Youth Advocate -Student Support Specialist II- SUN

January 2026

POSITION TITLE: Youth Advocate

PROGRAM: SUN Youth Advocacy Program

CLIENT SERVICES POSITION

$24.00/hr ($.50 bilingual differential) & retention bonus available

EXEMPT___ or NONEXEMPT X

PAY LEVEL: Youth Program Specialist II

FTE: [1.0]

At Impact NW we are a nonprofit with a mission to prevent homelessness, because we believe in the fundamental right to: beautiful life, stability and peace. More importantly, it also means a life filled with opportunity and community support, especially for Indigenous, Black, Brown, Melanated, Immigrant, and Asian people.

What we seek is for you to share your skill sets - especially if you:

*Put people first

*See the beauty in people

*Promote peace

*Find a way

We believe that with our mission and values as our north star, we can move toward our vision of a future where housing is a human right. If this resonates with you, we’d love to have your purpose and passion on our team at Impact NW.

Benefits Summary

At Impact NW, we care deeply about the well-being of our team and strive to support a healthy balance between work and life. Our comprehensive benefits package includes:

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) and additional Self-Care Leave to help you recharge and take care of yourself.

• Employer-paid health insurance for employees, plus a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) with an employer contribution to help cover out-of-pocket medical expenses.

• Long-Term Disability Insurance fully paid by Impact NW.

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offering free and confidential support for mental health, finances, and more.

• 401(k) Retirement Plan with an employer matching contribution to help you plan for the future.

• A positive, inclusive, and mission-driven work culture where every team member is valued and supported.

We believe that taking care of our people helps us take care of our community.

Job Summary
SUN Youth Advocacy (SYA) is a program that connects youth to a supportive adult advocate that will  assist in navigating youth through different barriers so they can reach their goals academically, socially and emotionally.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Traveling to various schools and worksites (SE Portland: Kellogg MS, Franklin HS, Impact NW worksites- Dancing Tree and Brentwood Darlington; SW Portland: Ida B Wells HS, Jackson MS, Robert Gray MS).

• Implementing and delivering age-appropriate, trauma-informed, client-centered programming and services.

• Develop and maintain a working knowledge of best practices for prevention and intervention services for issues related to poverty, homelessness, juvenile delinquency, family dysfunction and school challenges.

• Effectively interact with a diverse population of volunteers, staff, and community members.

• Meet program service standards set forth by the program’s supervisor regarding quantity, type, and quality of services to be delivered to clients.

• Attend ongoing training for the curriculum used in the school classroom setting.

• Attend agency and community meetings and trainings as required.

Youth Support and Advocacy

• Provide outreach and case management services.

• Supporting middle and high school-aged youth in grades 6th through 12th grade.

• Form, maintain and foster positive relationships with youth and their families.

• Support youth in academics, social, and emotional well-being that include but are not limited to: meeting 1:1 and/or  small group settings to set goals; challenges and barriers youth are facing; exposure to education and career opportunities; skill building.

• Creating, reviewing, and updating youth’s Individual Success Plan, comprehensive needs and strengths assessment.

• Advocacy to ensure youth's overall success in and out of school includes, but is not limited to: meeting with school partners (teachers, counselors, support staff), parents and/or community partners; class observations.

• Connecting/referring youth to other school and community services as needed, which includes but not limited to academic tutoring, after-school and summer programs, school clubs, affinity groups, and community support and events.

• Supporting youth’s family with basic necessities to lower barriers to youths' overall success that include but are not limited to: home visits, rental and utilities assistance, food and clothing resources, attending school/parent meetings with youth and their family.

• Data Collection and Case Noting

• Complete accurate, legible, and timely documentation of services.

• Keeping track of interaction and communication with youth and their families.

• Tracking prevention and intervention activities, tasks and progress.

• Documenting client information in the agency and Multnomah County databases. 

  School and Community Relations

• Forming and fostering relationships  with school staff and community.

• Effectively communicating and collaborating with other Impact NW programs, school staff and community partners.

    Supervision:  Reports to: SUN Youth Advocacy Program Manager

Requirements and Qualifications:

• Associate degree or equivalent in social work, child development or related field;
• Minimum of two (2) years experience in a human services, social work or related field, preferably working with low-income youth;
• Familiarity with SE/SW Portland cultures and communities;
• Strong classroom/small group management skills;
• Excellent capacity for connecting positively with adolescent youth;
• Strong ability to form, maintain and foster relationships with school and community partners;
• Ability to effectively work within a strength-based, integrated family support service delivery system;
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing;
• Computer skills including familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite;
• Strong organizational and time-management skills and ability to prioritize and complete multiple and varied tasks;
• Sensitivity and ability to relate to people from diverse lifestyles, socioeconomic levels, and cultures;
• Ability to work independently;
• Has reliable transportation (mileage to and from worksites are eligible for reimbursement);
• Willingness to work a flexible schedule including some evenings and occasional weekends;
• Willingness to work as a team member and support the mission and goals of Impact NW.

Preferred But Not Required Qualifications: 

• Bachelor's degree in social work or related field.
• Bicultural (English/Spanish).
• Bilingual (Spanish/English).

This Job Also Requires The Following Physical Activities: 

• Repetitive motion, prolonged sitting, and extensive visual involvement.

• Ability to efficiently travel in order to perform duties and other agency related errands.

• Moderate lifting.

Salary : $24