Teen Support Specialist - Part Time

ORGANIZATION: Friends of Switchpoint is a non-profit organization that has been serving those individuals, families and veterans experiencing poverty and homelessness since 2014.

OUR MISSION: To empower families and individuals in need by addressing the underlying causes of their poverty and providing each client with a personalized, comprehensive plan that supports them on their journey to self-sufficiency and the opportunity to contribute to the community.

OUR VISION: We believe each individual has worth and value. Change occurs when people are treated with respect and dignity, empowered with skills and resources to better their circumstance.

CULTURE VALUES:

• Kindness – Remember Kindness is Contagious!
• Connection – It is why we are here and what gives purpose & meaning to life!
• Kinship – We want you and those we serve to feel a sense of Belonging.
• Self-Worth – Treat people the way they can become w/True Value & Worth!
• Self-Reliance – Learn your role and take initiative!! We want “Fishermen”!

GUIDING PRINCIPLES:

• Kindness: To demonstrate compassion and respect for all people.
• Leadership: To lead by example, developing, promoting, and sharing innovative ideas and programs to help those experiencing homelessness.
• Transparency: To be open and honest in our relationships.
• Authenticity: To do what we say we do.
• Positive Influence: To judge our effectiveness by the extent to which individual lives are saved and improved by the positive experience of the people we influence.
• Golden Rule: To treat all people as we ourselves would wish to be treated.

OUR MOTTO: It Takes All of Us to End Homelessness.

Job Summary: The Teen Living Center is a 24/7 live in center for homeless teens ages 16-18. We are looking for reliable energetic individuals with a passion for serving our residents who come from diverse backgrounds and may need extra support. The Teen Support Specialist will foster a welcoming, safe and secure environment. Teen Support Specialist will be a reliable energetic individual with a passion for serving for helping our residents who come from diverse backgrounds and may need extra support. This person will foster a welcoming, safe and secure environment.

Responsibilities:

Direct Care:

• Actively listen to the needs of the teens and act to meet those needs appropriately.
• Understand and implement Switchpoint’s mission and values and adhere to all policies and procedures.
• Assist with meal preparation, homework, and overseeing chores.
• Maintain detailed daily logs of teens’ activities, incidents, and concerns.
• Promptly communicate concerns about teens to management.
• Complete necessary paperwork and documentation accurately and timely.
• Participate in staff meetings, shift reports, and training sessions.
• Provide life skills support to teens: budgeting, cooking, cleaning, calendaring, goal setting, time management, healthy relationships, etc.

Facility Management:

• Maintain a clean and organized home environment.
• Conduct regular bag and room checks to ensure teens’ safety and well-being.
• Update maintenance log with maintenance requests.

Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent. Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Must be at least 21 years old.
• Ability to set strong boundaries, maintain confidentiality, and exercise discretion.
• Experience working with youth, preferably in a social services or residential setting.
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, time management, and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Valid driver's license and clean driving record.
• This is a drug and alcohol-free house, no staff may participate in on site drug or alcohol use, including smoking/vaping.
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, and lift up to 50 pounds.

Compensation:

Wage range: $16 - $18/hour.

Switchpoint offers, for full-time employees, a benefits package that includes medical/vision/dental, PTO, and up to 5% 401k match.

Keywords: Youth care worker, teen care worker, homeless teens, residential care, social services, life skills, mental health, child welfare