Temporary Support Specialist - Street Outreach

YMCA of San Diego County•Oceanside, CA

2d•$22 - $24•Onsite

About The Position

The Support Specialist is responsible for providing program assistance, guidance, crisis support, and administrative support to Youth & Family Services projects. This position will assist weekly with participant engagement, resource navigation, and participant group while using appropriate research methods to conduct duties, as well as, lead group exercises, develop professional rapport with participants, and monitor participant progress throughout the duration of the program. The Support Specialist supports participants through a human centered and trauma informed approach, in addition they are engaging, culturally responsive and aware of the diverse needs of various cultures, races, ethnicities and populations. This role assignment will end on 12/31/2026 Learn more about YMCA Youth and Family Services programs CLICK HERE For more on Employee Perks, click on this link: Employee Benefits | YMCA of San Diego County (ymcasd.org) SCHEDULE: This position is 20-25 hours/week (Monday – Friday 1:00PM – 5:00PM) and may change based on program needs WORK DESIGNATION: In-Person at our Oceanside and Escondido drop-in centers Please note that the work designation may change based on business needs. PROGRAM SUMMARY: The Street Outreach Program (SOP) supports runaway, homeless, and street-involved youth and young adults 24 and under across North San Diego County and surrounding areas. The SOP Team connects directly with youth experiencing homelessness through face-to-face outreach in the community. Additionally, staff offer support at the YMCA drop-in centers in Escondido and Oceanside. Through these efforts, the SOP team provides a continuum of supportive services, including assistance with basic needs, intensive case management, and referrals to stabilization resources.

Requirements

High school diploma preferred
Must be 18 years of age or older
Minimum two years’ relevant experience required
Familiarity with life experiences common among the transition aged youth population preferred
Experience with Independent Living Skills issues (financial aid, college admissions, GED preparation, housing, transportation) preferred
Familiar with the operations of federal grants preferred
Basic computer knowledge and skills
Familiar with community resources and referral processes preferred
Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to quickly build rapport with others
Must be an adult role model with the ability to effectively set limits and function in crisis-oriented and high stress situations
Must be able to work independently and as part of a team
Must be self-aware, flexible, adaptable, and teachable
Ability to navigate community resources
Visual and auditory ability to respond to critical incidents and the physical ability to act swiftly in an emergency situation
Ability to adequately observe participants’ activities, enforce safety regulations, and apply appropriate policies and procedures
Must possess the ability to lead and interact in group activities and perform related physical skills
Ability to work effectively with others in alignment with the YMCA 4 Core Values; Models the 4 Core Values in all aspects of position responsibilities
Must have access to reliable transportation to travel occasionally throughout San Diego County
Licensing, state law and our funders require that applicants of critical positions within Community Support Services be fingerprinted, prior to reporting to work, and include subsequent arrest notifications
CPR/AED, and First Aid Certification, must include Adult and Child/Infant, within 30 days of hire, and must be from one of the following certifying organizations: American Red Cross, American Heart Association, or American Safety and Health Institute
Physical exam obtained prior to first day
Negative TB test results obtained within the past one year, prior to first day, and annually thereafter, as required
Pass pre-employment drug testing prior to first day
Exclusion and Debarment checks prior to first day and monthly thereafter
Must be 21 years of age or older with a valid CA Driver’s License, a good driving record and a current CDL H6 print-out (must be dated within 30 days of application) and pass vehicle proficiency exam

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with life experiences common among the transition aged youth population
Experience with Independent Living Skills issues (financial aid, college admissions, GED preparation, housing, transportation)
Familiar with the operations of federal grants
Familiar with community resources and referral processes

Responsibilities

Provide administrative and intervention support to program staff; prepare agendas and activities for groups, assist with documentation and data collection, support various meetings and activities, facilitate groups and lead activities, provide support for the collection and analysis of data required for reporting purposes
Utilize shared life experience expertise to advance program interventions and participant satisfaction
Identify and navigate complex community resources and referral processes
Apply mental health first aid training to participants in crisis
Engage in recruitment and outreach activities and advocacy strategies
Provide aftercare, follow-up, and stabilization support services to participants
Maintain engaging, professional relationships with participants
Individually meet with participants, assess the need for and provide supportive services, and apply designed curriculum as needed
Perform other administrative tasks as assigned and assist with maintaining proper document storage and auditing
Participate in and attend all required staff meetings, trainings, YMCA staff development events, and appropriate agency-wide committees