Youth Advocate

The Salvation Army USA Central Territory•Saint Paul, MN

4d•$17 - $22•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 promotes independence, supporting office and clerical tasks, fostering positive program dynamics, reinforcing program expectations, and providing emotional support. The role includes youth care, shelter intake and discharge, goal support, resource referrals, group facilitation, reporting and documentation, administrative duties, safety monitoring, housekeeping, and property upkeep. The position is based at 1471 Como Ave West, St. Paul, Minnesota, and requires evening shifts Wednesday through Sunday for 25 hours per week. The work must be performed onsite. Staff may encounter stressful interactions and vicarious trauma, work briefly outdoors in inclement weather, and use equipment and cleaning agents that may be hazardous if used incorrectly.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
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 training within 90 days of hire.
Ability to operate a computer and use a keyboard to enter information.
Must comply with Safe From Harm provisions and satisfactorily complete required Safe From Harm training within the first 30 days of employment.
Ability to communicate in fluent English, read and write, and prepare clear written materials with proper spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
Ability to perform basic and intermediate mathematical functions.
Ability to reason through a variety of variables and interpret instructions.
Ability to perform the physical activities described, including prolonged standing, walking, bending, climbing, repetitive motion, and occasionally exerting up to 50 pounds of force.
Ability to travel by organization vehicle to support The Salvation Army’s mission.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Maintain a positive and professional work atmosphere and support The Salvation Army’s mission by treating donors, contacts, colleagues, visitors, and clients appropriately and without discrimination.
Greet youth professionally and courteously, develop positive relationships, and orient new youth to program rules and policies.
Communicate positive and concerning observations about youth in a professional manner.
Assist with storing youth belongings and returning or disposing of them 60 days after discharge.
Support youth in working toward self-identified goals and locating community resources and services.
Facilitate appropriate groups, activities, and classes that foster positive youth development and independent living skills.
Create a non-judgmental environment that supports youth’s life chances and self-esteem.
Complete Ramsey County funding paperwork, conduct shelter intakes, and discharge youth from the shelter program.
Maintain accurate, professional, non-judgmental communication logs and daily charting; read relevant communications, logs, meeting notes, and safety plans; and complete incident reports and other required documentation.
Arrive on time, follow shift absence notification policies, attend educational opportunities as appropriate, participate in supervision, and attend monthly staff meetings and in-services unless an absence is pre-approved.
Answer and direct telephone calls, provide general information, and screen and identify visitors to the building.
Use effective conflict resolution and de-escalation techniques when needed.
Support youth in following program policies and expectations, apply reasonable consequences consistently, and follow safety plans and behavior contracts.
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 and contact emergency personnel and the on-call supervisor as appropriate during crises; address safety concerns promptly.
Clean and disinfect areas contaminated by youth body fluids safely and promptly and perform general housekeeping in shelter and housing spaces.
Clean and prepare apartments between tenants; inventory, pack, and store youth belongings as needed; and wash, dry, and store Booth Brown House laundry.
Assist with snow and ice removal at building entrances and sidewalks, submit maintenance requests, and requisition office and cleaning supplies as needed.
Perform other duties as reasonably requested or required.