Youth Empowerment Specialist – PT

La Casa Norte•Chicago, IL

11d•$17 - $18

About The Position

The Youth Empowerment Specialist works in La Casa Norte’s Casa Corazón Emergency Beds Program, which provides immediate housing and supportive services for homeless and at-risk youth ages 18–24. The program operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and offers services such as street outreach, a drop-in center with programming and meals, basic needs assistance, and holistic case management focused on housing stability, education, and employment readiness and placement. This is a part-time position scheduled Sunday and Monday from 12:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., with occasional work on other days, nights, and weekdays. The role supervises residents and supports a safe, stable living environment while helping youth build life skills, pursue service-plan goals, and develop leadership. The position reports to the Programs Manager.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree preferred, but not required when accompanied by relevant experience.
Ability to interact with youth to alleviate social, emotional, or environmental crises.
Skill in de-escalating aggressive behavior.
Desire and ability to work with homeless, runaway, and at-risk urban youth.
Knowledge of the social, economic, and cultural patterns of Latino and African American populations.
Willingness to work in a diverse environment regarding race, ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation, and gender.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Willingness to work flexible hours as needed, including nights and/or weekends.
Desire, creativity, and flexibility to work in a new and fast-growing agency.
Bilingual in English and Spanish.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree.

Responsibilities

Supervise and monitor resident activities to maintain a safe and stable living environment.
Maintain professional relationships with residents and ensure the safety of the milieu.
Communicate program information accurately and promptly, including client intakes, incident reports, family contacts, facility inventories, and shift log entries; complete required documentation.
Support and implement program and organizational policies and philosophies, including Harm Reduction and Sanctuary Model frameworks.
Use de-escalation and crisis intervention skills in a supportive and caring manner.
Work as part of a team to help residents achieve service-plan goals.
Conduct intake needs assessments, create initial action plans, and refer residents to appropriate services.
Engage youth in discussions about their goals, strengths, and barriers to stability.
Coordinate with other staff, including the Drop-in Case Manager, to ensure continuity of services.
Help youth develop life skills and use teachable moments to build decision-making, conflict-resolution, and time-management skills.
Model effective and respectful communication with residents and staff.
Create leadership opportunities that support youth development and the health of the shelter community.
Provide and coordinate life-skills workshops on topics such as hygiene, sexuality, financial literacy, household management, conflict resolution, and anger management.
Implement the program’s structure of support and accountability to foster youth development.
Maintain cleanliness and facility upkeep, perform duties, and request repairs as needed.
Lead residents in upkeep of the program and ensure necessary tasks are completed.
Clean and sanitize areas as needed to maintain cleanliness and sanitation standards.
Attend bi-weekly and monthly staff meetings and assigned staff training.
Participate in La Casa Norte fundraising events.
Perform other duties as required.