Youth Site Specialist - Home Youth Services - Swing

Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency•Salem, OR

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Youth Site Specialist directly supervises at-risk youth at Home Youth Services shelters, assists them with basic needs and resource navigation, and helps maintain a safe, calm, and supportive environment. The role provides mentoring, builds connections with youth residents, and supports shelter services. The specialist is the primary point of contact for the assigned shift, supports coworkers and volunteers, and helps youth with independent living skills, goal setting, educational support, intake, enrollment, and shelter placement. The position also includes transportation, facility upkeep, safety monitoring, resource referrals, medication dispensing according to protocols, and participation in outreach and required trainings. This is an on-site role requiring work outside normal business hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays. The position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Four or more years of work or volunteer experience in fast-paced customer service, healthcare, education, social or community services, or related public-facing sectors; an equivalent combination of education, experience, and training may be accepted.
Valid driver license, an insured vehicle available for use on the job, and a satisfactory driving record for the previous three years.
Pass a comprehensive MWVCAA background screening and an Oregon Department of Human Services criminal background check before employment.
Pass pre-employment and random drug/alcohol screenings.
Complete required trainings and/or certifications within the first 30 days of employment: CPR/First Aid, Food Handlers card, Mandatory Reporting, Privacy Laws, Trauma Informed Care, Suicide Intervention, Behavior Management Interventions, and Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse & Neglect.
General understanding of de-escalation, role-modeling, and active listening.
Ability to build and maintain healthy boundaries and relationships with clients and community partners.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Outlook, videoconferencing platforms, and web tools.
Positive, cooperative, and supportive approach to working with others.
Tact, diplomacy, and empathy in formal and informal communications with clients, staff, and program partners.
Ability to maintain calm and apply crisis intervention and de-escalation techniques when clients or others become escalated.
Ability to regulate emotions and handle frequent demands for attention, time, and work tasks.
Ability to work independently in accordance with Agency and program policies, guidelines, and initiatives.
Ability to work effectively and maintain positive, professional relationships with team members and clients.
Ability to regularly lift and/or move 20 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds; perform manual dexterity tasks; frequently walk and stand; drive in all weather conditions; reach or extend to access materials; focus at close range; ascend and descend stairs repeatedly; navigate multiple floors without an elevator when necessary; and tolerate and respond calmly to escalated or occasionally destructive client behavior.

Nice To Haves

College coursework in social sciences or related human services.
Work or volunteer experience with special-needs populations and/or youth or high-risk youth; preference is given to candidates with this experience.
Experience with youth mentoring and service delivery is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary point of contact for the assigned work shift.
Train incoming staff and volunteers on applicable duties, processes, and policies; answer questions and assist coworkers as needed.
Directly supervise clients according to program and licensing requirements, including teaching independent living skills and goal setting, providing educational support, and mediating conversations as needed.
Transport clients in Agency vehicles to and from school, appointments, and assigned outings.
Facilitate communication and collaboration among Case Managers, Site Specialists, and volunteers.
Assess client eligibility and help gather documentation for intake, enrollment, and shelter placement.
Focus the team on program goals and exemplify a positive work culture.
Ensure data collection and quality; enter service-use information into HMIS and Shelter Point.
Respond to guest questions about clothing, snacks, blankets, restrooms, charging stations, and local resources.
Monitor residents’ compliance with program expectations.
Support shelter operations through house cleaning, site upkeep, laundry, and supportive services.
Support client engagement, answer the telephone, sort mail, and monitor client and facility safety.
Help staff and volunteers maintain a calm, clean, and safe environment for residents.
Share information, resources, and referrals about community partnerships and resources.
Promote a safe, healing environment for people affected by trauma through trauma-informed engagement, clear boundaries, and supportive case management.
Attend required annual trainings and stay current on ARCHES program policies and procedures.
Support nutrition staff with kitchen tasks, including cooking meals.
Participate in community outreach to local organizations, camps, and groups as directed by the supervisor.
Maintain appropriate boundaries with clients and coworkers.
Dispense medications to clients following proper protocols.
Perform routine safety and bed checks according to site protocols.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Maintain punctuality and reliable attendance and positive, professional relationships with team members and clients.