Youth Engagement Specialist - DFCS

The County of Santa Clara; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The County of Santa Clara seeks a Youth Engagement Specialist to engage emancipated foster youth and provide peer outreach from the Hub Youth Resource/Community Center in San Jose. You will work with Bill Wilson Center to align services for youth ages 15-25 and support the Hub membership.

This on-site role requires experience with foster youth and strong relationship-building. Monday–Friday, 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM schedule noted.

Qualifications

• Must have lived experience as dependent of the foster care system.
• Six months experience providing outreach and peer support to emancipated foster youth.
• Knowledge of foster youth culture and local resources.
• Ability to communicate effectively with youth and partners.

Responsibilities

• Conduct outreach to educate community partners and foster care youth about Center services and resources.
• Act as a peer mentor for former and current foster youth visiting the Center.
• Assist youth in using Center resources such as computers and information boards.
• Provide customer service to visitors and callers and direct to appropriate resources.
• Plan and coordinate events, outings, and programs for former and current foster youth.

Skills

Outreach & peer support

Mentoring youth

Customer service

Public speaking

Event planning

Education

Lived foster care experience

Six months outreach experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Under general supervision, to engage and provide peer-to-peer outreach support services to emancipated foster youth and to assist in the program operations of the Hub Youth Resource/Community Center.

The Department of Family & Children's Services (DFCS) Family Support Bureau, Transition Age Youth Unit has a vacancy for a Youth Engagement Specialist (YES), located at the Hub youth center, 1510 Parkmoor Avenue, San Jose, CA. 95128 The YES will engage and provide peer- to peer-outreach and support services to former foster youth ages 18-25. The YES will work closely with the Bill Wilson Center to coordinate services and programs for the Hub membership ages 15-25 years. The Youth Engagement Specialist is an entry and working level classification in partnership with the Employment Support Unclassified Program (ESUP) in the County Employment for Foster Youth Program. The ideal candidate should have experience working directly with foster youth and building relationships to engage in program services. This position has an on-site work schedule of Monday - Friday, 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM.

For additional questions regarding this opportunity, please contact Marisela Martinez at [phone] or [e-mail]

• Conducts outreach to educate community partners and foster care youth about Center services and resources available, including center tours, public presentations, or guest speaking engagements;
• Acts as a peer mentor for former and current foster care youth who visit the Center, by providing and directing them to available resources and information;
• Assists youth in utilizing Center resources such as computers, information boards, copiers, printers, and other onsite services;
• Provides customer service to visitors, callers and answering questions and directing them to appropriate resources and services;
• Maintains onsite resources which may include the HubMart, donations, and literature;
• Assists with planning and implementing events, outings, and programs for former and current foster youth including creating event flyers, programs, and scripts;
• Schedules and reserves rooms for events, meetings, and conferences onsite;
• Prepares and sets up meeting rooms for conferences;
• Ensures that the community/resource center is organized and presentable at all times;
• May be assigned as Disaster Service Worker, as required;
• Perform other related duties as required.

Sufficient education, training, and experience to demonstrate the possession and direct application of the following knowledge and abilities:

Training and Experience Note: The required knowledge and abilities are acquired through lived experience as a dependent of the foster care system,

AND

Six (6) months experience providing outreach and peer support to emancipated foster youth.

Knowledge of:

• Foster youth culture and experience;
• Local resources for current and former foster youth;
• Basic youth engagement strategies;
• Common computer applications;
• Basic office practices and procedures;
• Procedures and etiquette greeting visitors and answering telephones;
• General English usage including grammar, punctuation, and spelling.

Ability to:

• Communicate effectively in providing information and assisting callers and visitors;
• Effectively engage and interact with current and former foster youth;
• Understand, empathize, and identify with the experience of youth currently or formerly in the foster caret system;
• Deal tactfully and courteously with the youth, community partners, internal staff, and other stakeholders;
• Prepare and demonstrate effective public presentations:
• Use a computer and basic applications;
• Follow and understand oral and written instructions.