Youth Advocate

The Salvation Army Central Territory•Saint Paul, MN

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Youth Advocate assists and respects youth in Booth Brown House shelter and housing programs by spending quality time with them, planning programming that supports independence, assisting with office and clerical tasks, promoting positive program dynamics, reinforcing program expectations, and providing emotional support. The position supports The Salvation Army’s mission and serves youth in a professional, courteous, confidential, and nonjudgmental manner. This is a 40-hour-per-week role at 1471 Como Ave, 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 is on-site and cannot be performed from home. Pay is $17.23 to $21.58 per hour. The role includes youth care, shelter intake and discharge, goal support, community resource referrals, facilitating activities and classes, documentation, administrative work, program safety, and upkeep of shelter and housing spaces. Staff may encounter stressful interactions and vicarious trauma, and are encouraged to seek support and maintain awareness of personal boundaries and triggers. The role may involve hazardous cleaning agents or equipment if used incorrectly, brief outdoor work in inclement weather, travel in an organization vehicle, and a risk of bloodborne pathogen exposure in non-routine or emergency situations.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Must be at least 21 years old to meet licensing requirements.
Ability to accept supervision and work as part of a team.
Ability to work effectively with youth from diverse cultural and socioeconomic groups.
Ability to 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.
Must complete Safe From Harm training satisfactorily within the first 30 days of employment.
Ability to operate a computer and use a keyboard to enter information.
Ability to travel in an organization vehicle.
Ability to speak, read, and write fluent English.
Ability to perform basic and intermediate mathematical functions.
Ability to communicate clearly and prepare written materials using proper spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
Ability to handle variable situations and interpret instructions.
Ability to perform the physical demands of the position, including prolonged standing, walking, bending, and climbing; occasional exertion of up to 50 pounds; and frequent repetitive movements.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Meet and greet youth professionally and courteously, build 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 promote positive development and independent living skills.
Create a supportive, nonjudgmental environment that promotes youth self-esteem and life chances.
Complete Ramsey County funding paperwork, conduct shelter intakes, and discharge youth from the shelter program.
Assist with youth belongings, including storage and return or disposal 60 days after discharge.
Maintain accurate, professional, and nonjudgmental communication logs and daily charting; read relevant logs, meeting notes, safety plans, and other communications.
Complete incident reports, statistics, and other required paperwork; track required statistics and update YSN for BBH shelter and Safe House shelter.
Answer the phone, including calls for the FHPAP Grant; identify callers, transfer calls, or provide general information; screen incoming visitors.
Attend educational opportunities as appropriate, participate in supervision meetings, and attend required monthly staff meetings and in-services as a full-time staff member.
Arrive on time and follow policies for notifying the organization when missing a shift; obtain supervisor pre-approval for absences from required meetings or in-services.
Use conflict-resolution techniques to de-escalate situations and support youth in following program policies and expectations; apply reasonable consequences consistently.
Monitor the building, residents, and guests through frequent rounds and camera review as needed; ensure staff supervision during shelter 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 safely and promptly; perform general housekeeping in shelter and housing spaces.
Clean and prepare apartments between tenants; inventory, pack, and store youth belongings; wash, dry, and store shelter laundry.
Assist with snow and ice removal at entrances and sidewalks, submit maintenance requests, and requisition office and cleaning supplies.
Maintain positive, respectful, and professional working relationships with coworkers, supervisors, clients, donors, and visitors, without discrimination.
Perform other duties as reasonably requested or required.