Youth Care Specialist II

Los Angeles LGBT Center; California; On-site; USD 30,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Life Insurance

Long-Term Disability

Employee Assistance Program

403(b) Retirement Plan

Job summary

The Los Angeles LGBT Center is seeking a Youth Care Specialist for the Youth Center program in Los Angeles. This role supports youth experiencing homelessness with wraparound services, case management, and housing navigation in a LGBTQ+ affirming environment.

The position emphasizes crisis intervention, housing stability planning, and collaboration with a multidisciplinary team. Evening/weekend shifts may be required and fluency in English/Spanish is a plus.

Qualifications

• Experience working with LGBTQ youth and at-risk populations.

Responsibilities

• Provide oversight and supervision of housing programs.
• Engage drop-ins, residents and community members with information and engagement opportunities.
• Conduct intake, assessments, and develop service plans with youth.

Skills

LGBTQ youth experience

Wraparound care planning

Crisis intervention

Case management

De-escalation techniques

Bilingual (English/Spanish)

Transportation access

Education

Master’s Degree in Social Work or related field

Tools

HMIS

Job description

Position: #901351

Program: Youth Center

Department: Youth Services

Reports to: Senior Program Manager, Youth Housing

Shift Differential Premium: Additional $2.00 per hour for hours worked between 6pm-6am

Schedule: Tuesday - Saturday 9:00am-5:30pm

Status: Non-Exempt, Union

Probation: 90 days

Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision; also including Life Insurance, Long-Term Disability, Employee Assistance Program, and a 403(b) Retirement Plan

Center’s Mission

Building a world where LGBT people thrive as healthy, equal, and complete members of society.

DEPARTMENT SUMMARY: The Youth Center serves youth up to the age of 24 who are currently at-risk of or experiencing homelessness. The Youth Center offers services in an LGBTQ+ safe and affirming environment and serves as an entry point to assist youth making the transition from homelessness to housing. Our services include meals, clothing, support groups, a charter high school, GED and college prep program, an employment preparation, training and placement program, street outreach, case management, counseling, a crisis shelter, a transitional living program (TLP) and supportive apartments. Our community-based programs include services for youth at-home, in school or in systems of care.

JOB SUMMARY The Youth Care Specialist provides a variety of supportive services including but not limited to, direct oversight and supervision of drop-in and 24/7 interim & permanent supportive housing programs, assistance with basic needs, street outreach, employment preparation and placement assistance, education, housing navigation, individualized case management, crisis intervention and behavioral support, transportation and other services that address the overall needs of drop-in, residential and community members. This position works with a population that is currently or formerly experiencing homelessness and has high rates of mental health, health and substance-related issues. The ideal candidate must be familiar with and have experience with this population.

Essential Functions

• Develop a comprehensive, wraparound plan of care to assess and address the complex needs of youth; document, track and evaluate outcomes.
• Under the supervision of the Senior Program Manager provide leadership and promote high-quality service delivery within the program.
• Assist Program Manager with the oversight, compliance and development of the program.
• Provide support for YCS’s needing ad hoc case conferencing.
• Provide a welcoming presence onsite for drop-in members and residents to engage with by answering questions, providing information and facilitating engagement opportunities.
• Provide a comprehensive continuum of homelessness prevention services, including street outreach, employment preparation and placement assistance, education, individualized case management, housing navigation, housing location and retention, and other supportive services.
• Follow a framework of care goals and department protocols to ensure member and resident safety, provide crisis intervention and de‑scalation along a spectrum of intervention techniques.
• Provide direct supervision and assistance with basic needs (meals, clothing, hygiene) needs and day to day program operations.
• Conduct intake, CES assessment, and individualized needs assessments and collaborate with youth to develop a services and housing stability plan that addresses barriers to obtaining services, housing and healthcare.
• As the primary Point of Contact work in collaboration with a team of service providers in an effort to obtain, stabilize and maintain housing.
• Implement a philosophy‑of‑care, including housing‑first, harm‑reduction and trauma‑informed care principles.
• Collaborate with other LA LGBT Center departments and outside organizations agencies on youth events, resources and youth development opportunities.
• Plan and facilitate programming, events and activities utilizing a Positive Youth development framework that develops a sense of competence, usefulness, power and belonging among at‑risk youth, youth experiencing homelessness, at‑home/at‑school youth and youth who see themselves as the leaders of the future.
• Conduct outreach and engagement.
• Complete general operational and administrative work such as compiling data, statistics, preparing reports, and drafting correspondence.
• Organize and maintain program files and materials through data entry and database maintenance.
• Assist with special projects as directed by management staff.
• Other duties as assigned.

Job Qualifications And Experience

• Knowledge of or experience working with the LGBTQ community and familiarity with issues of particular relevance to LGBTQ people.
• A passion for the Center’s work and its mission to make the world a better place for LGBTQ people.
• Ability to develop and coordinate a comprehensive, wraparound plan of care to assess and address the complex needs of youth. document, track and evaluate outcomes.
• Knowledge and understanding of the issues affecting LGBTQ youth, including experience working with high risk youth (specific work with gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and/or runaway youth a plus).
• Minimum 6 years of experience in related field, specifically working with youth experiencing homelessness/housing instability, foster youth, and/or mental illness, low‑income, or individuals experiencing homelessness or Master’s Degree (Social Work, Social Services, Public Health or related field).
• Minimum 5 years case management experience or similar job experience working with target population.
• Experience with substance abuse/mental health case management and crisis intervention.
• HMIS experience.
• Ability to describe the philosophies, practices, policies and outcomes of the most generally accepted supported models of treatment for people experiencing homelessness.
• Knowledge of housing‑first, harm‑reduction, trauma‑informed care principles.
• Have demonstrated knowledge or experience with case management techniques, including critical time intervention, harm reduction strategies, crisis intervention techniques and motivational interviewing.
• Ability to work with a high acuity population and able to de‑scalate threatening/volatile situations with clients.
• Ability to perform under circumstances of possible emotional stress and conflict, including dealing with uncooperative clients.
• Ability to apply principles of professional boundaries and ethics to on the job situations.
• Ability to build rapport and trust with youth and demonstrate active (reflective listening).
• Knowledgeable of the principles of Positive Youth Development. ability to engage youth and facilitate workshops.
• Be able and willing to work flexible hours which may include evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Bilingual skills, a plus (English/Spanish fluency preferred, American Sign Language fluency, a plus).
• Access to reliable transportation and the ability to be insured.
• Must be able to pass a fingerprint clearance, background check, including criminal history, personal references, employment and education verifications.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with people of diverse races, ethnicities, nationalities, sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expression, socio‑economic backgrounds, religions, ages, English‑speaking abilities, immigration status, and physical abilities in a multicultural environment.

The Los Angeles LGBT Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to fostering diversity within its staff. Applications are encouraged from all persons regardless of their race, color, ancestry, religious creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, medical/physical/mental condition, pregnancy/childbirth and related medical condition, age, marital status, or veteran status.

The Center requires that all Health Services, Senior Services, and staff working at clinical site locations receive to the most up-to-date Influenza vaccinations and strongly recommends that staff also receive the latest COVID-19 vaccine. Staff not working at any of the Center’s clinical sites are encouraged to receive the latest COVID-19 and Influenza vaccines but are not required to do so. For more information, please contact [e-mail] .