Job Details

Youth Specialists assist in facilitating the day-to-day services offered in the Day Services Program and the Transitional Living Program. Support for Day Program and Transitional Living Program services can include assisting with youth skill-building activities, including healthy recreation and art activities, food preparation, and helping ensure a safe and respectful program space. Youth Specialists are also responsible for appropriately responding to crises. The long-term goal of the Day Program and Transitional Living Program is to help youth build the skills needed for self-sufficiency and to be successful in their plan to exit street life.

This is an on-call position. Must be available for overnight (awake) shifts in the Transitional Living Program.

Essential Duties

• Build positive relationships with youth through role modeling and mentoring.
• Help direct new or returning youth to navigate the screening and assessment process.
• Educate youth about the Homeless Youth Continuum and how to access available services and resources. Engage youth in Outside In program offerings.
• Be available on-site to residents in Transitional Living Program and/or Day Program during shifts.
• Provide individualized support to youth. Respond to youth crises as needed.
• Support the smooth function of the Food Program in the Day Program by participating in food preparation of meals as needed.
• Assure material and operational support of the Day and Transitional Living Programs. This can include assisting with cleaning/room turnover in the Transitional Living Program and assisting with food preparation/serving of meals in the Day Program as needed.
• Establish and facilitate effective communication with staff. This includes serving as a conduit of information for teammates and between and among program staff and supervisors.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of all services and interventions in the appropriate data and tracking systems.
• Commitment to continual learning and quality performance. Participate in discussions, events, workshops, and trainings offered by Outside In.
• Meet youth worker core competencies.
• Always maintain professional boundaries and performance.

Education and Experience

• One-year relevant experience working with youth, homeless youth, and/or in a drop-in shelter, or housing program.
• BA/BS in a related field preferred.
• Strong communication skills.
• Basic computer skills.
• Always maintain professional boundaries and performance.

Working Conditions

This job is located in a residential program and a drop-in day services program for young adults experiencing homelessness, located at 1132 SW 13th Ave Portland, OR 97205. Program spaces include private and shared residential space, shared staff office space, and drop-in space, including a commercial kitchen.

Physical Requirements

This job requires operating phones, computers, and other office equipment. Communicating is required on a regular basis. Moving inside the building to other offices and program delivery spaces as well as moving to surrounding sites is expected. Sporadically moves boxes and/or items weighing up to 30 pounds.