Youth Specialist (On-Call)

Youth Specialists assist in facilitating the day-to-day services offered in the Day Services Program and the Transitional Living Program. Support for Day Program and Transitional Living Program services can include assisting with youth skill-building activities, including healthy recreation and art activities, food preparation, and helping ensure a safe and respectful program space.  Youth Specialists are also responsible for appropriately responding to crises. The long-term goal of the Day Program and Transitional Living Program is to help youth build the skills needed for self-sufficiency and to be successful in their plan to exit street life. This is a union-represented position.

This is an on-call position.  Must be available for overnight (awake) shifts in the Transitional Living Program. 

Essential Duties

• Build positive relationships with youth through role modeling and mentoring.

• Help direct new or returning youth to navigate the screening and assessment process.

• Educate youth about the Homeless Youth Continuum and how to access available services and resources. Engage youth in Outside In program offerings.

• Be available on-site to residents in Transitional Living Program and/or Day Program during shifts. 

• Provide individualized support to youth. Respond to youth crises as needed.

• Support the smooth function of the Food Program in the Day Program by participating in food preparation of meals as needed.

• Assure material and operational support of the Day and Transitional Living Programs. This can include assisting with cleaning/room turnover in the Transitional Living Program and assisting with food preparation/serving of meals in the Day Program as needed.

• Establish and facilitate effective communication with staff.  This includes serving as a conduit of information for teammates and between and among program staff and supervisors.

• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of all services and interventions in the appropriate data and tracking systems.

• Commitment to continual learning and quality performance. Participate in discussions, events, workshops, and trainings offered by Outside In.

• Meet youth worker core competencies.

• Always maintain professional boundaries and performance.

Education and Experience

• One-year relevant experience working with youth, homeless youth, and/or in a drop-in shelter, or housing program.

• BA/BS in a related field preferred.

• Strong communication skills.

• Basic computer skills.

• Always maintain professional boundaries and performance.

Working Conditions

This job is located in a residential program and a drop-in day services program for young adults experiencing homelessness, located at 1132 SW 13^th Ave Portland, OR 97205. Program spaces include private and shared residential space, shared staff office space, and drop-in space, including a commercial kitchen.

Physical Requirements

This job requires operating phones, computers, and other office equipment. Communicating is required on a regular basis. Moving inside the building to other offices and program delivery spaces as well as moving to surrounding sites is expected. Sporadically moves boxes and/or items weighing up to 30 pounds.

Salary : $24 - $26