Description

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.

For more information about MISSSEY, please go to our website at www.misssey.org.

MISSSEY will only review applications that have an uploaded cover letter and resume.

Position Summary

The Youth Engagement Specialist (YES) plays an important role in identifying and engaging with youth at the Alameda County Assessment Center who are vulnerable to or have experienced commercial sexual exploitation. Under the supervision of the Director of Integrated Services, 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, gender-based violence, trafficking, and abuse
• Have a thorough understanding of youth development, advocacy, and the stages of change
• 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
• Be skilled at addressing the biopsychosocial, emotional and functional needs of young people
• 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 

Requirements

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.

Duties and Responsibilities: 

Direct Services (70%) 

1. Engage and build rapport with young people in the Alameda County Assessment Center milieu space
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 case management services
5. Provide follow-up sessions for identified youth who are placed in foster care and group homes
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 staff at the Assessment Center to improve the collective response to CSEC
8. Refer County staff, caregivers, and group home providers to MISSSEY’s CSEC 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. Foster an environment that promotes harmony, partnership, alliance, healing, and thriving

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. Input case notes in the online system within 24 hours of client contact; track activities and progress in notes
4. Accurately record and track youth participation and incentives 
5. Collaborate with MISSSEY team to support organization-wide initiatives 
6. 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. Cover drop-in milieu and engagement services as needed
4. Guide and participate in collaborative processes to improve all work at MISSSEY
5. Other duties as assigned

Compensation: $47,000-$50,423 per year 

Classification:Full-time, non-exempt, in-person position, some weekends and evenings rotation

Work Schedule: Tuesday-Saturday

Benefits:

• Premium Medical/Dental/Optometry
• Coverage of work-related travel, mileage, and parking
• PTO (paid time off)
• EAP (employee assistance program) 
• Family and pet bereavement
• Employee retirement and employee match (SIMPLE IRA)
• Generous Holiday Calendar
  • Including – 2 weeks starting vacation & 1 week paid winter holiday during Christmas week

Due to the volume of candidates, we will be unable to contact each candidate individually. If you are being considered for the position, you will be contacted. We are unable to accept phone calls or walk-ins. MISSSEY is an equal opportunity employer. 

NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY: MISSSEY DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE IN ANY PROGRAM, ACTIVITY, OR IN EMPLOYMENT ON THE BASIS OF AGE, CREED, SEX, RACE, ETHNIC BACKGROUND, MARITAL OR VETERAN STATUS, NATIONAL ORIGIN, DISABILITY, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, OR RELIGION. SURVIVORS AND WOMEN OF COLOR (TRANS-INCLUSIVE) ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY