Care Coordinator

Northwest Youth Services • Bellingham, WA

8h • $25 - $28 • Onsite

About The Position

The Ground Floor Care Coordinator is a direct service role within Northwest Youth Services’ Ground Floor Drop-In Center, a low-barrier youth resource center serving young people experiencing housing instability, homelessness, and other barriers to stability. The Ground Floor provides a safe and welcoming environment where youth can access basic needs, build trusted relationships, receive crisis support, and connect with services and resources. Under the direction of the Ground Floor Program Manager, Care Coordinators provide responsive frontline youth support, including crisis intervention, de-escalation, emotional support, intake, resource navigation, and connection to services. Care Coordinators help maintain a calm, structured, inclusive, and youth-centered environment while supporting youth access to basic needs, safety, and opportunities for stability. This role requires strong relationship-building skills, professional boundaries, teamwork, adaptability, and the ability to respond effectively in high-stress situations.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED
• 2 years of experience working with youth/young adults in crises or other vulnerable populations
• Demonstrated ability to build respectful, youth-centered relationships while maintaining professional boundaries.
• Ability to remain calm and effective in high-stress situations and willingness to use de-escalation and crisis intervention skills.
• Strong communication, teamwork, organization, and documentation skills.
• Ability to use basic computer systems, email, and electronic documentation systems.
• Proof of Washington State Driver’s License, driving record, and auto insurance
• Background check clearance
• CPR/First Aid/Bloodborne Pathogens certifications required (within first 30 days of employment)
• Food Handler’s Certificate (within first 30 days of employment)
• Must have negative TB test (within first 30 days of employment)

Nice To Haves

• Education in social work, human services, behavioral health, psychology or related field

Responsibilities

• Build trusting, respectful relationships with youth who access the Ground Floor.
• Provide responsive frontline youth support, including crisis intervention, de-escalation, emotional support, and conflict mediation.
• Use trauma-informed, healing-centered, and strengths-based approaches when interacting with youth.
• Support youth in accessing food, showers, laundry, hygiene supplies, clothing, transportation resources, and other basic needs.
• Complete intakes, needs assessments, referrals, and resource navigation in a timely and supportive manner.
• Support youth in connecting with NWYS programs, housing resources, behavioral health services, public benefits, education and employment resources, healthcare providers, and other community resources.
• Monitor the environment to support emotional and physical safety and respond appropriately to behavioral health or crisis situations.
• Maintain clear, respectful, and professional boundaries with youth at all times.
• Help maintain a welcoming, safe, organized, and youth-centered environment that supports accessibility, belonging, and positive community norms.
• Support the daily operation, cleanliness, and functionality of the Ground Floor environment, including shared spaces, kitchens, bathrooms, laundry areas, supplies, and common areas used by youth and staff.
• Perform routine cleaning, organization, restocking, and safety tasks in accordance with program procedures and health and safety expectations.
• Support youth in respectfully using and caring for shared spaces and community resources.
• Assist with meal preparation, food distribution, donations, supply organization, and other daily operational needs of the drop-in center.
• Communicate safety concerns, incidents, facility issues, and youth needs promptly to appropriate staff.
• Participate in opening, closing, and shift transition procedures.
• Complete accurate and timely documentation, including intakes, needs assessments, service notes, incident reports, referrals, and other required records.
• Maintain confidentiality and follow all Northwest Youth Services policies, procedures, documentation standards, and reporting requirements.
• Comply with mandated reporting requirements and report suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation within required timelines.
• Participate in required trainings, supervision, team meetings, and professional development activities.
• Work collaboratively with Northwest Youth Services staff, community providers, schools, behavioral health partners, and other youth-serving organizations.
• Contribute to a workplace culture grounded in respect, accountability, inclusion, teamwork, healthy boundaries, and youth-centered practice.
• Communicate clearly and professionally with staff, youth, and community partners.
• Maintain flexibility and adaptability in a fast-paced drop-in center environment.
• Represent Northwest Youth Services professionally in all workspaces and community interactions.
• Complete ongoing professional development and training in accordance with agency expectations and program needs. Training topics may include trauma-informed care, healing-centered engagement, crisis intervention, de-escalation, cultural humility, supporting LGBTQIA+ youth, and working effectively with Black, Indigenous, and other youth of color.

Benefits

• Earn paid time off based on hours worked
• Medical, vision, and dental insurance benefits begin first of the month following date of hire (positions at or above 0.75 FTE)
• Voluntary life, critical illness, long term disability, and accident insurance eligibility begins first of the month following date of hire (positions at or above 0.75 FTE)
• Simple IRA Retirement plan with match up to 3% of employee contributions, per pay period, after first year of employment
• NWYS sponsored Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Twelve paid holidays annually

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED