Youth Engagement Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Description

Youth Futures is seeking Youth Engagement Specialists (YES staff) to encourage and mentor youth who are experiencing 

homelessness at the shelter. YES staff are responsible to create a supportive environment, to help youth make healthy connections, 

build life skills, and pursue their goals within a safe and stable environment. YES staff are part of the core floor-staff team in the 

shelter, and will help youth to meet immediate needs, find stability, connect with resources, and make plans for their future. They are 

responsible for the 24/7 supervision and support of up to 16 runaway and homeless youth in shelter, with ages ranging from 12-18. 

YES staff provide basic caregiving, including preparing meals, providing clothing and other necessities, maintaining the cleanliness of 

the shelter, processing incoming donations, and monitoring the safety of the youth and facility. In addition to essential and basic 

caregiving, Youth Engagements Specialists will work to build raport with youth to help them to build a sense of connection, 

belonging, and purpose, as they identify and pursue their goals and plan for their next steps after shelter. 

Requirements

YOUTH ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST ROLE AND GOALS: 

Each of these pillars outlines the essential functions and primary goals of the role of the Youth Engagement Specialist. The Youth 

Engagement Specialist provides critical guidance for youth in crisis with these primary goals: 

Mentorship and Engagement: 

• Building report and engaging youth in supportive conversations and activities to help youth stay focused on goal planning for 
• their futures 
• Facilitating workshops and activities to build life skills, encourage healthy connections and processing, and to meet youth goals, 
• in coordination with case management 
• Communicating youth progress, needs and risk levels to case managers and other staff 
• Advocating for and assisting youth with ongoing goals 
• Assist with managing conflict between residents; de-escalate and help residents reach compromise, and provide crisis intervention 
• as needed 

Providing Safe Shelter: 

• Assisting new residents into shelter by using trauma-informed interview skills, with meticulous, detailed note-taking and 
• documentation while providing for immediate needs for shelter, provided 24/7 
• Maintaining a safe and clean environment for youth in crisis to rest, regroup and relaunch, including performing janitorial duties 
• (i.e., sweep, mop, vacuum, dust, deep cleaning bathrooms and kitchen, taking-out trash, restock supplies, etc) 
• Identify and communicate maintenance needs 
• Safely and efficiently carry out emergency procedures in the case of fire, illness, accident, drug overdose, self-harm, 
• administering CPR/ first aid if necessary, coordinating with medical or emergency personnel, and documenting incidents 

Supervision: 

• Provide constant supervision of resident youth at all times, and assisting with morning and bedtime routines 
• Perform security checks in and outside of the building to adequately maintain supervision of the house 
• Using the computer to track youth in and out of the shelter, tracking services received by each youth, tracking critical monitoring 
• checks, performing searches and documenting incidents 

Meeting Needs: 

• Providing clothing, bedding, hygiene supplies, or anything else a youth needs at intake or during stay 
• Ensuring access to nutritious food, serving and document meals throughout the day as set out in the weekly menu and managed 
• by the shelter Cook 
• Monitoring and reporting healthcare needs or concerns, and ensuring compliance with daily medication regimen 
• Organizing donations and inventory 

Communicating & Working with the Team: 

• Communicating with new staff for a smooth shift transition, through discussion, completing paperwork, and entering documentation into the computer to make sure that all staff are up to date on needs and next steps 
• Participating in regular supervision, training, and staff meetings 
• Keep all required clearances and certifications up to date to have the skills and knowledge to best serve youth 
• Ensuring that all information is correctly consistently and accurately so that we can show needs, efforts and results to funders, donors and licensing agencies and support future services 
• Other duties as assigned 

JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

1. A degree in a human services field and/or three years related work experience preferred 
2. A minimum of 400 hours in human services field 
3. One year of supervisory experience preferred. Consideration will be given to applicants who have excellent skills in communication, interpersonal relationships and organization. Spanish speaking is a plus. 
4. Previous experience with persons experiencing homelessness, youth, or other vulnerable populations is preferred. 
5. Valid driver license, a good driving record and proof of insurance 
6. No evidence of criminal activity involving a dependent population or any violent criminal activity. 
7. Certification in CPR, First Aid and Food Handlers or ability to obtain. 
8. Ability to obtain and maintain UHMIS (Utah Homeless Management Information System) certification for data collection, as well as other professional trainings. 
9. Ability to read, write legibly, and understand written directives and policies. 
10. Ability to communicate with staff, residents and their family and community organizations. 

PREFERRED QUALITIES: 

1. Ability to work in a fast paced, unpredictable, challenging environment without becoming overwhelmed 
2. Ability to adjust communication skills to work effectively with superiors, colleagues, youth, parents/guardians, and community members. 
3. Understand the mission and vision of the program fully and work to implement it 
4. Ability to address concerns directly and take constructive criticism when necessary 
5. Highly organized, detail oriented, and acutely observant 
6. Ability to research, problem solve, and build strong relationships with community partners in order to assist youth in achieving their goals 
7. Not easily triggered by working with strong personality types and can maintain appropriate boundaries and self-care practices when dealing with youth from traumatic backgrounds 
8. Can commit to stay with the organization for at least 3 years 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: 

Ability to perform a range of physical motions, exerting up to 50 pounds. Walking, hiking, lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds; 

standing, walking, sitting for long periods of time, kneeling, squatting, and stooping; running for brief periods of time.

Hours: Full-Time - This position includes working some evenings, weekends and on-call.

COMPENSATION: 

• Pay: Starting base pay of $18.00 per hour, with increases considered after 6-month evaluation. 

Benefits: 

• Full-time benefits will commence at 90 days, with positive performance review
• 1 weeks per year of Paid Time Off (PTO) to be accrued 
• Time-and-a-half for hours worked on 6 company holidays 
• $100,000 of life insurance 
• Health Insurance: 
• Select Health $500 deductible plan paid 100% by Youth Futures 
• 401K plan to vested employees matched 100% on first 3% contribution, 50% on next 2% 
• $1,000 sign-on bonus to be paid for new hires after 1 year of service, and positive performance 

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION: 

Youth Futures does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, or political affiliation. 

Candidates from underrepresented groups and diverse experiences are encouraged to apply: Multilingual, ethnoracial minorities, 

LGBTQIA+, people with disabilities, people with experience serving youth, recovery, homelessness, first-generation students, 

immigrants, plural families, and other experiences that will inform service to our diverse homeless youth population.