In every job at Rod’s House, our mission and vision are embedded deeply into the responsibilities. A job at Rod’s House is about more than completing tasks; rather, it is about prioritizing building positive and lasting relationships with the young people, other staff, volunteers, and our community. 

Our Mission: Rod's House builds authentic connections with young people, encourages them in feeling respected and secure in who they are, empowers them to reach their full potential, and positively connects them to the community. 

Our Vision: Rod's House envisions an END to youth homelessness in the Yakima Valley. To break the cycle of homelessness we engage volunteers, donors, and the community to ensure young people's basic human needs are met and that they have a safe, stable home; permanent, positive connections; meaningful education and employment opportunities; behavioral and physical health care; and supports that reinforce their individual abilities.

Position Information

Title: Hope Center Lead Support Specialist

FLSA Status: Hourly, Full-Time, Non-Exempt

Location: Hope Center

Reports to: Hope Center Program Coordinator

Overview (what unique role does this position play within Rod’s House?)

Support Specialists at Rod’s House focus on providing a safe and stable environment for young people. Support Specialists help support a wide-spectrum of needs for young people (ages 13-17) experiencing homelessness throughout Yakima County. Support Specialists play a pivotal role as guides for young people so they may progress from temporary sheltering to permanent, safe, and stable housing.

Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership

• Maintain and update the training binder to ensure all shelter staff complete a minimum of 26 hours of training on an annual basis;

• Serve in management capacity when Program Coordinator is not available;

• Make self available to work on-call, as needed, if a Support Specialist calls out and there is no coverage;

• Support Program Coordinator with daily programming;

• Collaborate with relevant service site staff, specifically the Program Coordinator, Behavioral Health Specialist, and Case Manager, to meet unique needs of service site;

• Update program signage and young adult manuals, as needed.

Relationship Building and Problem Solving

• Engage with youth to make them feel welcome, safe, and supported;

• Collaborate with Case Manager, Behavioral Health Specialist, and Program Coordinator on how best to support youth;

• Connect youth to community and on-site resources to ensure basic needs are met;

• Appropriately respond to and coach youth through verbal, physical, and emotional altercations;

• Prevent and de-escalate situations as they arise;

• Maintain a positive, non-judgmental, trauma-informed approach;

• Actively seek opportunities to be inclusive and equitable;

• Accompany youth to designated recreational activities and meal times;

Safety and Cleanliness

• Assist with housekeeping duties and ensure cleanliness and tidiness at all times;

• Ensure a safe environment for fellow employees, volunteers, and residents;

• Conduct safety drills with proper documentation, as assigned by Program Coordinator;

• Ensure completion of daily tasks by end of each shift;

• Review health guidelines and organize food on a daily basis;

• Oversee knife check-out system whenever one is used for meal prep.

• Ensure that all expired food is thrown out once a week.

Data Management

• Participate in monthly program outcome reporting with all program staff;

• Complete data entry tasks, as assigned;

• Prioritize keeping information on young people confidential and secure;

• Maintain proper record keeping and documentation.

• Dispense all medication as prescribed.

• Record all medication management information.

• Record all recreational activities.

• Record and document all food temperatures as required by the Dept. of Health

General

• Ensure standard operating procedures are clearing defined, updated, and followed;

• Provide regular feedback on program policies and procedures, as needed;

• Maintain program training requirements as required by service site;

• Provide general assistance and support as directed. 

Complete all duties as assigned and other duties as required.

Required or Preferred Education and/or Experience

• At least 1 year experience working directly with youth (ages 13-17) and young adults (ages 18-24), particularly youth and young adults experiencing homelessness OR 2 years of social services education (required)

• High school diploma or equivalent (required) / Bachelor’s degree (preferred);

• An understanding of and adherence to a strengths-based philosophy with youth and young adults (required);

• Dedication to promoting an inclusive and diverse workplace through competency in equity, race, social justice, differently-abled, and LGTBQ identities (required);

• Bilingual (Spanish-English) (strongly preferred);

• Experience working with individuals who have experienced trauma, specifically severe mental illnesses and substance use disorders (preferred);

• Knowledge in human services, social work, education, or a related field (preferred);

• Lived experience relevant to the population served (preferred).

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 

• Must be at least 21 years of age (required);

• Pass a Washington State criminal background check (required);

• Pass a Federal (FBI) criminal background check (required);

• Valid driver’s license and auto insurance (required);

• Possess skills and ability to work successfully with the unique needs of children in care;

• Effective communication and problem solving skills;

• Ability to work with young people in crisis; 

• Can employ professionalism and patience in high stress environments;

• Understanding the importance of flexibility in a job;

• Proven ability to create a system or process when one does not exist;

• Ability to develop and maintain strong relationships; 

• Creative problem solver:

• Willingness to learn and teach new things;

• Strong verbal and written communication skills with exceptional attention to details; 

• Demonstrate ability to work collaboratively in a team environment; 

• Proficient in using technology;

• Contributes to a positive organizational culture;

• Ability to maintain confidentiality;

• Demonstrate commitment to supporting equity and inclusion;

• Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and a commitment to and passion for the Rod’s House mission.

Work Conditions and Physical Requirements 

Shifts could include evening, early mornings, or weekends, including holidays. This position requires daily interactions with youth experiencing homelessness and with community members, social service providers, and other organizations.. Physical requirements for the position include frequent walking, hearing, seeing, speaking, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, grasping, climbing, and repetitive motions. This position requires exerting up to 50 pounds of force to lift, carry, pull, or move objects. Ability to safely drive a 14-passenger van is strongly preferred. 

Rod’s House will reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with a disability so that they can perform the essential functions of a job unless doing so causes a direct threat to these individuals or others in the workplace and the threat cannot be eliminated by reasonable accommodation or if the accommodation creates an undue hardship to Rod’s House.

Salary/Compensation and Benefits 

• Starting hourly wage of $18.30;

• 40 hours per week, Sunday-Saturday;

• Within 30 days, employer pays medical (90%), dental (90%), and vision (90%) insurance;

• Eligible to receive up to a 5% raise based on annual performance review;

• 10 paid Washington state holidays;

• 15 days of paid time off granted immediately after 90 days, increasing by 5 days every 2 years;

• 2 hours of paid sick leave accrued for every 40 hours worked, with up to 80 hours eligible for annual rollover;

• FREE CPR/First Aid Certification;

• FREE CPI (non-violent crisis intervention) Certification;

• FREE WA State Food Handler Permit;

• Ongoing program-specific training and professional development training;

• Opportunity for career growth and professional development;

• Work/Life Balance: We are dedicated to being flexible for family and self-care.

Rod’s House is all about building authentic connections. We are committed to equity and inclusion and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We encourage people with lived experience of homelessness and those who identify as LGBTQIA2S and people of color to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, marital status, disability, age, veteran status, political ideology, or any other legally protected status.