Lead YOC Youth Advocate
Lead YOC Youth Advocate
Posted on :
25-05-2025
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1 Vacancy
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Job Description
Job Details
Youth Opportunity Center - Des Moines IA
Full Time
4 Year Degree
$17.28 - $25.92 Hourly
Minimal
Any
Direct Care - Supportive Housing
We are YSS!
YSS is seeking a determined diligent and disciplinedLead Youth Advocate to join our Youth Opportunity Center (YOC) team. In this role you will be at the heart of our mission providing crucial support and guidance to participants in our Emergency Bed Drop-In and Rapid Rehousing programs. As part of your daily responsibilities you can expect to:
- Supervise and Support: Build meaningful connections with young adults (aged 16-24) in our programs fostering an atmosphere of safety and respect.
- Empower Through Leadership: Take a leadership role among YOC staff ensuring our programs run smoothly and participants receive comprehensive support.
- Meet Basic Needs: Ensure participants have access to essentials like bedding food and hygiene items creating a stable environment for them to thrive.
- Facilitate Growth: Assist in implementing case plans including life skills classes and crisis interventions to support participants in their journey toward stability.
- Community Engagement: Serve as a support Advocate in the community collaborating with our Rapid Rehousing program to extend our impact beyond our center.
This description is not a complete list of the responsibilities of this position. Duties may change at any time.
At YOC every day brings the opportunity to make a tangible difference in young lives. Youll be part of a team dedicated to empowering youth and fostering a supportive community. If youre ready to contribute your skills and compassion to create lasting change we want to hear from you!
We value your lived experience.
Do you have personal experience with substance use or addiction with at least two years of current continuous recovery Are you passionate about sharing your story to support others on their journey to stability and healing
If you can you serve as a positive role model for sustained sobriety providing mentorship guidance and hope to residents we strongly encourage you to apply for this position.
What you can expect in return...
We believe in your potential we meet you where you are and we invest in your addition to a welcoming workplace collaborative and supportive colleagues and mission-driven work that creates hope and opportunity by putting kids first YSS offers the followingbenefits for this position:
- Medical dental vision and life insurance
- Supplemental accident critical illness and hospital indemnity insurance
- Accrued PTO plus paid time off for holidays your birthday and volunteering
- Employee Assistance Program
- Employee recognition program
- Personal wellness programs
- Pet insurance discounts
- PSLF Program qualification
- Retirement offerings
- Training opportunities
This isnt just a job - its a chance to be the spark in someones story. If youre ready to inspire connect and lead with purpose apply today and become part of something meaningful at YSS.
What we ask...
We want to create a world where youth are valued and empowered to stand strong. To do this we ask our staff to embrace YSS core values - Commitment Collaboration Compassion Innovation Integrity and a Can Do Spirit. Additionally we ask for the following:
MUST HAVES - Required Qualifications
- A High School diploma or equivalent.
- At least three years of full-time professional experience in the human services field. Relevant experience may include:
- Certification in First Aid and CPR
- Crisis intervention techniques
- Child and adolescent development
- Individual and group counseling
- Motivational interviewing
- Trauma-informed care and harm reduction strategies
- An understanding of the needs and challenges faced by youth who are unhoused or in unstable housing situations and the ability to implement targeted intervention strategies.
- This role requires local travel including the transportation of clients. To meet YSS insurance requirements candidates must:
- Be at least 21 years of age
- Hold a valid state-issued drivers license
- Maintain a clean driving record
- Carry insurance coverage that meets YSS policy standards
SHOULD HAVES - Preferred Qualifications
- A bachelors degree in a human services-related field * may substitute for the required experience.
- Direct experience working with at-risk youth.
- Strong critical thinking and problem-solving abilities
- Effective time management for both personal tasks and team coordination
- Resourceful and organized with a demonstrated ability to manage and allocate resources efficiently
- Patient composed and adaptable in high-pressure or challenging situations
- Committed to providing client-centered high-quality service
- Capable of building and maintaining positive professional relationships
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds identities and experiences
- Clear confident communicator in various settings including one-on-one interactions and public speaking.
The IDEAL Candidate Will:
- Be mission-driven with a commitment to equity inclusion and positive social impact.
- Consistently approach their work with humility respect and sensitivity to diverse backgrounds and lived experiences.
- Demonstrate reliability and independence managing responsibilities with minimal supervision.
- Speaka second language (especially one spoken in our communities).
Who we are (and why youll love us)...
Were YSSone of Iowas oldest and largest nonprofits dedicated to uplifting youth and putting kids first. Our mission To spark hope create opportunities and help young people thrive through education counseling and support that actually makes a a passionate diverse leadership team and our brand-new 50-acre recovery campus were growing fast and thinking big. Were not just keeping up with the timeswere shaping the future of care for youth and families in Iowa. Want to know more about our mission and all the awesome things were up to Visit !
At YSS we dont just talk about diversity and inclusionwe live it celebrate it and grow from it every day. We believe the best teams are made up of all kinds of people with all kinds of perspectives. Thats what makes us strong creative and downright proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and were all about creating a space where everyone feels respected supported and empowered to succeedno matter your background identity or hairstyle. Our commitment to equity and inclusion is woven into everything we do and were always working to do better together.
YSS is a nicotine-free workplace.
Heads Up! Dont Miss Our Messages!- Most of our communication with applicants happens through emailstraight from our Paycom system. Be sure to keep an eye on your inbox (and maybe your spam/junk folder too just in case our message took a detour). Got questions about your application or just want to say hi Shoot us an email at - were happy to help!
The YSS Hiring Process
- Apply Fill out the online app at Well check out your skills and experience.
- Interview Phone video or in-personwell chat and get to know you.
- References Send us three people who can sing your praises.
- Screening Background and driving checks (plus license verification if needed).
- Offer If its a match youll get a formal offer through Paycom.
* Applicable Degrees: Addiction Counseling Addiction Studies Adolescent Psychology Behavioral Health Child and Adolescent Mental Health Child Psychology Clinical Mental Health Corrections Counseling Criminal Justice Education Family Science Family Studies Family Therapy Human Services Juvenile Justice Juvenile Rehabilitation Mental Health Nursing Psychology Public Administration Public Health Rehabilitation Services Social Work Therapeutic Recreation Youth Development Youth Services
Keywords: Abuse Addiction Advocacy Analysis Assessment At-risk Behavioral Care Case CBT Centered Client Coach Cognitive Community Coordination Counseling Crisis Detox Develop Education Engagement Evaluation Evidence-Based Facilitation Family Flexibility Group Health Holistic Human Individual Informed Inpatient Intervention Living Management Mental Monitoring Motivational Outpatient Outreach Peer Personalized Planning Plans Prevention Program Psychiatry Psychology Recovery Rehabilitation Relapse Services Sober Social Specialist Substance Support Technique Therapeutic Therapy Trauma Treatment Use Wellness
Employment Type
Full-Time
Key Skills
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