Youth Care Specialist II

Los Angeles LGBT Center•Los Angeles, CA

About The Position

The Youth Care Specialist provides supportive services to youth up to age 24 who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness. Services include direct oversight and supervision of drop-in and 24/7 interim and permanent supportive housing programs; assistance with basic needs; street outreach; employment, education, and housing support; individualized case management; crisis intervention and behavioral support; transportation; and other services for drop-in, residential, and community members. The role serves people who may have high rates of mental health, health, and substance-related issues and requires familiarity and experience with this population. The position works under the supervision of the Senior Program Manager to support service quality and program oversight. It develops and coordinates wraparound plans of care, works with youth and partner providers to obtain and maintain housing, and applies housing-first, harm-reduction, and trauma-informed principles. The position also facilitates youth programming and outreach, supports day-to-day program operations, and completes administrative and data-related work. The Youth Center serves youth experiencing or at risk of homelessness in an LGBTQ+ safe and affirming environment, offering a range of drop-in, housing, education, employment, counseling, and community-based services. The Center’s mission is to build a world where LGBT people thrive as healthy, equal, and complete members of society.

Requirements

Knowledge of or experience working with the LGBTQ community and familiarity with issues relevant to LGBTQ people.
Passion for the Center’s work and mission.
Ability to develop and coordinate comprehensive wraparound plans of care and document, track, and evaluate outcomes.
Knowledge of issues affecting LGBTQ youth and experience working with high-risk youth; specific experience with gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or runaway youth is relevant.
At least 6 years of experience in a related field working with youth experiencing homelessness or housing instability, foster youth, people with mental illness, low-income individuals, or people experiencing homelessness, or a master’s degree in Social Work, Social Services, Public Health, or a related field.
At least 5 years of case management experience or similar experience working with the target population.
Experience with substance abuse and mental health case management and crisis intervention.
HMIS experience.
Ability to describe accepted supported treatment models for people experiencing homelessness, including their philosophies, practices, policies, and outcomes.
Knowledge of housing-first, harm-reduction, and trauma-informed care principles.
Demonstrated knowledge or experience with case management techniques, including critical time intervention, harm reduction strategies, crisis intervention, and motivational interviewing.
Ability to work with a high-acuity population and de-escalate threatening or volatile situations with clients.
Ability to work under emotional stress and conflict, including with uncooperative clients.
Ability to apply professional boundaries and ethics on the job.
Ability to build rapport and trust with youth and use active, reflective listening.
Knowledge of Positive Youth Development principles and ability to engage youth and facilitate workshops.
Willingness and ability to work flexible hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and holidays.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Reliable transportation and ability to be insured.
Ability to pass fingerprint clearance and background checks, including criminal history, references, and employment and education verifications.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively with people of diverse races, ethnicities, nationalities, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, socioeconomic backgrounds, religions, ages, English-speaking abilities, immigration statuses, and physical abilities in a multicultural environment.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual skills; English/Spanish fluency preferred, and American Sign Language fluency is a plus.
Specific experience working with gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or runaway youth.

Responsibilities

Develop comprehensive wraparound plans of care to assess and address youth’s complex needs, and document, track, and evaluate outcomes.
Provide leadership and promote high-quality service delivery under the supervision of the Senior Program Manager.
Assist the Program Manager with program oversight, compliance, and development.
Provide support for Youth Care Specialists who need ad hoc case conferencing.
Welcome drop-in members and residents, answer questions, provide information, and facilitate engagement opportunities.
Provide homelessness prevention and support services, including street outreach, employment preparation and placement, education, individualized case management, housing navigation, housing location and retention, and related services.
Follow care goals and department protocols to promote member and resident safety, and provide crisis intervention and de-escalation.
Supervise and assist with basic needs such as meals, clothing, and hygiene, and support day-to-day program operations.
Conduct intake, CES assessments, and individualized needs assessments; collaborate with youth on service and housing stability plans that address barriers to services, housing, and healthcare.
Serve as the primary point of contact and collaborate with service providers to obtain, stabilize, and maintain housing.
Apply housing-first, harm-reduction, and trauma-informed care principles.
Collaborate with other Center departments and external organizations on youth events, resources, and development opportunities.
Plan and facilitate programming, events, and activities using a Positive Youth Development framework.
Conduct outreach and engagement.
Complete operational and administrative work, including compiling data and statistics, preparing reports, and drafting correspondence.
Organize and maintain program files and materials through data entry and database maintenance.
Assist with special projects as directed by management.
Perform other duties as assigned.