Youth Advocate

The Salvation Army USA Central Territory•Saint Paul, MN

5d•$17 - $22•Onsite

About The Position

The Youth Advocate assists and respects youth at Booth Brown House shelter and housing programs by spending quality time with them, planning programming that supports independence, and providing emotional support and help with program expectations. The role also supports office and clerical tasks and promotes positive program dynamics. This is a 40-hour-per-week position at 1471 Como Ave West, St. Paul, Minnesota. The schedule is Saturday through Wednesday: daytime shifts from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and evening shifts from 4 p.m. to midnight Monday through Wednesday. The position must be performed onsite and cannot be performed from home. Booth Brown House serves youth who have experienced extremely traumatic events. Staff may encounter stressful interactions and vicarious trauma, and are encouraged to be mindful of personal boundaries and seek support from coworkers and administrative staff. The position involves using equipment and cleaning agents that can be hazardous if used incorrectly, and occasional brief periods of outdoor work in inclement weather. Bloodborne pathogen exposure is classified as Risk Level 2: exposure is not reasonably anticipated in routine duties but could occur in non-routine or emergency situations. The role includes frequent communication, repetitive movement, sitting about half the time, and some prolonged standing, walking, bending, and climbing. It occasionally requires exerting up to 50 pounds of force and traveling in an organization vehicle. The Youth Advocate supports The Salvation Army’s mission and serves youth and other contacts without discrimination.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required.
Must be at least 21 years old for licensing.
Ability to accept supervision and work as part of a team.
Ability to work well with youth from diverse cultural and socioeconomic groups, respect confidentiality, and work within the ethical and legal parameters of social services.
Willingness to support The Salvation Army’s philosophy, goals, mission, and objectives.
Must pass background checks.
Must complete CPI, CPR, and First Aid within 90 days of hire.
Ability to operate a computer and enter information using a keyboard.
Must complete required Safe From Harm training satisfactorily within the first 30 days of employment.
Ability to communicate in fluent English, read and write effectively, and prepare written materials using proper spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
Ability to perform basic and intermediate mathematical functions and interpret instructions and deal with a variety of variables.
Ability to meet the position’s physical requirements, including occasional exertion of up to 50 pounds, prolonged standing and walking, bending, climbing, and travel in an organization vehicle.

Nice To Haves

Two years of college preferred.
Experience working in a social service setting preferred.

Responsibilities

Meet and greet youth professionally and courteously, develop positive relationships, and orient new youth to program rules and policies.
Communicate observations about youth professionally and support youth in working toward their self-identified goals.
Help youth locate community resources and services; facilitate groups, activities, and classes that foster positive youth development and independent living skills.
Promote an environment that supports youth’s life chances and self-esteem, using a non-judgmental approach.
Complete Ramsey County funding paperwork, conduct shelter intakes, and discharge youth from the shelter program.
Assist with storage of youth belongings and their return or disposal 60 days after discharge.
Maintain accurate, professional, non-judgmental communication logs and daily charting; read relevant communications, safety plans, and meeting notes; complete incident reports and other required paperwork and statistics.
Maintain a positive and professional work atmosphere, arrive on time, follow absence-notification policies, attend appropriate educational opportunities and supervision meetings, and attend required monthly staff meetings and in-services.
Answer and transfer phone calls, provide general information, screen building visitors, answer the FHPAP Grant phone, track required statistics, and update YSN for BBH shelter and Safe House shelter.
Use effective conflict resolution and de-escalation techniques; support youth in following program expectations and apply reasonable consequences consistently.
Monitor the building, residents, and guests through frequent rounds and camera reviews; ensure staff supervision during operating hours; assist with random urinalysis; follow youth safety plans and behavior contracts; contact emergency personnel and the on-call supervisor when appropriate; and address safety concerns promptly.
Clean and disinfect areas contaminated by bodily fluids, perform general housekeeping in shelter and housing spaces, clean and prepare apartments between tenants, and wash, dry, and store shelter laundry.
Inventory, pack, and store youth belongings; remove snow and ice from entrances and sidewalks; submit maintenance requests and requisitions for office and cleaning supplies.
Perform other duties as reasonably requested or required.