Youth Advocate

First Place for Youth; Oakland (CA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 49,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation days

Sick days

Floating holidays

Paid holidays

Health insurance

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

FSA

401(k)

Life insurance

Employee Assistance Program

Paid sabbatical

Job summary

First Place for Youth is seeking a Youth Advocate (YA-ACSF) to support foster youth on their pathway to housing stability, education, and employment. This hybrid role combines onsite, home, and community-based work from Monday through Friday, with a focus on strength-based, culturally competent, youth-centered coaching.

You will provide individualized counseling, life skills training, and career coaching, collaborating with county workers, schools, employers, and other providers to help youth

Qualifications

• BA in social work, psychology, counselling or equivalent required with minimum four years of experience in child welfare or transition-age youth settings.
• Master's Degree in related field preferred.
• Strong commitment to cultural competency and ability to work in diverse communities.
• Comfortable working in community settings and able to work independently.
• Must be able to pass a Community Care Licensing background check.
• Requires valid CA driver’s license, car, and auto insurance.
• Proficiency with MS Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Project and Outlook.

Responsibilities

• Provide youth with individual counseling, crisis intervention, referrals, advocacy and life skills training.
• Conduct weekly in-person meetings to set and pursue independent living goals.
• Gathers and analyzes information to ensure safety and progress of youth.
• Provide career coaching and job readiness support; assist with education and housing goals.
• Organize and facilitate youth and team meetings; develop plans to ensure housing stability and employment.

Skills

MS Word

Excel

Access

PowerPoint

Project

Outlook

Education

BA in social work

Master’s Degree (preferred)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Are you dedicated to empowering and supporting youth, regardless of their background? We're searching for passionate individuals to make a positive impact on the lives of foster youth. Become an integral part of their transformative journey and join the First Place for Youth team.

About First Place for Youth, we’re a leading non‑profit organization dedicated to supporting foster youth in their transition to adulthood, with a focus on education, employment, and housing. We believe that all young people deserve the opportunity to thrive and lead successful, independent lives. Our comprehensive programs empower foster youth to overcome the unique challenges they face and build the skills, confidence, and connections they need to succeed.

Why Work At First Place For Youth

Meaningful Impact: Help to transform the lives of foster youth on the cusp of adulthood. Your role will support them in their journey to conquer challenges, achieve independence, and fulfill their aspirations.

Innovative Approach: We thrive on innovation, pushing the boundaries of foster care support. Your voice here matters, and you’ll contribute to programs that redefine the futures of these young lives.

Collaborative and Supportive Environment: Embrace a dynamic and supportive workplace, where every team member is valued. Together, we're a force dedicated to uplifting youth. Expect professional growth, fueled by teamwork and collaboration.

Comprehensive Benefits: We value the well‑being of our employees and offer a comprehensive benefits package. From health and wellness benefits to retirement plans, we ensure that our team members are taken care of so they can focus on their important work supporting foster youth.

Culture of Diversity and Inclusion: We celebrate diversity in every form. At First Place for Youth, inclusivity reigns, creating a workplace where all voices are heard, respected, and empowered.

POSITION OVERVIEW: The Youth Advocate (YA)-ACSF

The Youth Advocate (YA)-ACSF is a hybrid position responsible for case management, psycho-social assessment, targeted life skills, employment and education coaching, and development and implementation of intervention strategies to foster care youth in our MFP program. The position provides coaching to support each youth to achieve goals of housing stability, sustainable and sustaining employment, and educational achievement. The YA must understand what it takes to support youth in developing goals related to secondary and post-secondary education, career development and obtaining and maintaining a pathway to living wage.

The YA is active in developing, supporting and implementing an individualized, strength ‘based, culturally competent, youth-centered approach. A Successful Youth Advocate understands how to motivate, influence, and mentor young adults to achieve goals while launching adult lives from foster care. This position is a combination of onsite, youth’s home and community-based work Monday through Friday.

DUTIES + RESPONSIBILITIES

Direct Care And Interventions

Provide youth with individual counseling, crisis intervention, referrals, advocacy and life skills training.

Conduct weekly, in person meetings with youth assigned to caseload to develop independent living related goals and identify steps to achieve goals, including financial literacy, wellness, good tenancy, parenting, relationships, education planning and employment supports. Provide continuous coaching, identify barriers and develop joint-plans to achieve success with youth and natural supporters.

In-residence visits are mandatory as outlined in the program guidelines.

Gathers and analyzes on‑going information to ensure youth safety, well‑being and progress.

Provide career coaching through job readiness, handling work-related issues, promote self-advocacy and increase success in job retention and growth, as well as education research, preparedness and steps towards completion.

Organizes, schedules, and facilitates youth and team meetings.

Provides on‑going assessment of youth well‑being and develops plans to ensure safety, preventative interventions planning and de‑escalate crisis as needed.

Collaborates with community providers including county workers, courts, professionals, vocational and independent living skills programs, schools, employers, family members and significant others.

Prepare clients to maintain housing after program exit or help them to identify alternative housing options if necessary.

Qualifications

• Attend weekly program meetings, monthly agency staff meetings, and individual weekly supervision with Program Manager
• Completes documentation including but not limited to Care and Services plans, needs assessments, and progress notes
• Ensures all needed paperwork and consents are completed for each client at time of entry
• Maintain files for caseload and update monthly paperwork
• Participates in agency committee as assigned
• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

• BA in social work, psychology, counselling or equivalent required with Minimum four years of experience working in a child welfare social services setting or with transition age youth with complex presentations including chronic trauma.
• Master's Degree in a social work, psychology, counselling or equivalent preferred.
• A strong dedication to cultural competency that creates conditions that remove barriers and increase a sense of belonging.
• Must be comfortable working in community settings.
• Willingness to work collaboratively, but with the capacity to work independently.
• Must be able to pass a Community Care Licensing background check.
• Must have a car, a valid CA driver’s license and auto insurance.
• Computer skills -- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications including MS Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint, Project and Outlook.
• Experience with database systems.
• Availability for occasional evening and weekend work and some travel as needed.

Benefits

• 15 days of vacation time in the first year
• 12 days of sick time
• 2 floating holidays
• 15 paid holidays
• Employee’s choice of Kaiser or UCH HMO/PPO with up to 90% of the premium covered by First Place on certain plans
• Principal dental and vision coverage with up to 90% of the premium covered by First Place
• Healthcare and Dependent care FSA plans
• Principal basic life and voluntary life insurance coverage
• Employee Assistance Program
• 401(k) retirement savings plan
• Paid sabbatical

Bachelor's Degree Pay Range: $30.52 - $32.22/Hourly

Master's Degree Pay Range: $33.81 - $35.91/Hourly

• We do not offer relocation assistance Local candidates preferred
• Pay will be determined based on Education and Experience.

Compensation details: 30.52-35.91 Hourly Wage

We are unable to sponsor work visas now or in the future.

First Place will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and applicable law. You do not need to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting the California Civil Rights Department Fair Chance Act webpage or reviewing this guidance provide by the City of San Francisco. For additional information regarding your rights, please also review the Summary of Your Rights Under the FCRA.