Youth Support Specialist - Transitional Housing

Valley Teen Ranch; Fresno (CA); On-site; USD 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Valley Teen Ranch is seeking dependable Youth Support Specialists to help young adults ages 18–24 transition from the Juvenile Justice Center into the community. This is a hands-on, relationship-based role where you will support daily living skills, employment, education, transportation, and communication, using trauma-informed and strength-based approaches to foster independence and stability.

You may assist with job search, budgeting, interview prep, and housing support, while maintaining

Qualifications

• Patient, dependable and responsible
• Strong communicator
• Comfortable with young adults ages 18–24
• Able to stay calm and professional in challenging situations
• Organized and able to work independently
• Willing to learn and adapt
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries
• Team player with good judgment and integrity
• Punctual and reliable
• Committed to treating residents with dignity and respect

Responsibilities

• Build supportive professional relationships with residents while maintaining healthy boundaries.
• Teach independent living skills: cooking, meal planning, budgeting, banking, time management, organization, and household responsibilities.
• Help residents establish routines that support employment, education, and housing stability.
• Assist with job searches, resumes, interviews, education, vocational training, and access to resources.
• Encourage positive relationships and healthy communication.
• Maintain a safe, clean living environment.
• Support through conflict using trauma-informed approaches.
• Help residents develop coping skills and problem-solving abilities.
• Complete daily logs, notes, and incident reports.
• Communicate progress and needs to Housing Manager.
• Participate in team meetings and trainings

Job description

Description

Make a difference while helping young adults build independent lives.

Valley Teen Ranch is looking for dependable and compassionate Youth Support Specialists to work with young adults ages 18–24 who are transitioning from the Juvenile Justice Center (JJC) into the community.

This is a hands‑on, relationship‑based position where you will help young adults make a successful transition from incarceration to independent living. Staff provide support with daily living skills, employment, education, transportation, communication, conflict resolution, and other goals that help residents build a stable and successful future.

You may help a resident prepare for a job interview, learn to cook, create a budget, navigate transportation, work through a conflict, maintain their living space, or simply provide encouragement when they are having a difficult day.

If you are looking for meaningful work where you can build relationships and make a difference in the life of a young person, we would love to hear from you.

What You’ll Do

• Build supportive professional relationships with residents while maintaining healthy boundaries.
• Teach and coach independent living skills such as cooking, meal planning, budgeting, banking, time management, organization, and household responsibilities.
• Help residents establish routines that support employment, education, and housing stability.
• Assist with job searches, resumes, interviews, education, vocational training, and community resources.
• Encourage positive relationships, healthy communication, and responsible decision‑making.
• Help maintain a safe, clean, and respectful living environment.
• Support residents through conflict and challenging situations using trauma‑informed and strength‑based approaches.
• Encourage residents to develop coping skills, emotional regulation, and problem‑solving skills.
• Complete required daily logs, communication notes, and incident reports.
• Communicate resident progress, concerns, and support needs to the Housing Manager.
• Participate in team meetings, training, and other program activities.

What We’re Looking For

We are looking for someone who is:

• Patient, dependable, and responsible
• A strong communicator
• Comfortable working with young adults ages 18–24
• Able to remain calm and professional during challenging situations
• Organized and able to work independently
• Flexible and willing to learn
• Able to maintain appropriate professional boundaries
• A team player with good judgment and integrity
• Punctual and reliable
• Committed to treating residents with dignity and respect

Requirements

• Must be at least 21 years of age.
• Must successfully complete a required background check and employment screening.
• Must maintain a valid California driver’s license and current automobile insurance.
• Must have a safe DMV driving record and reliable transportation.
• Must obtain and maintain CPR/First Aid certification.
• Must successfully complete required orientation and new‑hire training.