Youth Mentor Advocate (Temporary)

Steppingstone, Inc.•New Bedford, MA

About The Position

SUMMARY: The Youth Mentor Advocate works as an integral part of the Project team. The Youth Mentor Advocate will perform, but is not limited to, the following duties: providing street- and community-based outreach, one-on-one mentoring, connecting participants with housing, behavioral health, education, employment, and recreational resources. This position may require a flexible schedule including 1st and 2nd shifts. The agency has the right to change shifts based on the needs of the organization. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Position Specific Duties: Provide community and street outreach to identify and engage at-risk, homeless, or justice-involved youth and emerging adults. Build rapport with participants, assess needs, and develop individualized service and goal plans. Deliver one-on-one, street- and community-based mentoring. Facilitate youth activity groups (e.g., art therapy, crafts, recreational outings) to promote emotional well-being and prosocial engagement. Coordinate and accompany participants to housing, behavioral health, educational, and employment services. Collaborate with partners including the Police Department LEAD Team, Juvenile and District Court Probation, schools, and community-based providers. Support youth in accessing vocational training, employment opportunities, and life skills development programs. Maintain positive, professional relationships with community stakeholders to create referral pathways. Provide transportation to participants as needed for program engagement. Provide program materials to potential consumers and community partners around shelter services. Develop and manage a comprehensive outreach and working relationship with all stakeholders (providers, clergy, elected officials, police, community activists, potential consumers). Ability to climb three flights of stairs to visit consumers in the community. Ability to respond to emergency situations by placing calls to Fire, Rescue, Police and Medical, etc. Administrative Tasks: Complete all required documentation in a timely manner. Perform program recordkeeping and filing, and organize vital documents. Provide telephone coverage for the assigned program and direct calls to other programs as needed. Participate in required supervisions, staff meetings and trainings. Participate and cooperate in any investigations conducted by internal and external agencies. Ability to use a computer including inputting information into data systems including collecting GRPA data on each enrolled consumer. Compliance Requirements: Remain awake during your shift at all times. Attend all mandatory trainings and update all licenses and certifications. Adhere to program/project/department requirements and services. Follow all reporting guidelines by deadlines including the completion of a Confidential Incident Report. QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: The Youth Mentor Advocate must perform each essential function satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. The qualifications listed below are representative of the knowledge/skill and/or ability required.

Requirements

High School or General Education Diploma (GED) preferred.
A minimum two of years related work experience working with the homeless or at-risk youth, serving as a housing advocate, and/or working with landlords and housing providers.
Education or experience in cultural competency; bilingual Spanish/English a plus.
Good working knowledge of computers, electronic health records and data collection.
Requires valid driver’s license due to business-related travel at least 60 to 80% of the time.

Nice To Haves

Education or experience in cultural competency; bilingual Spanish/English a plus.

Responsibilities

Provide community and street outreach to identify and engage at-risk, homeless, or justice-involved youth and emerging adults.
Build rapport with participants, assess needs, and develop individualized service and goal plans.
Deliver one-on-one, street- and community-based mentoring.
Facilitate youth activity groups (e.g., art therapy, crafts, recreational outings) to promote emotional well-being and prosocial engagement.
Coordinate and accompany participants to housing, behavioral health, educational, and employment services.
Collaborate with partners including the Police Department LEAD Team, Juvenile and District Court Probation, schools, and community-based providers.
Support youth in accessing vocational training, employment opportunities, and life skills development programs.
Maintain positive, professional relationships with community stakeholders to create referral pathways.
Provide transportation to participants as needed for program engagement.
Provide program materials to potential consumers and community partners around shelter services.
Develop and manage a comprehensive outreach and working relationship with all stakeholders (providers, clergy, elected officials, police, community activists, potential consumers).
Ability to climb three flights of stairs to visit consumers in the community.
Ability to respond to emergency situations by placing calls to Fire, Rescue, Police and Medical, etc.
Complete all required documentation in a timely manner.
Perform program recordkeeping and filing, and organize vital documents.
Provide telephone coverage for the assigned program and direct calls to other programs as needed.
Participate in required supervisions, staff meetings and trainings.
Participate and cooperate in any investigations conducted by internal and external agencies.
Ability to use a computer including inputting information into data systems including collecting GRPA data on each enrolled consumer.
Remain awake during your shift at all times.
Attend all mandatory trainings and update all licenses and certifications.
Adhere to program/project/department requirements and services.
Follow all reporting guidelines by deadlines including the completion of a Confidential Incident Report.