Children’s Specialist – Pathways Emergency Shelter

YWCA Seattle King Snohomish•Lynnwood, WA

15h•Onsite

About The Position

YWCA is on a mission to eliminate racism and empower women. Pathways Emergency Shelter provides short-term, trauma-informed shelter for parents and their children who are experiencing homelessness. The program offers a safe and supportive environment while families work toward housing stability, income, and longer-term supports. The Children’s Specialist is a child-focused support role that promotes children’s safety, emotional wellbeing, and stability within the shelter environment. This position is designed to reduce barriers for parents accessing shelter services by ensuring children are supported in a safe, developmentally appropriate, and trauma-informed setting while parents complete shelter intake, assessments, and required activities. The Children’s Specialist works at the intersection of child wellbeing, family stabilization, and service access, ensuring that children’s needs are thoughtfully integrated into shelter operations while parents engage with case managers, advocates, and community systems. The Children’s Specialist completes basic child intakes and maintains program-related confidential records necessary for participation, safety, and coordination, but does not provide formal case management or carry a caseload. This position has a social justice component allowing for critical thinking around how the external systems impact the work that we are doing through the lens of racism and intersections with poverty. As an equal opportunity employer, we highly encourage people of color to apply. Note: This position is fully onsite and includes consistent presence at the Pathways Shelter

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in child development, social work, education, human services, or a related field and a minimum of two (2) years of experience supporting children and families in shelter, housing, education, or community-based settings OR Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in children’s services, preferably serving low-income families or families experiencing homelessness, in lieu of a degree
Demonstrated experience working with families from racially, culturally, and linguistically diverse backgrounds
Demonstrated understanding of the impact of racism, poverty, and systemic inequities on children and families, particularly those experiencing homelessness or housing instability
Ability to apply a race and social justice lens to daily work, decision-making, and interactions with families and colleagues
Experience using trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and strengths-based approaches when supporting children and parents
Knowledge of child development and best practices for supporting children impacted by stress, transition, and instability
Strong communication, observation, and coordination skills, with the ability to build trust across differences
Ability to manage confidential information with care, discretion, and professionalism
Ability to work independently while collaborating closely with a multidisciplinary team
CPR/First Aid certification (required within designated timeframes after hire)

Nice To Haves

Lived expertise is a powerful asset. This refers to the insights, knowledge, and skills developed by those who have navigated systems and experienced inequity.

Responsibilities

Support children’s emotional safety, regulation, and wellbeing within the shelter environment through trauma-informed engagement
Create a predictable, welcoming, and child-supportive environment that helps children adjust to shelter and family transitions
Build age-appropriate, trusting relationships that support coping, expression, and resilience
Observe children’s behavior and needs and communicate relevant observations to shelter staff to support coordinated care
Maintain and host a safe, supervised child-supportive space where children can remain while parents complete shelter intake, assessments, meetings, and required activities
Provide attentive supervision and engagement during these periods to ensure children’s safety and emotional comfort
Support parents’ full participation in shelter services by reducing logistical and emotional barriers related to child supervision
Clearly reinforce that parents remain the primary caregivers and decision-makers for their children
Facilitate age-appropriate, short-term activities that promote emotional regulation, positive interaction, and healthy routines
Support consistent daily structure for children without operating as a childcare or early learning program
Ensure materials and activities are culturally responsive, inclusive, and affirming of all identities and family structures
Act as a liaison between families and local school districts to support continuity of education for children experiencing homelessness
Assist parents with school enrollment, re-enrollment, and transfers, including navigation of documentation and timelines
Coordinate with school district McKinney-Vento liaisons to help families access transportation, meal programs, fee waivers, and other educational supports
Maintain working relationships with community partners to support access to early learning, childcare, tutoring, and youth resources as appropriate
Share relevant information with Shelter Advocates and Case Managers to support coordinated family stabilization planning
Complete basic child intake information required for participation in shelter-based child supports
Maintain accurate, confidential program records including attendance, incident reports, and activity documentation
Follow YWCA policies and applicable requirements related to confidentiality, consent, and information sharing
Work closely with Shelter Advocates, Case Managers, and program staff to integrate child support into shelter operations
Participate in team meetings and contribute to a collaborative, trauma-informed shelter culture
Provide active supervision of children at all times and follow shelter safety, health, and mandatory reporting protocols
Participate in required trainings, safety meetings, and emergency preparedness activities
Apply a racial equity and social justice lens to work with children and families
Demonstrate cultural humility and respect for families from diverse backgrounds and lived experiences
Contribute to an inclusive and welcoming environment for parents and children experiencing systemic barriers related to race, gender, poverty, and housing instability