Youth Care Specialist II

Job Description

Job Description

Position : #906061

Program : Youth & Family Connections

Department : Youth Services

Reports to : Program Supervisor

Shift Differential Premium : $1.75 per hour for hours worked between 6pm-6am

Schedule : Monday-Friday 10 : 30am-7 : 00pm

Status : 100%, Full-Time, Non-Exempt, Union

Probation : 90 days

Medical, Dental, Vision; also including Life Insurance, Long-Term Disability, Employee Assistance Program, and 403(b) Retirement Plan

Center’s Mission :

Building a world where LGBT people thrive as healthy, equal, and complete members of society.

DEPARTMENT SUMMARY : The Youth Center serves youth up to 24 at-risk of or experiencing homelessness. The Youth Center offers services in an LGBTQ+ safe and affirming environment and serves as an entry point to assist youth making the transition from homelessness to housing. Our services include meals, clothing, support groups, a charter high school, GED and college prep program, an employment preparation, training and placement program, case management, counseling, a crisis shelter and a transitional living program (TLP). Our community-based programs include services for youth at home, in school or in systems of care.

JOB SUMMARY : The Youth Care Specialist II (YCS) provides direct services to LGBTQ+ youth and caregivers involved in the child welfare and juvenile probation systems utilizing approaches that validate and affirm LGBTQ+ identities. The YCS assists the child / youth and family / caregiver in the home, school, and community by providing a variety of supportive and case management services, some of which may include behavioral support, crisis intervention, mentoring, coaching, education, transportation, and other services that address overall needs. This position works with a population that is currently involved in the child welfare and / or juvenile probation system and has high rates of mental health, health, and substance-related issues. The ideal candidate must be familiar with and have experience with this population.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS :

• Develop a comprehensive, wraparound plan of care to assess and address the complex needs of youth involved in the child welfare and juvenile probation systems; document, track and evaluate outcomes;
• Under the supervision of the Program Supervisor provide leadership and promote high-quality service delivery within the program;
• Assist Program Supervisor with the oversight, compliance and development of the program;
• Provide support for team members needing ad hoc case conferencing;
• Provide a welcoming presence onsite for participants by answering questions, providing information and facilitating engagement opportunities;
• Provide a comprehensive continuum of homelessness prevention services , including outreach, employment preparation and placement assistance, education, individualized case management, housing navigation, housing location and retention, and other supportive services;
• Follow a framework of care goals and department protocols to ensure participant safety, provide crisis intervention and de-escalation along a spectrum of intervention techniques;
• Provide direct assistance with basic needs (meals, clothing, hygiene) and day to day program operations;
• Conduct intake and individualized needs assessments and collaborate with youth to develop a services and housing stability plan that addresses barriers to obtaining services, housing and healthcare;
• As the primary Point of Contact work in collaboration with a team of service providers in an effort to obtain, stabilize and maintain housing;
• Collaborate with other LA LGBT Center departments and outside organizations on youth events, resources and youth development opportunities;
• Plan and facilitate programming, events and activities utilizing a Positive Youth development framework that develops a sense of competence, usefulness, power and belonging among at-risk youth, youth experiencing homelessness, at-home / at-school youth and youth who see themselves as the leaders of the future;
• Conduct outreach and engagement;
• Complete general operational and administrative work such as compiling data, statistics, preparing reports, and drafting correspondence;
• Organize and maintain program files and materials through data entry and database maintenance;
• Assist with special projects as directed by management staff;
• Other duties as assigned.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE :

Demonstrated ability to work effectively with people of diverse races, ethnicities, nationalities, sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expression, socio-economic backgrounds, religions, ages, English-speaking abilities, immigration status, and physical abilities in a multicultural environment.

The Los Angeles LGBT Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to fostering diversity within its staff. Applications are encouraged from all persons regardless of their race, color, ancestry, religious creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, medical / physical / mental condition, pregnancy / childbirth and related medical condition, age, marital status, or veteran status.

The Center has implemented a policy requiring all staff to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment, subject to applicable federal, state, and local laws. For more information, please contact jobs@lalgbtcenter.org