Youth Engagement Specialist

Youth Engagement Specialist

Job Description Classification: Full-time, In-Person, Non-Exempt Compensation: $55,120-$62,109

About MISSSEY

MISSSEY works to prevent girls and gender-expansive youth from ever entering circumstances of sexual exploitation and violence. We also support young people who are experiencing exploitation to exit. Once they've exited, we partner with them so that they may avoid re-entering sexually exploitative circumstances and live free of harmful transactional relationships. As an organization, we value healing, youth voice, integrity, and relationships.

Our service model is focused on healing through trauma-informed, survivor-centered, and youth-focused approaches. We recognize the crucial voices of survivors in facilitating healing in victims of commercial sexual exploitation and the value of young people empowering other young people. Our work with youth is a partnership, helping them transition from victim to survivor to leader, encouraging their long-term stability and success in whatever path they choose. MISSSEY believes that with the right opportunities and support, youth can overcome the circumstances of their exploitation and thrive.

Position Summary

The Youth Engagement Specialist (Y.E.S.) plays an important role in identifying and engaging with youth that are involved in the Alameda County Social Services Agency's Children and Family Services, and who are vulnerable to or have experienced commercial sexual exploitation. Under the supervision of the Integrated Services Manager (ISM), the Youth Engagement Specialist is responsible for doing prevention, intervention and stabilization work with youth in the child welfare system, making referrals to MISSSEY case management as needed. YES staff will collaborate across systems, participate in multi-disciplinary team meetings, and advocate for the needs of exploited young people as part of a service delivery team. YES staff works within the limitations of the organization's resources and in compliance with grants, contracts, and agency policies and procedures. We are looking for a candidate who will take initiative and be able to build rapport with highly at-risk and exploited youth; comfortable navigating systems; reliable and efficient; committed to the self-determination of marginalized young people; able to work collegially with colleagues and collaboratively with members of the MISSSEY team; and steadfast in their goal of delivering services with impact.

The ideal candidate for this position would:

• Have a minimum of 1-year experience working with systems involved youth
• Have solid experience working with Black girls and other youth of color who have experienced homelessness, interpersonal violence, trafficking, and abuse
• Have a thorough understanding of youth development, advocacy, and crisis intervention
• Be a continual learner deeply invested in women and girls
• Have experience building relationships with community partners and coordinating services that engage youth and support them to thrive
• Have an understanding of crisis intervention, de-escalation, restorative practices, interpersonal relationship and resiliency building, and harm reduction theory and practice
• Have the ability to co-create a strong, reflective, highly productive, and caring culture

Duties and Responsibilities

Direct Services (70%)

1. Engage and build rapport with young people in the Alameda County SSA at various locations including the Alameda County Assessment Center, STRTP (Short Term Residential Therapeutic Program) Placements, Resource Family Placements and in the community.
2. Assess participant's vulnerability to / or experience with commercial sexual exploitation
3. Facilitate 1-on-1 prevention sessions with youth identified as highly vulnerable to exploitation
4. Provide support and service linkages to youth, including referrals to MISSSEY transformation coaching services
5. Provide follow-up sessions for identified youth who are placed in foster care and STRTPs
6. Attend Team Decision Making meeting, advocating for the young person, utilizing a strengths-based framework, and representing the organizational philosophy
7. Work collaboratively with child welfare workers, caregivers, housing providers, and other Alameda County staff to improve the collective response to CSE
8. Refer County staff, caregivers, and STRTP providers to MISSSEY's CSE trainings and youth-prevention workshops
9. Maintain transparency and assist participants in making informed decisions
10. Provide psycho-education about exploitation and its aftermath to youth, their families or caregivers, service providers, and other systems that interact with the youth
11. Support in co-facilitation of MISSSEY's prevention curriculum Let's Talk About It to youth in schools, the STaR center, STRTPs and community based organizations.
12. Foster an environment that promotes harmony, partnership, alliance, healing, and thriving
13. Support in STaR center (drop-in milieu) and other engagement services as needed

Indirect and Administrative (25%)

1. Ensure Youth Engagement activities are aligned and in compliance with contracts, grants, and agency policies and procedures
2. Maintain up-to-date participant files with all relevant intakes, releases, and documentation
3. Complete 4 hours of monthly outreach
4. Input case notes in Apricot online system within 72 hours of client contact; track activities and progress in notes
5. Accurately record and track youth participation and incentives
6. Collaborate with MISSSEY team to support organization-wide initiatives
7. Participate in weekly one-on-one supervision, the development of work plans, and annual reviews

Other (5%)

1. Implement goals and objectives of the Alameda County Social Services grant
2. Actively participate in supervision, case conferences, staff meetings, and trainings
3. Guide and participate in collaborative processes to improve all work at MISSSEY
4. Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years' experience working with strength-based and client-centered models, restorative and trauma-informed care practices.
• Bachelor's Degree in social sciences such as psychology, criminal justice, social work, and/or public health preferred. Relevant experience will be considered.
• Experience in trauma-informed, healing-centered youth development.
• Experience working with African American cis, trans, and non-binary women and girls.
• Ability to identify, assess, and intervene effectively with behavioral health issues.
• Passion for supporting young people, promoting healing-centered, trauma-informed youth development practices, and working towards social change.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to be dependable and present
• Ability to multi-task and deal with high numbers of youth at one time
• Knowledge of at-risk youth and commercial sexual exploitation
• Ability to have healthy boundaries working with youth
• Ability to respond to youth in crisis with de-escalation techniques and appropriate support
• Ability to serve as a role model for youth being served
• Ability to administer policies and procedures that ensure the safety and confidentiality of program participants
• Ability to develop positive relationships with participants, colleagues, and supervisors
• Ability to assume a leadership role in initiating workshops and activities
• Excellent communications skills.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

• Occasional lifting of up to 50 lbs
• Requires computer use each day, including typing for many hours per day
• Requires ability to use a keyboard, monitor, cell phone, and calculator
• Requires the ability to communicate verbally, both in person and on the telephone
• Must be able to stand for at least 20 minutes at a time
• Occasional outdoor activities
• Shared office space

Required Licenses & Certifications

• Current driver's license, reliable vehicle, proof of active automobile liability insurance with a minimum coverage of $100,000/$300,000 in accordance with MISSSEY's grant and compliance requirements, and a clean driving record required
• A criminal background check including fingerprint clearance
• TB clearance
• COVID-19 vaccination is required. MISSSEY will consider accommodations for