Youth Support Partner in San Diego, California at SAN DIEGO YOUTH SERVICES

San Diego Youth Services seeks a Youth Support Partner in the TAY Academy program to be based in San Diego. This is a temporary full-time & non-exempt position reporting to the Program Manager. This contract has an end date of 12/31/2026.

San Diego Youth Services: Who we are

San Diego Youth Services has helped improve the lives of more than 840,000 homeless, runaway and vulnerable youth since its beginning in 1970. We provide safe places to live and long-term solutions through shelter, foster homes, community centers and housing to more than 28,000 youth every year at 100+ community and school locations. Through prevention, early intervention and treatment, we also help youth before they need higher levels of care or become homeless.

We aim to:

1. Meet the basic needs of youth. Hunger, poverty and youth homelessness are on the rise for many youth and their families today. We help meet these basic needs for youth. What could be more vital than food and shelter? We provide safe places to live and long-term solutions through shelter, foster homes, community centers and housing.
2. Create positive connection. We help youth focus on positive life changes and healthy relationships as part of providing needed resources and services. San Diego Youth Services has long provided foster homes and adoption support services for families considering adopting a youth in the foster care system.
3. Help youth develop life skills. In addition to a range of safe and stable housing options, we offer support to help youth develop the independent living skills necessary to become self-sufficient and keep off the streets.
4. Promote overall health and well-being. Early intervention and care for the whole child are critical. We provide a broad continuum of services to help youth overcome trauma and challenges that put them at risk, including case management, counseling, mental health treatment and educational support and resources.

SDYS has a staff of approximately 250 employees and 80 volunteers working across San Diego County and an annual budget of approximately $24 million.

You can learn more about us at www.sdyouthservices.org.

CONTEXT OF THE POSITION:

This position is responsible for providing comprehensive trauma-informed peer support services to youth at the Drop-in Center in order to ensure that standards relating to inclusivity and safety are maintained. The Youth Support Partner is responsible for ensuring that services are safe and accessible and that the overall milieus are supportive, affirming and youth driven.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Orient participants to TAY Academy services through intake and needs assessment. Establish rapport with transition-aged youth from diverse backgrounds and experiences.
• Support youth in meeting their basic needs. Link youth with resources that are appropriate to their individualized needs. Engage in trauma-informed crisis intervention and deescalation.
• Work collaboratively to provide support services that include independent living skills education, accompanying youth to meetings/appointments when appropriate; provide advocacy and referrals as applicable including for housing, medical/healthcare, employment/education, and mental health/substance use treatment.
• Facilitate psycho-educational groups for youth including life skills, employment readiness, parenting, self-care, artistic expression and health education groups.
• Support advocacy efforts for youth serviced within and across the TAY system of care and assist youth in locating, coordinating and developing informal and formal resources and networks in the community.
• Work with service partners in the drop-in center to ensure that standards relating to safety and inclusivity are maintained. Support community building efforts of drop-in center and positive program culture.
• Promote greater youth participation in policy, program and service delivery at TAY Academy and within San Diego Youth Services.
• Conduct ongoing outreach to youth and community organizations and participate in multi-disciplinary teams to assist youth in obtaining/maintaining stability and independence.
• Participate in and attend all staff meetings, treatment team meetings, SDYS staff development events and appropriate agency-wide committees.
• Maintain accurate and timely uniform documentation on youth and services provided in alignment with program and agency standards.
• Maintain clear, effective and open communication with youth, community partners, co-workers and supervisors.

SDYS EXPECTATIONS:

• Adhere to and uphold the rigorous standards of SDYS as mandated by its mission, purpose, guiding principles and standards of quality.
• Maintain confidentiality and privacy standards of service partner protected health information and other applicable information and material in accordance to agency and center policies, and applicable regulations and laws including HIPAA.
• Welcome and support SDYS volunteers and assist them in accomplishing their services whenever applicable.
• Effectively communicate with people from diverse backgrounds and experiences.
• Receive and give constructive feedback to foster equity and inclusion in working relationships.
• Recognize, nurture, and learn from strengths in co-workers.
• Maintain warm, welcoming and safe work environments.
• Possess flexibility to accomplish job responsibilities in several work environments, whether it be from home, on the road, or in an office.

PREFERRED EDUCATION, YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• Must have direct experience as a consumer (or Care-Giver of a consumer) of mental health services, homelessness, the juvenile justice system, child protective services, or special education. That is, applicant must have directly experienced system involvement.
• Must be at least 21 years of age and have a High School diploma.
• Completed Peer Specialist training preferred.
• Must be willing to develop or possess working knowledge of trauma-informed care and dual diagnosis treatment including crisis intervention and de-escalation, motivational interviewing, and Seeking Safety.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Able to be cleared to drive participants and have valid driver’s license with own transportation. Must be able to follow all the guidelines provided by the agency, government, and health authorities to maintain safety and health.

STRATEGIC IMPACT:

Support efforts to end youth homelessness in San Diego and increase youths’ capacity to live self-sufficient lives.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

This position does not have supervisory responsibilities.

Hourly Pay Range: $21-$23

To apply, please send resume and cover letter through job posting on SDYS website.

SDYS offers a comprehensive benefits package to full time employees that includes generous PTO, personal holidays, health, vision, dental, life insurance, parental leave and a 403(b)-retirement plan with matching contribution. SDYS is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) employer.

All are welcome at San Diego Youth Services.

As an organization working to meet the basic needs of youth, create positive connections, help youth develop life skills, and promote overall health and well-being, SDYS believes its practices and actions must reflect the highest level of commitment to access, equity, and social justice.

The collective sum of the individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, innovation, self-expression, and talent that our members invest in their work represents not only part of the SDYS’ culture, but the SDYS’ reputation and achievements as well. SDYS remains open to feedback from all communities it touches and knows that input from those with direct experience of issues will make the SDYS more effective in achieving its goals.

SDYS is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. In compliance with the Immigration and Nationality Act as amended, all new employees must verify their eligibility to work in the United States.

SDYS is proud to be a kindness certified company.