Youth Support Partner

San Diego Youth Services seeks a Youth Support Partner in the TAY Academy - Housing our Youth program to be based in San Diego. This is a full-time & non-exempt position reporting to the Program Manager. 

San Diego Youth Services:  Who we are

San Diego Youth Services has helped improve the lives of more than 834,000 homeless, runaway and vulnerable youth since its beginning in 1970. We provide safe places to live and long-term solutions through shelter, foster homes, community centers and housing to more than 16,000 youth every year at 100+ community and school locations. Through prevention, early intervention and treatment, we also help youth before they need higher levels of care or become homeless.

We aim to:

1. Meet the basic needs of youth. Hunger, poverty and youth homelessness are on the rise for many youth and their families today. We help meet these basic needs for youth. What could be more vital than food and shelter? We provide safe places to live and long-term solutions through shelter, foster homes, community centers and housing.
2. Create positive connection. We help youth focus on positive life changes and healthy relationships as part of providing needed resources and services. San Diego Youth Services has long provided foster homes and adoption support services for families considering adopting a youth in the foster care system.
3. Help youth develop life skills. In addition to a range of safe and stable housing options, we offer support to help youth develop the independent living skills necessary to become self-sufficient and keep off the streets.
4. Promote overall health and well-being. Early intervention and care for the whole child are critical. We provide a broad continuum of services to help youth overcome trauma and challenges that put them at risk, including case management, counseling, mental health treatment and educational support and resources.

SDYS has a staff of approximately 250 employees and 80 volunteers working across San Diego County and an annual budget of approximately $24 million. 

You can learn more about us at www.sdyouthservices.org. 

CONTEXT OF THE POSITION:

The HOY Program provides specialized wrap-around assistance to youth at-risk of or experiencing homelessness. This position is responsible for providing comprehensive trauma-informed peer support services to youth in drop-in center and throughout San Diego County in order to ensure that standards relating to inclusivity and safety are maintained. The Youth Support Partner is responsible for ensuring that services are safe and accessible and that the overall milieus are supportive, affirming and youth driven.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

1. Conduct outreach to prospective service partners in the community; follow-up on all referrals to HOY program to engage youth and caregivers in services; screen prospective service partners for eligibility to enter program. Triage with Housing Navigator and Clinical Case Manager for needed services.
2. Orient service partners to TAY Academy services through intake and needs assessment, as appropriate and provide crisis intervention, recreational opportunities, and peer support services to youth.
3. Work collaboratively with wrap-around team to provide support services aligned with youth’s goal plans that include accompanying youth and caregivers to meetings/appointments; provide advocacy, independent living skills education and referrals as applicable including housing, medical health, education, and mental health/substance abuse disorders.
4. Facilitate psycho-educational groups for youth and caregivers including life skills, parenting, self-care and health education groups. Engage parent/guardian in order to support reunification when minor is placed at YES, when possible, and/or transition to self-sufficiency.
5. Support advocacy efforts for youth and caregivers serviced within and across the TAY system of care and assist youth and caregivers in locating, coordinating and developing informal and formal resources and networks in the community.

SDYS EXPECTATIONS:

• Adhere to and uphold the rigorous standards of SDYS as mandated by its mission, purpose, guiding principles and standards of quality.
• Maintain confidentiality and privacy standards of service partner protected health information and other applicable information and material in accordance to agency and center policies, and applicable regulations and laws including HIPAA.
• Welcome and support SDYS volunteers and assist them in accomplishing their services whenever applicable.
• Effectively communicate with people from diverse backgrounds and experiences.
• Receive and give supportive feedback to foster equity and inclusion in working relationships.
• Recognize, nurture, and learn from strengths in co-workers.
• Maintain warm, welcoming and safe work environments.
• Possess flexibility to accomplish job responsibilities in several work environments, whether it be from home, on the road, or in an office.

PREFERRED EDUCATION, YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor Degree Preferred. Must have direct experience as a consumer (or Care-Giver of a consumer) of mental health services, the juvenile justice system, child protective services, homelessness or special education. That is, applicant must have directly experienced system involvement. Must be at least 21 years of age and have a High School diploma. Bi-lingual desirable. Completed Peer Specialist training preferred. 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:  Must have own, reliable transportation and must be able to provide transport to youth as needed in the community. 

STRATEGIC IMPACT: Support efforts to end youth homelessness in San Diego and increase youths’ capacity to live self-sufficient lives.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: This position does not have supervisory responsibilities 

Hourly Pay Range: $20 - $23

To apply, please send resume and cover letter through job posting on SDYS website.

SDYS offers a comprehensive benefits package to full time employees that includes generous PTO, personal holidays, health, vision, dental, life insurance, parental leave and a 403(b)-retirement plan with matching contribution.  SDYS is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) employer.

All are welcome at San Diego Youth Services.  

As an organization working to meet the basic needs of youth, create positive connections, help youth develop life skills, and promote overall health and well-being, SDYS believes its practices and actions must reflect the highest level of commitment to access, equity, and social justice. 

The collective sum of the individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, innovation, self-expression, and talent that our members invest in their work represents not only part of the SDYS’ culture, but the SDYS’ reputation and achievements as well. SDYS remains open to feedback from all communities it touches and knows that input from those with direct experience of issues will make the SDYS more effective in achieving its goals.

SDYS is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.  Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. In compliance with the Immigration and Nationality Act as amended, all new employees must verify their eligibility to work in the United States.

SDYS is proud to be a Kindness Certified company.