Youth Engagement Specialist (Swing Shift)

Covenant House California•Los Angeles, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Covenant House California (CHC) is a nonprofit organization that provides sanctuary and support for youth ages 18-24 who are experiencing homelessness. CHC offers a full continuum of services to address the physical, emotional, educational, vocational, and spiritual well-being of young people. The organization is committed to creating an inclusive and affirming environment for all youth and staff, regardless of their background, and is dedicated to advancing anti-racism and promoting the expression of lived experiences. CHC serves over 900 young people annually across its Hollywood Downtowner location and other services. The Youth Engagement Specialist (YES) is a core position within the residential team, responsible for supporting youth who may have experienced homelessness, human trafficking, trauma, identify as LGBTQ+, are gender non-conforming, or face multiple complex needs. The role requires knowledge and/or experience in strengths-based, harm reduction frameworks, and trauma-informed practices, with an emphasis on collaborative, multi-disciplinary teamwork to foster a safe and inclusive environment. YES staff are crucial in facilitating daily operations, providing supervision and support, managing crises, upholding policies, performing light cleaning and maintenance, and serving as positive adult role models. Overnight shifts are awake, requiring staff to complete a checklist to prepare the facility for the next day.

Requirements

High School Diploma required.
Minimum of 1-2 years’ experience working with youth ages 18-24.
Must be well organized and have strong verbal and written communication skills.
Must be computer literate (Word, Outlook, Excel, etc.).
Must be a self-starter and team player with the ability to work with other staff members, youth, vendors, and the community.
Must have a valid CA driver’s license and good driving record.
Has and/or willing to obtain training and knowledge in the following areas: Adolescent Development, Crisis Intervention, Multi-Cultural Awareness, Trauma Informed Care, Harm Reduction, and CPR & FIRST AID.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services or related field preferred or equivalent experience in residential program.

Responsibilities

Build rapport with youth and act as a positive role model and safe adult while maintaining and facilitating healthy boundaries.
Work directly with youth doing triage (i.e., field questions, enquire on needs, clarify the problem, etc.)
Provide direct supervision of youth on-site, on outings and during meetings and appointments in the community.
Provide welcoming, engaging, and professional phone and door coverage to include answering and responding to incoming crisis, business information, resource, and referral inquiries.
Crisis prevention and intervention while adhering to agency protocol for responding, reporting, and seeking support.
Teach basic life skills such as personal hygiene, household cleaning, and interpersonal interactions, in a manner that is compassionate to each youth’s situation.
Be a proactive and involved team member and encourage youth to participate in activities.
Lead groups and workshops on skill building and healthy choices.
Develop knowledge of the current community resources available to youth.
Inspect common areas of the housing program for cleanliness daily.
Maintain consistent communication with the multidisciplinary team by preparing clear and concise shift notes, logs and critical incident reports.
Maintain safety awareness of situations and spaces.
Attend trainings, meetings, and supervision check-ins as assigned.
Be timely and present at all scheduled meetings, trainings, and shifts.
Perform day to day operations and duties in accordance with established policies and procedures.
Provide supervision of the program, including oversight and maintenance of the various areas of the facility.
Function as Person in Charge (PIC), as designated.
Collaborate with outreach team to ensure addition of new youth referrals to shelter waitlist and keep waitlist updated with youth communication. This includes documented efforts to locate youth, support them onsite or via phone/email, as well as outreach opportunities in the community as assigned.