Position Information

The Youth Support Specialist will provide a positive community environment to help youth heal from the trauma they have experienced and prepare them to secure and maintain stable housing of their choice.

Avenues for Youth’s original and oldest program is now known as Minneapolis Avenues. Located in North Minneapolis, this program provides emergency shelter, transitional housing and intensive supportive services for 21 youth at a time, ages 18 to 24. Annually, the program supports 170 to 190 young people.

In early 2015, we expanded into the northwest suburbs with the opening of Brooklyn Avenues, a 12-bed shelter and transitional housing program for homeless youth ages 16 to 21 from the northwest suburbs of Hennepin County. We anticipate this program will support 80 to 100 young people every year.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

The following duties are normal for this position. These duties are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. 

• Meeting basic needs of youth by forming genuine professional relationships in a engaging and safe environment.
• Utilize opportunities to meet one-on-one with youth to provide mentoring and guidance, including supporting homework assignments and completing prep work for meals.
• Coach on Independent Living Skills by assisting them to establish routines that help prepare them to live on their own and to be successful and stable in housing, school, work, and relationships.
• Manage on-site supervision of the the House with answering phones and doors, completing room checks, consulting the shift check list, and engaging youth in completing chores
• Role model positive social interactions by involving youth in positive conflict resolution opportunities.
• Provide proactive intervention of conflict between youth in order to deescalate situations. Provide callers in crisis with counseling and appropriate referrals.
• Complete required documentation and communicate with staff on shared goals and objectives, including end of shift communications.

Minimum Qualifications

• BA/BS in social work, human services, education, or related field; three-to-five years of related experience and/or training; or the equivalent combination of education, lived and work experience, and training.
• Possess basic computer skills.
• Be at least 24 years of age.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, bend, twist, kneel, and communicate. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

In response to the COVID‐19 Pandemic, Avenues for Youth has worked diligently to establish strong health and safety protocols for our community. This position is typically a face-to-face, in-person role. Currently many job duties can be fulfilled by phone or video-assisted technology, but some situations will require in-person meetings. Any interactions that require in-person contact will involve the use of social distancing and personal protective equipment.

 Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

Avenues for Youth is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. We embrace diversity, foster inclusion, and do our work through an equitable lens. Persons of color, women, members of the LGBTQ community, veterans, other minorities, and individuals with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. 

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the organization will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

Compensation

$20.77 to 22.50, depending on qualifications. Avenues approaches staff well-being from a holistic perspective which includes our compensation and benefits program, employee assistance resources, and staff appreciation. We recently increased wages for staff in order to keep us competitive in the marketplace as well as in keeping with our commitment to provide living equitable wages. Avenues pays 85% of health insurance costs, as well as full dental, life, AD&D, short term and long term disability. Along with a generous paid-time-off policy, we recognize 8 holidays including a floating holiday for staff to use. In addition to providing an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), we demonstrate appreciation for our staff through annual celebrations, year-end bonuses, and team-building activities.

Job Title: Youth Support Specialist

Department:  Shelter and Transitional Living 

Primary Location: Brooklyn Avenues

Reports To:  Program Manager

Employment Status: Full Time Hourly Non-Exempt 

Core Schedule: 2:30pm to 10:30pm

Please include your resume, cover letter and references with your application.