Youth Support Specialist - Relief Team Member - Alba Program

New Avenues for Youth; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 29,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

New Avenues for Youth in Portland, OR operates the Alba program and seeks a Youth Support Specialist for relief shifts. The role supports youth ages 9-17 who are at risk or experiencing housing instability, offering crisis intervention, safety planning, and rapid placement coordination.

Shifts include overnight coverage with a focus on weekend hours; the role emphasizes trauma-informed care, positive youth development, and space upkeep at the SE Stark Street facility.

Qualifications

• Experience working with high‑risk populations.
• Understanding issues of substance abuse, mental health, trauma, abuse, and adolescent development.
• Ability to work with sexually diverse staff and participants.
• Excellent communication, organization and interpersonal skills.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and mileage reimbursement eligibility.
• Willingness to participate in space cleaning and upkeep.

Responsibilities

• Provide crisis intervention and safety planning for high‑risk youth.
• Coordinate emergency placement with a multi‑agency team.
• Engage youth using Positive Youth Development and Trauma Informed Care.
• Assist in upkeep and cleanliness of the program space.

Skills

Experience with high-risk populations

Substance abuse awareness

Mental health awareness

Trauma-informed care

Interpersonal skills

Excellent communication

Driver's license

Job description

Youth Support Specialist - Relief Team Member - Alba Program

Pay : $21.00 - $23.00 per hour depending on the shift worked

Are you looking for an extremely flexible schedule that allows you to work when it aligns with your schedule? Are you interested in supporting young people who are at-risk or currently experiencing houselessness? If so, this Youth Support Specialist role may be just what you’re looking for!

While day, swing, and overnight shifts are worked by those in this relief role, there is an emphasis on the need for overnight shift coverage at $23.00 per hour. Day and swing shift coverage pays $21.00 per hour.

What is asked of a Youth Support Specialist in a Relief role?

The Alba Collaborative provides prevention, early intervention, and 24/7 crisis line and supportive services to youth ages 9-17 who are at-risk of or are experiencing housing instability. Some of the services provided include crisis intervention, short-term emergency housing, basic needs, and transportation. Shifts are offered at our Youth Opportunity Center located at SE Stark Street and 165th Avenue.

The Alba Relief Youth Support Specialist fills in for vacant shifts when they are available to do so. This is primarily overnight and weekend shifts to cover for planned vacations, holidays, sick days, and unplanned absences. This position will provide crisis intervention, safety planning, and emergency placement coordination with an interdisciplinary, multi-agency team to high‑risk youth who are homeless or at‑risk. The Specialist will engage youth and provide services through the Positive Youth Development model and Trauma Informed Care frame. They also assist in the upkeep of the space by keeping it clean.

Qualifications:

• Experience working with high‑risk populations
• Understands the issues of substance abuse, mental health, trauma, abuse, and adolescent development including brain development
• Experience, ability and commitment to working with sexual minority and culturally diverse staff, participants, and community
• Excellent communication, organization, creativity, flexibility, optimism, positive humor, and overall interpersonal skills
• Potential use of personal automobile for transporting self and clients for work purposes (mileage reimbursement provided)
• Must have a valid driver’s license
• Ability to participate in the cleaning and up‑keep of the program space

Our Commitment to Equity:

At New Avenues for Youth, we envision a community where all young people thrive. We recognize that historical inequities and intersecting forms of oppression have created barriers for many. We are unwavering in our commitment to dismantling these barriers and fostering a truly equitable space where every voice is heard and valued.

A person in this position must be able to perform with or without accommodation the essential functions of this job including any physical requirements associated with this role. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be routinely exposed to outdoor weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. If the position may require the use of any personal protective equipment, New Avenues will have such equipment on hand for the employee’s use.

Any candidate deemed viable for this position based on resources and resume submission will be contacted to participate in a screen interview to discuss interest and job compatibility. Of those screened, advancing candidates will be asked to participate in a subsequent interview or interviews to evaluate job qualifications and interest further. From this process, a hiring selection will be made.

New Avenues for Youth is an Equal Opportunity Employer.