Career, Education, and Housing Specialist

The Career, Education, and Housing Specialist provides direct assistance with connections and facilitation of employment, educational, and housing services to homeless and runaway youth ages 18 to 24 admitted into the Latin American Youth Center Housing Programs. The Career, Education, and Housing Specialist is responsible for the provision of educational, vocational, and employment guidance and services for the participants of the LAYC Residential programs. Once the youth is ready to exit the program, the Housing, Career, and Education Specialist provides direct assistance to develop permanent housing and exit plans. Upon exit, clients have adequate skills and resources to sustain permanent housing and careers.


JOIN US AND SUPPORT YOUTH TO LIVE, WORK, AND STUDY WITH DIGNITY, HOPE, AND JOY!

Latin American Youth Center's (LAYC) mission is to empower youth to achieve a successful transition to adulthood, through comprehensive and innovative programs that address youths' social, academic, and career needs. To achieve this mission, LAYC provides services and opportunities to approximately 4,000 individuals annually to support academic achievement, promote healthy behavior, and guide youth towards successful adulthood.


We believe in a future where all youth pursue their dreams, reach their goals and acquire the skills and self-confidence to live a life of purpose, connection, contribution and joy.


COMPETITIVE BENEFITS

In addition to a friendly work environment, we are pleased to offer the following benefits to our employees.

• Medical, dental, and vision plans with prescription coverage.
• Employer-paid life insurance
• Voluntary long-term disability and supplemental life insurance
• Matching 401(k) program beginning at hire
• 3 weeks paid vacation leave per year, increasing to 4 weeks with tenure, 12 days (upfront) paid sick leave per year, 12 paid holidays per year, 4 wellness days.
• Eight weeks paid parental leave, including adoption and foster care.
• Health club discounts
• One to two days per week of telework for most positions (eligible after first 60 days).

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

CAREER & EDUCATION RESPONSIBILITIES

• Researches, collects, and maintains employment and educational resources material. Communicates information about employment and educational resources to residents. Updates career development and educational resources binders as new resources emerge.
• Conducts an initial intake with LAYC Housing clients within 2 weeks of admission to evaluate their educational, vocational, and career goals and needs. Communicate results of intake to Case Managers for inclusion in client case plans.
• Develops a career and education service plan with Housing clients based on the needs identified in the initial vocational/educational assessment.
• Assists Housing clients in creating long-term career goals and identifying steps that they need to complete to accomplish their goals. Conducts vocational assessments as needed to help residential clients identify their career interests.
• Collaborates with the Case Managers to ensure that each Housing client is receiving appropriate secondary educational services. Helps residential clients identify postsecondary education options, plan the steps necessary to pursue these options, and apply for postsecondary programs and financial aid as appropriate.
• Publicizes program and develops relationships with employers and vocational training centers. Uses these contacts to identify employment opportunities for residential clients.
• Provides resume writing, job search, interviewing and job retention workshops based on the needs of the residential clients. Provides at least one group workshop per month and individual workshops as needed.
• Refers clients to appropriate extracurricular and postsecondary educational programs i.e. ESL, vocational, or college programs in accordance with the goals of their case plan. Inputs all referrals into ETO and communicates them to Case Managers.
• Reviews all educational reports/assessments, such as report cards and IEPs, that are prepared by the schools or academic programs where the residential clients are enrolled. Provides recommendations as appropriate to help Housing clients make progress towards postsecondary goals.
• Evaluates the appropriateness of each educational program that Housing clients are enrolled in and the residents' progress in that program. Tracks progress in ETO and HMIS.
• Reviews postsecondary education records on a quarterly basis. Suggests interventions or recommendations for clients' academic improvement.
• Assists in the planning and monitoring of the clients' employment searches.
• Coordinates with other career and job developers within LAYC and within the community to: promote best practices, identify employment and training opportunities, and share resources.
• Updates client case files with career development case notes, career development checklist, assessments, progress reports, resumes, and other career development materials.
• Enters all case notes and appropriate data in ETO and HMIS system weekly.
• Attends job fairs and community events related to career and education development.
• Accompanies clients on career-related outings.
• Collect ESCROW once the client obtains employment.
• Encourage clients to put funds into ESCROW to prepare for their exit from the program.

HOUSING RESPONSIBILITIES

• Once the client is ready to exit the program (suggested 6 months before the exit date):
• Ensures that 80% of youth exiting the LAYC Housing Programs is connected to a permanent housing arrangement.
• Researches, collects, and maintains housing resource material. Communicates information about housing to residents. Updates housing resource binders as new resources emerge.
• Conducts an initial intake with LAYC Housing clients within 2 weeks of admission to evaluate their housing needs. Communicates results of intake to Case Managers for inclusion in client case plans.
• Develops a housing service plan with Housing clients based on the needs identified in the initial assessment.
• Meets with clients on an ongoing basis, and no less than once per week, to evaluate housing options. Trouble shoots with clients to address any potential obstacle to achieving permanent and safe housing arrangement at the time of exit.
• Conducts affordable housing research and connections to long-term housing supports and assists Housing clients in identifying steps that they need to complete to accomplish their permanent housing goals.
• Supports clients in applying for housing, accompanies clients to view potential housing options, and communicates with clients about the progress of their application during each step of the process. Help clients fill out application for housing and any other form of assistance and/or employment that will facilitate a successful exit from the program.
• Collaborates with the Case Managers to ensure that updates on clients' housing applications and case notes are properly documented in ETO and HMIS. Notes must be entered within 24 hours of contact with clients.
• Advises clients on all housing related issues such as landlord/tenant disputes and discrimination on housing.
• Assists individuals with disabilities in finding suitable, affordable housing that meets their needs.
• Coordinates with other service providers to ensure that clients receive all the help they need.
• Helps clients identify financial resources available to them through deferral government assistance programs, community organizations, and other resources.
• Accompanies clients on housing-related outings.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES

• Updates client case files with career development case notes, career development checklists, assessments, progress reports, resumes, housing intake, and other career/housing development materials.
• Enters all case notes and appropriate data in ETO and HMIS systems weekly.
• Attends job fairs and community events related to career education, and housing development.
• Meets with the Safe Housing Program Manager for weekly direct supervision.
• Improves professional skills by attending workshops, seminars, and training sessions as allowed by the time and funding constraints. Attends at least 40 hours of training annually, including required trainings.
• Performs other activities specifically assigned by the Residential Program Administrator.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's degree in human resources, business administration, social work, psychology, sociology, counseling, or related service/science disciplines.
• Minimum of one year of experience working with at-risk youth.
• Experience in managing crisis situations.

SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS

• Knowledge of community and local resources in DC and Maryland.
• Ability and desire to maintain a flexible schedule (including late nights and weekends).
• Bilingual: English and Spanish required.
• Knowledge of case management, monitoring, and reporting.
• Ability to work well and communicate with a culturally diverse population.
• Ability to translate Positive Youth Development techniques into practice.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to work with minimum supervision.
• Excellent oral and written skills
• Proficient computer skills, experience with ETO or other data collection system a plus.
• Complete criminal and child abuse/neglect clearances.

• Flexible, energetic, positive individual with commitment to youth development in a high quality, respectful environment.
• LAYC/MMYC requires the COVID-19 vaccine of all its employees. You will be asked to provide proof of vaccination at the time of your interview and at your onboarding.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

This is largely a sedentary position that requires the ability to speak, hear, see, and lift small objects up to 20 lbs. May require the ability to travel locally and/or regionally.


LAYC/MMYC is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing opportunities without regard to age, race, color, pregnancy, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or status within any other protected group.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the individual(s) assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required. Management reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties and to assign other duties as necessary. In addition, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.


APPLY

Please submit a cover letter and resume.