The Youth Advocate role works with families to achieve stability and prevent future youth homelessness. They engage families in their homes and in the community to assess family strengths and needs and create goal plans to meet those needs. The Youth Advocate is responsible for supporting family case management with a total caseload of 15-20 youth. This position also supports the facilitation of diversion seminars for parents and youth monthly. They also respond to community calls, collaborate with community partners, and work collaboratively across Cocoon House programs to ensure consistency of care for youth and families.

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.

Youth Advocate Duties & Responsibilities

Full-Time 40 hrs/week | On-site

Wages: $23-$25/hr DOE

This position is typically a 9am-5pm work schedule with required evening flexibility two to three days each week to meet with youth, as needed. This position also requires some weekend availability such as one weekend each month to conduct the family classes with weekday schedule adjusted to accommodate.

Family Case Management:

• Provide case management to 15-20 youth and participate in family meetings with the Family Advocate.
• Support youth in creating their own goals that they want to work on with their family.
• Collaborate with Family Advocates in family meetings, as well as providing support to the youth while they participate in the meetings.
• Build relationships with community partners, support Family Advocates build a caseload, and gather community resources for families in Snohomish County.

Other Responsibilities:

• Co-facilitate community outreach and education.
• Provide low-barrier support for families through phone calls and drop-in services.
• Collect needed demographics and other information from youth and their families and complete all data entry associated with family case management and drop-in sessions in a complete and timely manner.
• Support other Cocoon House programs to increase staff knowledge around family engagement and Prevention work as needed.

Benefits:

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

Skills needed to be successful in this role:

• Two years of experience working in human services with at least one year of experience with teens or parents of teens preferred.
• Effective communication skills.
• Strong at crisis de-escalation.
• Knowledge of issues facing young people, adolescent development, and strengths-based approaches in working with families.
• Experience working with LBGTQIA+ and BIPOC young people.
• Individuals with lived experience are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Experience in facilitation preferred.
• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.

General:

• High school diploma/GED or high school equivalency
• Must be 21 years of age or older
• 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