the program.

Provide support for YCSs needing ad hoc case conferencing.

Provide a welcoming presence onsite for dropin members and residents 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 education individualized case management housing navigation housing location and retention and other supportive services.

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

Provide direct supervision and assistance with basic needs (meals clothing hygiene) needs 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 to obtain stabilize and maintain housing.

Implement a philosophy of care including housingfirst harmreduction and traumainformed care principles.

Collaborate with other Center departments and outside organizations agencies on events resources and 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 create 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.

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.

Ability to develop and coordinate a comprehensive wraparound plan of care to assess and address the complex needs of youth as well as document track and evaluate outcomes.

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

Minimum 6 years of experience in related field specifically working with youth experiencing homelessness/housing instability foster youth and/or lowincome individuals or individuals experiencing mental illness or homelessness or masters degree (Social Work Social Services Public Health or related field).

Minimum 5 years case management experience or similar experience working with target population.

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

HMIS experience.

Ability to describe the philosophies practices policies and outcomes of the most generally accepted supported models of treatment for people experiencing homelessness.

Knowledge of housingfirst harmreduction and traumainformed care principles.

Demonstrated knowledge or experience with case management techniques including critical time intervention harm reduction strategies crisis intervention techniques and motivational interviewing.

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 onthejob situations.

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

Understanding of the principles of positive youth development and ability to engage youth and facilitate workshops.

Ability and willingness to work flexible hours which may include evenings weekends and holidays.

Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

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

Access to reliable transportation a valid California driver license and the ability to be insured.

Ability 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