Youth Engagement Specialist TLP- ROP

Covenant House New Jersey•Newark, NJ

About The Position

The Youth Engagement Specialist (YES) supports young people using a strength-based, trauma-informed, and harm-reduction-focused approach, modeling absolute respect and unconditional love. Working within a multidisciplinary team, the YES helps create a safe and inclusive environment and provides ongoing engagement, resilience-building activities, assessment, and service planning. The role supports young people in pursuing housing, health and wellness, employment, and education goals as they move toward permanent housing. The YES also provides case management, crisis intervention and de-escalation, documentation across multiple databases and case files, educational and group activities, community engagement, and connections to local service providers. The position is part-time and requires work Monday through Friday from 5:00 PM to 10:30 PM, with Saturday and Sunday off. The hourly rate is $21.77.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in psychology, sociology, social work, or a related field preferred.
Must be a self-starter and team player able to work well with others.
Knowledge of adolescent development and ability to build positive rapport with young people.
Excellent written and verbal communication, including concise, timely, and professional correspondence.
Valid New Jersey driver’s license and good driving record.
Availability to work Monday through Friday from 5:00 PM to 10:30 PM.

Nice To Haves

Experience with young people ages 18–24 experiencing homelessness or human trafficking, and/or lived experience.
Knowledge of public benefits and the community in New Jersey.
Bilingual in Spanish.

Responsibilities

Provide unconditional positive regard to young people regardless of behavior.
Welcome young people to the program and help them feel comfortable and safe, understand the program structure, and access engagement opportunities and needed supplies.
Build supportive relationships that encourage young people to find their voice and connect with opportunities, experiences, and resources.
Conduct required assessments and document them in files and data systems.
Develop a Success Plan with each young person after assessment and revise it routinely or as needed.
Maintain a calendar of young people’s work schedules and appointments in conjunction with their Success Plans.
Develop and maintain knowledge of community resources and make appropriate referrals within CHNJ and to community agencies.
Support positive transition planning and monitor progress toward self-identified goals, coaching young people to plan, implement, and follow through on tasks.
Motivate young people to pursue wellness, education, employment, financial literacy, social navigation, and other goals that support their Success Plans.
Monitor youth while they take medication and enter Medication Logs.
Engage with youth in daily house activities, including chores, dining, gym and other activities, bus tickets, and movement throughout the day.
Explore and participate in outside activities with youth, such as trips, walks to parks, and visits to college campuses.
Provide crisis de-escalation and intervention according to training and best practices.
Document intakes, orientations, Success Plans, assessments, and transitions in ETO and case files.
Enter regular daily progress notes in young people’s case records, including HMIS and ETO, and document pertinent information in Youth Incident Reports, Medication Logs, and House Activity Logs.
Prepare and present at case review meetings and meet with youth for Success Planning meetings.
Facilitate regular youth group activities supporting the five resiliency objectives: wellness, social navigation, financial literacy, education, and employment.
Perform duties assigned by the supervisor to meet young people’s needs while adhering to the daily program schedule.
Attend and participate in daily community meetings to coordinate youth services.
Attend weekly supervision, assigned weekly meetings, and assigned professional development training.
Read and respond daily to agency emails, calendar invitations, voicemails, and other communications.
Cover the front desk when required.
Use agency resources, including vehicles, computers, and telephones, for agency purposes only.
Assist as needed with fundraising affairs and special events, which may occur outside the employee’s normal work schedule.
Work Monday through Friday, 5:00 PM–10:30 PM; days off are Saturday and Sunday.
Transport clients or staff when required using agency transportation.