The Youth Specialist provides supervision and support to all youth utilizing a trauma informed approach. They are responsible for overseeing daily activities internally and supervision and guidance tasks during appointments and while on outings in the community.

The Youth Specialist provides a safe environment for youth, including transportation to meet medical, educational, and legal needs. They model and teach healthy communication and daily living skills to youth and encourage and motivate youths’ interest to identify and complete their personal goals.

REPORTS TO: Supervisor of Youth Haven

Schedules:

Tuesday - Saturday 12am -8:30am

Friday - Tuesday 12am -8:30am

ESSENTIAL DUTIES 

Safety and Well-Being 

1. Maintain a safe living environment. 
2. Demonstrate and teach self-regulation. 
3. Promote a sense of community and safety. 
4. Support conflict resolution skills. 
5. Use preventive floor management techniques to address challenging behaviors. 
6. Encourage the involvement of family members and support people where appropriate.  

Youth Engagement

1. Listen to and address individual concerns. 
2. Provide personal attention, tailoring services to individual clients 
3. Support the growth and development of independent living skills 
4. Respect confidentiality. 
5. Build positive relationships with residents. 
6. Interact with empathy and without judgment. 

Supervision and Monitoring

1. Plan, supervise and support tasks that promote mental, physical, and social health.
2. Ensure the safe storage of medications and dispense as prescribed and instructed.
3. Assist with homework, work attainment, goal setting and achievement.
4. Prepare meals and snacks.
5. Design and facilitate scheduled groups and activities as requested.
6. Transport youths to appointments and outings as assigned.
7. Stay in close contact to maintain awareness of the whereabouts of the youths.
8. Monitor health and other behaviors.
9. Report any concerns regarding abuse, exploitation and/or neglect to the Supervisor and subsequently to Child Protective Services.
10. Assist in training volunteers, interns, and relief employees under the guidance of the Supervisor.

Communication and Record Keeping

1. Attend and positively contribute to weekly team meetings.
2. Attend professional training for continuous knowledge and growth.
3. Model positive and healthy behaviors.
4. Objectively document behavioral events.
5. Maintain daily communication logs.
6. Record mam edication and fund disbursements.
7. Complete incident reports as per agency policy.
8. Complete other reports as requested by a supervisor.
9. Provide consistent communication and support with accurate daily documentation for reports.

job requirements

a. Education and Experience

1. Bilingual in English/Spanish
2. High School Diploma or General Education Diploma (GED) required. Bachelor’s degree in a human-service field preferred.
3. Minimum of 6 months of full-time experience, providing direct service to youth in a work or volunteer capacity.
4. Experience working with youth who are homeless and/or involved in the foster care system.
5. Experience working with immigrant and refugee youth is preferred.

b. Additional Requirements

1. Must be 21 years of age or older.  
2. Must satisfactorily pass criminal history check  
3. Must satisfactorily pass tuberculosis (TB) test within the past year. 
4. Must successfully complete the following health certification requirements within 30 days of employment: Food Handler’s, CPR, First Aid and Bloodborne Pathogens training. 
5. Must have a valid Washington State driver's license or be able to obtain one by date of employment. 
6. Employees and volunteers who operate their own or Friends of Youth vehicles on Friends of Youth business must have a safe driving record as defined by Friends of Youth.

c. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

1. Able to engage with diverse populations in a culturally responsive manner.
2. Demonstrate a commitment to the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion by honoring and celebrating diverse characteristics and expressions of personal identity.
3. Strong commitment to Friends of Youth’s mission, vision, and values.
4. Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
5. Excellent organizational and time-management skills.
6. Able to maintain strong personal and professional boundaries.
7. Able to work independently and as part of a team.
8. Able to establish and maintain positive working relationships with youth.
9. Able to separate one’s personal beliefs and values from those of youth.
10. Proficient skill set with Microsoft Office programs.

We offer:

• Generous time off including 15 vacation days per year, paid sick leave, 11 paid holidays, 2 social justice leave days per year for full-time employees
• Health insurance package including medical, dental, vision, 24/7 access to telehealth, long term disability and life insurance
• Retirement plan with match
• Transgender Health Benefits

Friends of Youth is committed to equity and creating a diverse and inclusive work environment as an equal opportunity employer. We welcome, honor, and celebrate our clients, colleagues, and communities’ diverse identities and cultures. For more information, email hr@friendsofyouth.org.