Youth Advocate Streetwork - Overnight - Casual Per-Diem

Job Description

Job Description

Summary

Streetwork Project is the oldest street outreach program for homeless and street-involved youth in New York City. The program has grown from its beginnings in 1984 as a storefront project to encompass both outreach and comprehensive harm reduction services. The core service is long-term, one-on-one counseling, which is offered in a non-judgmental and holistic manner utilizing a harm reduction approach that focuses on building trust, fostering self-esteem, exploring options and choices, and empowering youth to change their high-risk behaviors.

As part of our continuum of services we operate an emergency housing program for homeless youth in NYC, Streetwork Overnight. The Overnight is a 24 bed facility for youth ages 16-20. It is open from 7 pm to 10 am 7 days a week. Casual Youth Advocates work overnight hours to support the youth while they are in our crisis shelter.

As part of our continuum of services, we also provide overnight outreach in teams of two seven nights a week (7 pm to 3 am), throughout the five boroughs of New York City. Casual Youth Advocates work overnight hours to meet the most disenfranchised youth while they are in crisis.

Casual Youth Advocates work part-time and on-call, filling in for full-time youth advocate absences at the Overnight and Outreach program. These individuals provide comprehensive services to adolescents and young adults impacted by homelessness and involved in street activities (gangs, violence, drug use/sale and survival sex). Services provided by casual youth advocates are the same as full-time youth advocates and include assessment, case planning, case facilitation and management, counseling, referrals, outreach, crisis transportation, daily living services (food, shower, respite), and groups. These Youth Advocates coordinate with Safe Horizon supporting programs and local agencies to provide short- and long-term care necessary to meet the wide range of needs related to homeless adolescents.

Responsibilities:

• Learn and integrate a trauma-informed, client-centered approach, using an anti-oppressive lens, into your work with clients. Coach and guide staff in their client practice that reflects these approaches.
• Engage adolescents into program structure (harm reduction philosophy, rules, mutual respect).
• Provide case management, prepare case records, prepare monthly and quarterly statistical reports.
• Conduct overnight street outreach to homeless and street involved young people.
• Identification of new resources appropriate for population.
• Maintain current sources of areas of congregation of homeless youth.
• Assess individuals seeking assistance.
• Escort homeless youth to appropriate services and provide transportation.
• Maintain all nightly client records, files and documentation.
• Intake and assess individuals seeking assistance.
• Advocate on behalf of under 18-year-old clients for Administration for Children’s Services support
• Provide reparative interventions using a comprehensive harm reduction approach.
• Facilitate access to daily living needs (food, clothes, hygiene supplies, space to rest)
• Provide information to homeless adolescents regarding shelter options and other referrals
• Mediate internal conflicts
• Provide crisis intervention
• Provide group facilitation and conduct educational presentations on HIV/AIDS, risk reduction and topics related to sub-populations of homeless youth
• Participate in staff meetings, staff trainings, and appropriate training workshops
• Serve as a advocate and liaison for clients negotiating the shelter system and other social service programs

Secondary Job Functions:

• Petty Cash reconciliation
• Identification of new resources appropriate for population
• Provide well ness and recreational (engagement) activities
• Coordinate services with other Streetwork staff and on-site legal, medical, and psychiatric service providers
• Meal Preparation

Interacts with:

• All Streetwork program sites and staff
• All internal Safe Horizon programs and departments that can comprehensively support the client and case plan
• All external agencies and organizations that can provide appropriate services to the client

Knowledge and Skills:

Required:

• Compassionate approach to others and openness to new ideas
• Dynamic energy, able to multi-task and negotiate multiple demands on attention
• Non-judgmental approach and ability to empathize with others
• Clear and concise verbal and written communication skill, excellent interpersonal and organizational skills
• Genuine interest in working with disenfranchised youth and young adults

Desirable:

• Bi-lingual Spanish
• Understanding of harm reduction perspective
• Demonstrate the ability to work independently

Education:

Required:

GED or High School Diploma

Desirable:

• Bachelor’s degree in social services, creative arts, liberal studies or any field related to working with youth.
  Experience:

Required:

• Two (2) years of relevant experience working with RHY and youth at risk for homelessness.

Desirable:

• At least 1 year working with the homeless population, youth, or harm reduction
  At least 1 year working in an outreach program

Other:

• Commitment to work evening and overnight shifts

If hired, I agree to abide by all of Safe Horizon’s rules and regulations, and understand that, if employed, my employment may be terminated with or without cause, and with or without notice, at any time, at the option of either the company or me. I further understand that no representation, whether oral or written by any representative or agent of the organization, at any time, constitutes a contract of employment.

Applicants may be responsible for providing the equipment and tools they need to work remotely as required, such as access to a computer, internet service, and phone service. Safe Horizon will discuss potential solutions with candidates and may assist where needed and agreed to in advance.

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