Outreach Youth Specialist (rover) at Cocoon House – Everett, Washington

At Cocoon House, we empower young people, families, and communities in Snohomish County to break the cycle of homelessness through outreach, housing, and prevention. The Outreach Youth Specialist, internally referred to as the Rover Outreach Youth Specialist provides a safe and supportive environment for youth experiencing or at risk of homelessness at our youth drop-in center, U-Turn - promoting positive interactions, providing life skills, social skills and enrichment activities. The Rover Outreach Youth Specialist provides needed information and referrals, linkages to needed services, and crisis intervention. This role has a focus on reducing involvement in youth violence; increasing youths’ abilities to access services to become more self-sufficient; and increasing supports in youths’ lives. The ideal candidate will have a passion for working with youth, knowledge of best practices in youth development, and a desire to make a positive difference in their lives.

Cocoon House is committed to continually growing in our equity, diversity, and inclusion journey, and candidates with lived experience or who identify as BIPOC and/or LGBTQ+ are strongly encouraged to apply! We will also provide reasonable accommodation to qualified persons with disabilities upon request.

Rover Outreach Youth Specialist Duties & Responsibilities:

Full-Time (40 hours a week) | On-site in Everett

Starting Wages: $23-25/hr DOE | +$1.50/hr pay differential for multi-lingual skills with additional paperwork

Typical schedule is approximately: Monday-Saturday 9am-7pm Monday-Friday, 9am-2pm Saturdays, only 5 days/week, hours are/can be flexed, typical day is 8 hours, Saturdays very rare

Outreach Case Management and YET Navigation (as needed)

• Assist with Outreach Case Management needs and triage during Advocate Day shifts at U-Turn, addressing immediate and ongoing client needs in the drop-in center.
• Support the Outreach team by providing case management coverage if/when staff are on extended leave or when caseload capacity is limited.
• Train on and support both Outreach Case Management and Youth Engagement Team (YET) Navigation processes and procedures, as applicable.
• Meet youth where they are at, provide supportive services, and help connect them with resources to support housing stability goals.
• Complete data entry in accordance with program guidelines.
• Attend team meetings and supervision meetings.

Wings Partnership and Street Outreach Networking in Snohomish County

• Work with Outreach team members to provide hands-on outreach to young people throughout Snohomish County.
• Build relationships with community agencies and service providers throughout Snohomish County to educate them on Cocoon House services and encourage referrals.
• Fulfill assigned responsibilities to maintain existing Wings partnerships.
• Identify, pursue, and help establish new Wings partnerships throughout greater Snohomish County.
• Assist with South County expansion by coordinating with the Young Adult Housing Director and helping strategically plan outreach efforts in South County.
• Track Wings partner information and MOUs in accordance with program guidelines.

U-Turn Floor Supervision

• Meet youth’s basic needs while building positive relationships that establish trust and support.
• Link youth to other Cocoon House programs and services during U-Turn shifts, including Advocates and Navigators for case management support.
• Complete cooking and cleaning tasks as scheduled.
• Track data on services received throughout each shift.
• Fulfill duties as outlined in the U-Turn Program Manual.

Benefits:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision health options with employer contribution*
• 403(b) retirement plan with agency match*
• 21 days PTO accrual in first year*
• 10 agency-recognized holidays
• Multilingual pay differential opportunities
• Paid training & testing: CPR/first aid, food handler's permit, blood borne pathogens, abuse awareness, TB testing, and additional in-depth practical trainings

*Benefits available for qualifying part-time and full-time employee statuses

Skills needed to be successful in this role:

• Work or educational experience working with teens and/or young adults experiencing homelessness, or a similar population. Either:
  • At least one year working directly with such populations, in a mentoring or case management-related capacity.
  • A bachelor’s degree in a social science, plus some paid or volunteer experience.
  • Some combination of the above, or equivalent professional, personal or educational experience.
• Ability to diffuse escalated youth.
• Ability to record and document information on forms as required for case planning and CPS reporting.
• Familiarity with local services and how to access them. Ability to assess situations and gather pertinent information.
• Ability to assess dangerous situations and access emergency services.
• Ability to relate with youth and staff.
• Ability to maintain boundaries with youth.
• Must have the ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to assess and prioritize youths’ needs developmentally.
• Be able to assess emergencies and get proper support.
• Acceptance of a variety of lifestyles, behaviors, and cultural and spiritual practices.
• Commitment to Agency’s mission and positive youth development model.

General:

• High school diploma/GED or high school equivalency
• Must be 21 years of age or older
• 1 year minimum of experience working with youth
• Must attend weekly team meeting and weekly supervision
• DCYF background clearance
• Acceptable driver's abstract with no more than 2 violations within last 3 years
• Possess a valid driver's license, auto insurance, and reliable transportation

Physical:

• Ability to effectively communicate with all internal and external clients
• Be able to hear voices and alarms.
• Ability to read and comprehend a variety of materials
• Ability to operate phone, computer, and record information for files and logs
• Must be able to lift up to 50 Ibs
• Must have ability to run up and down indoor and outdoor stairwells in case of youth emergency.
• Go up and down stairs