Youth Development Specialist

Howard Brown Health • Chicago, IL

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Youth Development Specialist is responsible for providing daily basic needs, outreach, youth development, and developing and facilitating youth development programming for youth experiencing homelessness, resource linkage services targeting LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) youth, youth experiencing homelessness, and street-based youth at the Broadway Youth Center (BYC). This role requires a dynamic integration of harm reduction frameworks with youth development best practices the goal of improving LGBTQ/ street based quality of life through youth access to health, cultural, and social services.

Requirements

• Interest in the social service/public health fields
• Minimum education of High school Diploma or GED required
• Previous experience providing and developing youth development programming and facilitation
• Previous experience in youth case management
• Must demonstrate the ability to work effectively with diverse populations and easily establish rapport with youth.
• Must have a working knowledge of, and/or desire to support a harm reduction, trauma informed, anti-oppression, anti-violence approaches to care.
• Must pass a background check.
• Must be screened for Tuberculosis.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s Degree (preferred)
• Experience working with youth, especially LGBTQ and street-based youth is a plus
• Bilingual – Spanish/English preferred, but not required

Responsibilities

• Provide high quality youth development programming and facilitation
• Develop relationships and maintain contact with external community partners and conducting outreach
• Provide LGBTQ and street-based youth with high-quality and responsive care, particularly basic needs services (food, hygiene, laundry, showers, and clothing services) in a milieu setting at the Broadway Youth Center.
• Incorporate anti-oppression frameworks including harm reduction, trauma-healing care, restorative justice, and body positivity into your youth work.
• Provide referral information, group based education, and crisis intervention counseling utilizing a trauma informed approach, toward youth accessing the drop-in program.
• Participate in community-, street based-, and digital outreach services targeting street-based and LGBTQ youth age 12-24.
• Link youth to appropriate in-house services at BYC and Howard Brown including walk-In sexual health, primary care, mental health, education, vocation, and resource advocacy
• Maintain knowledge on best practices of youth development work and Chicago area resources for LGBTQ and homeless youth through continuing education workshops and trainings.
• Actively participate in regular staff meetings to plan accountability processes and program development for young people.
• Attend all required trainings and meetings, specifically briefing and debriefing meetings prior to and immediately following Drop-In.
• Foster youth leadership and advocacy by facilitating supporting the design of staff- and peer- led education and cultural workshops.
• Enter documentation of basic needs, outreach, milieu intervention, and programming services through electronic health records, HMIS (Homeless Management Information System), and manager developed databases in a timely and accurate manner
• Demonstrates commitment to Howard Brown core values, mission, and vision.
• Maintain highest level of client confidentiality and professionalism; follow HIPAA regulations; performs duties according to approved policies and procedures relating to OSHA and Standard Precautions.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Employer-sponsored health, dental, and vision insurance with two PPO plans and an HMO plan.
• BCBS HMO, PPO, and PPO Select Plans
• BCBS Dental
• BCBS Vision
• 3-weeks paid vacation and 1-week of personal time
• 12 accrued sick days per year
• 10 paid holidays, including Juneteenth
• PTO Exchange allows employees to turn unused PTO into liquid assets
• 401k program with up to 5% employer match after 90 days
• Employer-paid basic life insurance valued at one times the annual salary
• Voluntary Life and AD&D, and Short-term and Long-term disability
• Pre-tax commuter and parking benefit account
• Flexible Spending Accounts for healthcare and dependent care
• Tuition Reimbursement and Student Loan Forgiveness Programs; NHSC & PSLF
• Employee Assistance Program with 5 employer-paid counseling sessions
• 50% off at Brown Elephant Resale Shops and discounts at local businesses

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED