About the position
Supports low-income youth and young adults who may have experience in foster care, homelessness, disconnection from school, juvenile justice and/or other systems in developing the skills to live independently. Provides specialized support to youth and young adults in education, job readiness/employment, housing, or other designated field. Develops strong collaborative community relationships and provides extensive information and referral services. Creates a welcoming and supportive environment at the YMCA. This position is with the Y Social Impact Center, the social services division of the YMCA of Greater Seattle (YGS), serving around 5,000 youth, young adults, and families every year in communities across King County, Pierce County, and various counties across WA. Through our programs we aim to strengthen young people's ability to develop to their fullest potential through four strategies: reducing risk factors, navigating systems towards successful life transition, establishing stability, safety and wellness in times of crisis, and building competencies and social capital. The Social Impact Center's programs include homelessness prevention, housing, behavioral health, crisis response, foster care licensing, violence prevention, and employment. Since many of the young people we serve have been involved in the foster care, criminal justice, behavioral health, and/or homelessness systems, we truly value relatable lived experience of our staff and those applying for our positions as an asset.
Responsibilities
- Provides specialized services to youth and young adults in education, employment/career development, housing, technology, or other designated field and supports them in achieving their goals.
- Builds strong relationships with Y program participants to effectively provide quality services.
- Develops individualized, strengths-based, youth-driven service plans.
- Must understand contract/grant terms and conditions to ensure program outcome requirements are met and services rendered to young adults appropriately.
- Researches best practices in field; creates and maintains specialized resource library.
- Maintains clear, professional, timely participant contact notes, service plans, progress updates, outcomes, and other documentation in designated databases.
- Teaches life skills, job readiness or other subject matter individually and/or in groups, often experientially.
- Teams effectively and collaboratively with YMCA staff and/or community partners to plan and facilitate activities, including visits to related resources in the community.
- Builds and maintains collaborative relationships with funding liaisons, other service providers, businesses and/or educational institutions as related to specialized services.
- Supports participant success in key domains such as safe and stable housing, permanent connections to supportive adults, education and employment, health and well-being, and life skills.
- May assist with program coordination or other activities related to job focus.
- Participates in YMCA annual fundraising campaign to engage community members in volunteerism and philanthropic support for the Y mission.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in psychology, social work or related social services field or equivalent experience, Masters preferred.
- Experience working with teens or young adults in employment, foster care, group care, housing, education, juvenile justice, anti-poverty, vocational support, mental health, chemical dependency and/or homelessness fields.
- Ability to teach effective independence skills for a variety of learning styles and to plan supportive activities.
- Strong youth engagement and relationship-building skills.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Basic computer skills and working knowledge of Microsoft Office.
- Ability to transport self and client(s) in a safe and effective manner, and to meet clients at community locations; proof of adequate vehicle insurance coverage is required, or ability to travel to areas without public transportation.
- Current state approved First Aid and CPR certification.
- Current approved HIV blood borne pathogens training.
Nice-to-haves
- Other applicable education, training, and experience, which provide the knowledge, abilities, and skills necessary to perform effectively in the position will be considered.
- Prefer knowledge of and previous experience with, diverse populations (language, culture, race, physical ability, sexual orientation, etc.).
- Ability to speak any language in addition to English may be helpful.
Benefits
- Individual membership to the YMCA of Greater Seattle
- Free access to mental health resources
- Rapidly accruing paid time off (PTO)
