Youth Specialist - Youth Haven

Job Description

Please read the information in this job post thoroughly to understand exactly what is expected of potential candidates.

Starting Salary: $24.00

Salary Range: This position is represented by a Union. Annual increases occur each year, with the current cap at 8 years or $32.85.

Weekly Hours: 20

Shift: 5:00PM-10:30PM, Friday-Monday

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt, hourly

Union Status: Union

Reports To: Supervisor of Youth Haven

Are you looking for a job where you can make a positive impact on the lives of young people? Do you want to join a community that celebrates diverse voices, values collaboration, and measures success by the lives that are touched and the futures that are shaped?

Join the team at Friends of Youth where it's all about making a meaningful difference for the youth in our community while building a successful and rewarding career.

As a Youth Specialist at Youth Haven, you'll have the opportunity to positively impact youth by:

• Providing a safe and stable environment for youth ages 7-17 at our Youth Shelter, utilizing a trauma-informed approach.
• Supervising on-site activities and outings in the community (Yes, we go on field trips!).
• Providing transportation to meet medical, educational, and legal needs of our clients.
• Modeling and teaching healthy communication and daily living skills.
• Encouraging and motivating youths' interests to identify and work to achieve personal goals.

Friends of Youth is proud to offer team members:

• 30 Days of PTO per year (15 vacations days, 11 paid holidays, and 4 paid floating holidays)
• Paid sick leave
• 5 days of paid Bereavement Leave
• 3 days of paid Pet Bereavement Leave
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Transgender-inclusive health benefits.
• Retirement plan with employer match.
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Employer-paid long-term disability and life insurance for full-time employees
• Training and development opportunities
• Employee Assistance Program

job requirements

Education and Experience

• High School Diploma or General Education Diploma (GED). Bachelor's degree in a human-service field preferred.
• Minimum of 6 months of full-time experience, providing direct service to youth in a work or volunteer capacity.
• Experience working with youth who are homeless and/or involved in the foster care system.
• Experience working with immigrant and refugee youth is preferred.

Additional Requirements

• Must be 21 years or older.
• Must satisfactorily pass criminal history check.
• Must satisfactorily pass tuberculosis (TB) test.
• Must have reliable transportation and a Washington State driver's license (or be able to obtain one by date of employment)
• Employees and volunteers who operate their own or Friends of Youth vehicles on Friends of Youth business, must have a safe driving record as defined by Friends of Youth.
• Employees and volunteers who operate their own vehicle(s) on Friends of Youth business must carry auto liability insurance that complies with the requirements of Friends of Youth.
• Must successfully complete the following health certification requirements within 30 days of employment: Food Handler's Card, CPR, First Aid and Bloodborne Pathogens.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Able to engage with diverse populations in a culturally responsive manner.
• Demonstrate a commitment to the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion by honoring and celebrating diverse characteristics and expressions of personal identity.
• Strong commitment to Friends of Youth's mission, vision, and values.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills.
• Able to maintain strong personal and professional boundaries.
• Able to work independently and as part of a team.
• Able to establish and maintain positive working relationships with youth.
• Able to separate one's personal beliefs and values from those of youth.
• Proficient skill set with Microsoft Office programs.

essential duties

Safety and Wellbeing

• Maintain a safe living environment.
• Model and teach self-regulation.
• Promote a sense of community and safety.
• Support conflict resolution skills.
• Utilize preventative floor management techniques to address challenging behaviors.
• Encourage family involvement and provide support as appropriate.

Youth Engagement

• Listen to and address individual concerns.
• Provide personal attention.
• Support the growth and development of independent living skills.
• Respect confidentiality.
• Build positive relationships with youths.
• Interact with empathy and without judgement.

Supervision and Monitoring

• Plan, supervise and support tasks that promote mental, physical, and social health.
• Ensure the safe storage of medications and dispense as prescribed and instructed.
• Assist with homework, work attainment, goal setting and achievement.
• Prepare meals and snacks.
• Design and facilitate scheduled groups and activities as requested.
• Transport youths to appointments and outings as assigned.
• Stay in close contact to maintain awareness of the whereabouts of the youths.
• Monitor health and other behaviors.
• Report any concerns regarding abuse, exploitation and/or neglect to the Supervisor and subsequently to Child Protective Services.
• Assist in training volunteers, interns, and relief employees under the guidance of the Supervisor.

Communication and Record Keeping

• Attend and positively contribute to weekly team meetings.
• Attend professional training for continuous knowledge and growth.
• Model positive and healthy behaviors.
• Objectively document behavioral events.
• Maintain daily communication logs.
• Record medication and fund disbursements.
• Complete incident reports as per agency policy. xhyhwjd
• Complete other reports as requested by a supervisor.
• Provide consistent communication and support with daily accurate documentation for report