Youth Advocate 1

Overview

WHO WE ARE: We are more than a nonprofit organization. We are a ministry of service that includes nearly 600 paid professional employees dedicated to helping those we serve. We provide compassionate care today for flourishing communities tomorrow. Founded locally in 1911, VOA Northern California & Northern Nevada is one of the largest providers of social services in the region, delivering a broad range of community-based services that transform lives while meeting immediate needs of families, individuals, veterans, seniors, and youth. In fact, VOA-NCNN provides shelter or housing to over 3,500 men, women, and children every night.

OUR MISSION: VOA puts faith into action by providing compassionate human services to empower individuals and strengthen communities. VOA aspires to create a world in which every person lives a life of emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being, filled with hope across Northern California & Northern Nevada.

PROGRAM AND LOCATION: VOA-NCNN, a Certified Great Place to Work, is recruiting for a full-time Youth Advocate for the Adolfo Housing Program at our Mather Community Campus. Full-time employees (working 30 or more hours a week) are eligible for a benefits package that includes paid holidays, vacation, sick pay, health, dental, vision, life, and short-term disability insurance coverage. 

Responsibilities

POSITION SUMMARY:

Under direction of the Program Manager and with independent professional responsibility, the Youth Advocate I performs case management with individual program participants. This position is responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining a case management plan to assist the program’s participants with accessing continuing education, employment, and addressing any bio, psychological, social issues that may lead to homelessness, criminal behavior, or otherwise non-productive lifestyles. The position is also responsible for providing life skills training. The Youth Advocate II functions at a highly skilled level in such areas as assessment, individual goal planning, group facilitation, community resource development, file monitoring and review, and reviews agency reports and develops summaries. This position is committed to improving the quality of services provided by seeking input from participants, employees and stakeholders to ensure service delivery and accessibility is equitable to all persons served.

OBJECTIVES/ACTIVITIES:

Responsible for performing daily work requirements to achieve established objectives of the department.

Perform overall assessment of program participants and provide evaluation of medical, physical, emotional, psychological and legal needs. Develop an individualized service plan with short- and long-term goals with a focus on housing.

Review case plans weekly to adjust goals where needed or appropriate.

Perform a wide variety of group facilitation and/or individual sessions with program participants around financial planning, education, budgeting and assistance with managing credit and a bank account, life skills, employment, housing, nutrition and wellness, art and culture.

Establish individualized budgets with program participants and assist program participants in monitoring savings and expenditures.

Develops and maintains comprehensive lists of community resources for use by program participants; refers program participants accordingly.

Document all contact with program participants; prepare all screenings, assessments, service plans, evaluations, and reporting records.

Coordinate incoming and outgoing participant referrals with other community agencies.

Provide crisis intervention, referrals and collaborative consultations with service providers working with the participant.

Maintain and update all participant files to ensure compliance with reporting agencies.

Acts as a peer review committee and will conduct monthly file review of participant files.

Coordinate transportation needs as directed following established policies and procedures.

Assists participants with mediation, critical thinking, and problem solving.

Supports effective communication between Youth Advocates, Employment Specialists, and Housing Specialists.

Finds viable permanent housing options for their clients, supports participants through the process of obtaining housing (lease signing, inspections, etc.).

Assists in obtaining vital paperwork for all household members necessary for employment, school enrollment, housing, income, and any other documentation as needed.

Attends and conducts meetings and training, as directed.

Establish and maintain positive relations with the general public, funding agency, participants and other staff.

Ensures compliance with all VOA policies, CARF standards, and safety and security regulations.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

EQUIVALENT EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

successful experience in the delivery of human services or any combination of education, training and experience, which would provide the knowledge and ability to complete the duties outlined above. Must have knowledge and experience with social casework objectives, principles and methods. Knowledge of Child Protective Services (CPS) and Adult Protective Services (APS). Experience working with the homeless population and the barriers faced by the unhoused. Extensive experience with strength-based case management and trauma-informed care models. Experience working with young adults, minorities, persons with disabilities, substance abuse, and the general foster youth population, and low-income families from diverse social and ethnic backgrounds who have a history of homelessness or disability. Ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality and professional integrity. Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw conclusions; and effectively present information to management and/or public groups. Ability to demonstrate personal effectiveness through strong problem-solving and time-management skills. Proven ability to represent the interests of the organization, interact effectively with a diverse population, and be comfortable building successful collaborative relationships with families and individuals, staff and other stakeholders. Ability to react under pressure, use good judgment in ambiguous situations, and be flexible/adaptable. Must have understanding of public welfare laws, principles of community organization, and effective use of public and private community resources. Must have experience and skill to establish and maintain effective individual and group relationships with participant families, employees and community partners. Experience in report writing and advanced file management techniques. Ability to demonstrate proficiency working with computers including but not limited to Microsoft Office Suite and database systems. Must not present a direct threat to the safety and health of self, others or property. Must pass all required background clearances in accordance with agency, County, State, and federal standards. CPR/First Aid certification is required within 90 days of employment. Completion and maintenance of all required training and health clearances.

SPECIFIC SKILLS REQUIRED:

Excellent oral and written communication skills

High level of adaptability and flexibility

Critical thinking, analyzing information, and making reasonable decisions Skilled in Microsoft 365 computer applications

Excellent organizational skills

Fluency in English, legible handwriting, skills in record-keeping

Ability to de-escalate crises and assist residents and staff in emergencies

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, and stoop throughout the workday

Ability to occasionally lift and move up to 50 pounds

Able to climb stairs as required

Work environment is usually hectic (fast-paced) with frequent short deadlines and regular instances of critical or unusual situations.

Pay Range

USD $25.00 - USD $25.00 /Hr.

Compensation: 25 to 25 (USD)