POSITION SUMMARY: Youth Advocates provide compassionate, trauma-informed care to youth ages 13 to 17 at the Oasis Teen Shelter in Mount Vernon, WA. The program is a licensed shelter through the Washington State Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF). In addition to the shelter, YMCA Oasis provides wrap around support for youth in Skagit County through drop-in services and street outreach.
Youth Advocates directly contribute to fostering a safe, confidential, and secure environment for youth experiencing homelessness or housing instability and trauma. Youth Advocates model healthy, pro-social behaviors and support youth in activities such as homework help/tutoring, vocational, cooking/nutritional, and social-emotional skills. Youth Advocates are an integral part of the Oasis staff team, regularly collaborating with Oasis administrative staff.
OUR CULTURE: Our mission and core values are brought to life by our culture. In the Y, we strive to live our cause of strengthening communities with purpose and intentionality every day. We are welcoming: we are open to all. We are a place where you can belong and become. We are genuine: we value you and embrace your individuality. We are hopeful: we believe in you and your potential to become a catalyst in the world. We are nurturing: we support you in your journey to develop your full potential. We are determined: above all else, we are on a relentless quest to make our community stronger beginning with you.
OUR COMMITMENT TO EQUITY: The Skagit Valley Family YMCA is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing equitable opportunities for all groups in terms and conditions of employment and personnel practices. The Y does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, perceived or actual physical or mental disability, pregnancy, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, creed, religion, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or use of a trained guide dog or service animal. All staff hired at the Y are encouraged to embrace, continually support, and enhance diversity and equity on our campus and in our community.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Models and executes an unconditional, trauma-informed care approach to working with at-risk youth. Maintains awareness of emotional and physical state of youth while on shift.
- Models healthy and safe boundaries with youth.
- Actively listens to and engages with youth each shift, facilitating daily activities and meals.
- Fosters a safe, confidential, and secure environment for youth who are experiencing homelessness or housing instability and may have a history of trauma.
- Works within Oasis staff team, care coordinators, and identified community agency partners in supporting interventions as prescribed in the ISP of each youth.
- Monitors youth behavior and maintains appropriate case notes and nightly logs, maintaining clear and concise records of all incidents and service plan progress notes.
- Conducts intake orientation interviews with new youth and completes necessary paperwork in relation to intake procedures.
- Assists in arranging appointments, filling prescriptions, and dispensing medication for youth.
- Provides conflict resolution and verbal de-escalation in both group and individual crisis situations, responding and reporting in a timely fashion to aggressive or violent behavior, suicidal ideation or self-harm, allegations of abuse and neglect, unsafe behaviors or circumstances, and sexual exploitation/commercial sexual abuse of youth.
- Completes intake phone calls to Child Protective Services (CPS) in the event that abuse or neglect is identified against a minor (which applies to any youth, not just youth staying at Oasis) in compliance with Mandated Reporting laws.
- Responds to community calls, drop ins, and referrals with appropriate information and directions. Assists youth in crisis with applicable resource navigation.
- Learns about and maintains awareness of local resources for supporting youth in Skagit County.
- Completes a minimum of 24 hours of annual training and continued education in compliance with DCYF licensing regulations for Group Care.
- Attends regularly scheduled staff meetings and ensures completion of other regularly scheduled duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- 21 years of age or older
- Associate's Degree in related field, or equivalent work experience
- Must have good verbal and written communication skills.
- Must attend mandatory staff meetings and trainings.
- Must have knowledge of, or interest in learning, Harm Reduction, Positive Youth Development, and Housing First best practices and how they specifically affect young people.
- Must be able to obtain background check clearance through DCYF. Previous background checks do not apply.
- Completion of a negative TB Test by Mantoux method (required before beginning work).
- Must have or obtain current state approved certifications in CPR/AED, First Aid & Bloodborne Pathogens, WA Food Handler's permit within 30 days of hire.
- Must complete Right Response Advanced Certification course within 60 days of employment.
- Must complete 16 hours of DCYF mandated new hire training before working shifts with youth
Benefits from day 1:
- Free YMCA household membership;
- 403(b) Saving Account enrollment;
Your other benefits will be (waiting period applies):
- 8 paid federal holidays a year (full-time benefited employees to be eligible)
- Paid Sick & Vacation Day (accrual begins from day-1, eligible to use after 90-days)
- 2 paid personal days & 1 paid birthday per year
- Medical, vision, and dental insurance (full-time benefited employees to be eligible)
- 403 (b) Retirement Employer Match (after 2 years with 1,000 hours)
- Life insurance, and more! (full-time benefited employees to be eligible)
- Additional bilingual, premium pay of $1.00 for those who are fluent bilingual Spanish, Triqui, Mixtec, Russian and Ukrainian speakers. Ability to write or translate written materials is not required to receive this premium.
