Education and Employment Specialist

SAFE PLACE FOR YOUTH • Los Angeles, CA

15d • $24 • Onsite

About The Position

A member of the Education & Employment (E&E) Team, the E&E Peer Navigator will work to support and enhance the accessibility and relevance of the E&E program through the provision of peer support, volunteer/facilitator training, and survey collection. The SPY E&E Peer Navigator will also be responsible for community advocacy, outreach and engagement, supporting SPY members, and engaging in Innovations 2 activities and partnerships.

This includes, but is not limited to participation in community and local government meetings; speaking engagements; and planning and leading the Venice Youth Network meeting, SPYsocial, SPY Squad, and MyPath.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree is Sociology, Psychology, or any related field.
• 1-2 years of experience providing employment services to people experiencing homelessness is required.
• A commitment to and passion for the mission, vision, values and culture of SPY
• A willingness to work collaboratively as part of the SPY team and the ability to work harmoniously as part of a diverse workforce
• A devotion to ensuring SPY’s sites remain clean, beautiful, and a hopeful place for all who enter
• A strong interest in providing direct service to youth experiencing homelessness and pursuing a career in the field of social services
• A self-starter who is prepared to drive innovative solutions for an emerging organization
• An ability to work in a fast paced environment that requires effective collaboration with a variety of organizations and individuals
• Able to take a strengths-based approach when working with others
• Knowledge of trauma-informed care, harm reduction and housing first models
• Must possess great communication and organizational skills
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and Google Drive
• Lived experience of homelessness preferred

Nice To Haves

• 1+ years in experience providing direct services to high-risk youth is a plus
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Microsoft Outlook), and Google Drive (preferred)

Responsibilities

• Develop, facilitate and maintain data for weekly E&E peer-support/discussion group
• Support workshop facilitators to identify ways in which E&E workshops can best be adapted to the needs of SPY members
• Recruit SPY members to participate in E&E workshops and activities
• Manage and regularly update E&E Celebration board
• With the E&E Specialist, train E&E volunteers to best support members’ various education and employment needs during Drop-In
• Support the E&E Specialist in the E&E Drop-In Office, workshops, and field trips, as needed
• With the E&E Program Manager, develop program-specific (E&E Drop-In Office, SPY Garden) training guidelines for E&E volunteers
• Develop and conduct member feedback surveys
• Evaluate program to identify ways in which E&E can be more accessible or useful to youth experiencing homelessness
• Understand and be able to speak to all components and partners of SPY’s Innovation 2 grant from the Department of Mental Health (DMH)
• Develop an understanding of the Los Angeles service provider landscape and network with community agencies to provide youth with referrals and linkages to address needs
• Foster collaborative and supportive relationships with SPY members in order to engage them in SPY programming and partner services
• Work with a multidisciplinary team in the access center to meet the immediate, as well as longer-term, needs of youth experiencing homelessness
• Plan, recruit for, execute, and lead monthly Venice Youth Network meeting in collaboration with other peer navigators and the Innovation team
• Co-locate at partner agencies and/or accompany youth to partner agencies to support SPY members in addressing their needs, as needed
• Serve on SPYsocial advisory group to develop methods for better engaging with youth via social media
• Develop leadership and advocacy skills through weekly participation on SPY Squad, SPY’s youth advisory meeting
• Table and recruit members to participate in groups, meetings and partner activities, including, but not limited to, SPYsocial, SPY Squad, MyPath and Venice Youth Network
• Attend DMH convenings such as the SAAC 5, Mental Health Network, and Health Neighborhood meetings
• Actively participate in outreach and engagement activities, including attending at minimum 2 community engagement activities and 3 street outreach sessions per month
• Participate in staff meetings, conferences, training, supervision and evaluation
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned to support the mission of the program and organization.

Benefits

• Safe Place for Youth offers a competitive benefit package including comprehensive health coverage, 403b with agency contribution, and vacation/sick time.
• We also offer unique perks including weekly meditation/mindfulness and professional development opportunities that are tailored to your individual career growth.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level