Program Specialist

Larkin Street Youth Services • San Francisco, CA

11d • $25 - $26 • Onsite

About The Position

Since 1984, Larkin Street Youth Services has helped more than 75,000 young adults in San Francisco with outreach, shelter, housing, education, employment, healthcare, and other services. Today, Larkin Street Youth Services is the largest provider of housing and services to homeless youth in the Bay Area. We serve 1,500 youth annually, operating or partnering to provide more than 500 emergency shelter, transitional, supportive, and subsidy-based housing beds at several unique sites across San Francisco. Working at Larkin Street, no matter what department, means making a real difference in the lives of young people experiencing homelessness. Our team is skilled, diverse, and passionate. Our culture encourages achievement and professional development, as well as teamwork and self-care. Our focus is always on the young people at the heart of our mission and to nurture potential, promote dignity and support bold steps by all. For more information about us, visit www.larkinstreetyouth.org.

Requirements

• Passionate about the Larkin Street Youth Services mission to end youth homelessness.
• Embody values and core strategies: Client-Centered, Trauma Informed Care, Restorative Practices, Harm Reduction, Non-Violent Crisis Intervention, Motivational Interviewing.
• Some direct-services, social service experience.
• Self-starter and team player.
• Compassionate, dependable, and patient.
• Works best in an on site, in person working environment.
• Willing to work holidays occasionally.
• Hold a valid driver's license.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working in drop-in services, shelter, transitional, and/or permanent supportive housing programs.
• Excited to serve Transitional Aged Youth (TAY), aged 18 to 25 of diverse backgrounds.
• Fluent in Spanish and English (for bilingual incentive pay).

Responsibilities

• Screening applications and interviewing clients.
• Weekly visits/check-ins with clients and hotel management.
• Ensuring upkeep of property.
• Document agreements, contracts and evictions between Larkin Street Youth Services, hotels and clients.
• Carefully maintain the budget.
• Ensure positive relationships with hotels and Larkin Street Youth Services.
• Calculate damages, key deposits and clean up after a client exits services.
• Act as a liaison between client and hotel management.
• Ensure client maintains points of engagement while in services.
• Engage successfully with a diverse client population who present with a myriad issues.
• Handle crisis situations through de-escalation techniques and assist clients as they process social and emotional problems.
• Practice life skills training for youth through modeling, active counseling and motivational interviewing and facilitation of groups.
• Promote the wellness of the community through a harm reduction approach.
• Ensure the safety and security of all clients, staff, volunteers and the facility.
• Maintaining the cleanliness and operations of the facility including preparing and serving meals, cleaning bathrooms, maintaining storage areas and other tasks assigned by program management.
• Collect client information through intake and assessment, organize that information by entering data into paper-based and electronic-based data systems and obtain additional information by coordinating with other professional sources.
• Participate in professional development activities to enhance counselor skill levels.
• Work in conjunction with other staff members and other agencies to ensure a continuum of services for clients.
• Act as an advocate and point person to new youth entering the Lark-Inn.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Choice of Kaiser and Sutter medical plans, plus dental and vision.
• Generous 3 weeks of vacation annually, plus 11 Paid Holidays and 3 Floating Holidays.
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching.
• Flexible spending accounts for Healthcare and Dependent Care expenses.
• Life Insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for counseling services.
• Health Advocate Service.
• Commuter Benefits Program.
• Paid Sabbatical following 5 and 10 years of employment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed