Kansas City: Youth Advocate

The HALO Foundation (haloworldwide.org); Missouri; On-site; USD 32,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Professional development

Paid training

CPR certification training

Job summary

The HALO Foundation seeks a Youth Advocate to support homeless youth (ages 16–21) and their children at HALO Home. You will work with the KC Program Director to manage caseloads, build trusting relationships, and apply trauma-informed care approaches in daily activities and education.

You’ll drive residents as needed, assist with life skills, and help organize family nights and activities while documenting progress and ensuring regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• High school diploma required; bachelor’s degree preferred in social work or human services.
• Experience or background in counseling or case management is a plus.
• Must be 21 years of age or older with clean driving record.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate case management with Program Director and Senior Youth Advocate.
• Engage residents and dependents using trauma-informed care principles.
• Drive residents to school, work, or appointments as needed.
• Support HALO Daily Programs and life skills activities for residents.
• Organize family nights, activities, and evening/weekend events.
• Document resident progress daily using tracking software and state reporting.

Skills

Relationship building

Organizational skills

Critical thinking

Written & verbal communication

Trauma-Informed Care

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Undergraduate degree in social work or human services

Tools

Apricot software

Slack

HALO van logistics

Job description

Help one more child spend one less day alone. HALO Home is a transitional living program for homeless youth ages 16-21 years and their children. HALO is looking for applicants with experience working with at-risk youth, and who enjoy activity and interaction with residents and their children. Minimum 21 years of age.The Youth Advocate position is comprised of 3 main job responsibilities:Work closely with the KC Program Director and Senior Youth Advocate to coordinate case management for residents assigned to your caseload. Actively engage with residents and their dependents to form trusting relationships with them through utilization of Trauma Informed Care principles and a strengths-based approach.Be available to assist residents as needed, such as: drive them to school, work, or doctor appointments on a daily basis utilizing the provided HALO van. Advocating alongside residents at appointments or meetings as needed.Manage and assist in facilitation of resident progress and education around structured HALO Daily Programs courses as well as unstructured life skill time.HALO Life Skills are a required portion of the HALO Home, where residents participate in group life skills and self-study courses that help residents gain and assess their skills in the areas of: Daily Living, Self Care, Relationships & Communication, Housing & Money Management and Career & Education.Unstructured life skill time provides the opportunity for Youth Advocates to role model positive and growth promoting behaviors in residents. This includes, but is not limited to: Preparing a meal together, assisting them with any issues they have with their living space, participating in daily room checks, and supervision of daily assigned chores.Additional Responsibilities Include:Help to organize and participate in Family Night activities and/or speakers and meals to take place on Thursday evenings with all residents.Facilitate and participate in evening and weekend activities that promote communal living amongst residents, allowing residents to provide input in activities that take place.Should a resident break any rule(s) or an emergency situation occurs, the Youth Advocate will report the occurrence to the Senior Youth Advocate and take the proper steps outlined in the Policy Handbook.Engage in aftercare efforts to keep past residents engaged with HALO, helping to provide support outside of residential services and document efforts for state and federal purposes.Maintain thorough daily documentation of resident progress utilizing HALO youth tracking software, Apricot, and team communication tool, Slack, as well as complete proper documentation and paperwork required by state licensing and federal regulations on a timely basisHelp to create a welcoming environment for all residents, team members, volunteers and donors that enter the HALO Home, as well as assisting HALO in maintaining the regulations and requirements of a State licensed residential facility.Manage Volunteers and Interns during shifts as it relates to resident interaction or progress.Qualifications:Youth Advocate is committed to HALOs mission of helping one more child spend one less day alone. It's important that this role models the HALO purpose that every child should have the support of a family.Must have obtained a minimum of a high school diploma. Undergraduate degree preferred, particularly in Social Work or Human Services Field. Background in counseling or case management is a plus. The HALO Home is staffed 24/7, 365 days/year.Relationship building skills and the ability to successfully work with at-risk youth in the home.Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage projects.Critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills.Strong written and verbal communication skills for anecdotal notes used for state licensing.Comfortable with using new software systems.Candidates must have a clean driving record and must pass a background check and fingerprints.Reliable transportation to and from work, year round.40 hours a year Professional Development provided.Must be at least 21 years of age.Paid training provided for Med-Tech Administration and CPR certification at the HALO home. Employees must pass both certifications.Study guide provided for Class E license test, needed to drive the van for transporting residents. Expectation to pass the Class E within 30 days of hire.Positions will be filled as soon as suitable applicants are found.