Coordinator, Safe Place

job description

The Safe Place Coordinator leads Friends of Youth’s efforts to coordinate King County Safe Place. They present the Safe Place model to community organizations and businesses, train and support employees at Safe Place locations across King County, respond in-person to Safe Place calls from youth, and support volunteers that work with the Safe Place program services.

The Safe Place Coordinator is responsible for 24-hour on-call responses for the hotline which involves responding in-person to a youth. Their response may include transporting the youth to a shelter, coordinating family reunification and/or providing over the phone consultation and resource referrals. The Safe Place Coordinator provides support to other On-Call Safe Place employees and volunteers.

essential duties

Service Delivery

1. Work collaboratively with the Safe Place team to provide 24 hour on-call in-person and over the phone responses to youth in designated geographic areas who call the Safe Place line for assistance.
2. Develop and maintain respectful, professional and culturally responsive relationships with young people, while utilizing a trauma informed, harm reduction and strength-based approach.
3. Transport youth in a vehicle as needed.
4. Ensure an effective vehicle pickup service for participants from Safe Place locations and provide follow-up services.
5. Maintain written and timely participant contact notes, incident reports, progress updates, statistical records and other documentation in accordance with the program service and contract guidelines and rules of confidentiality.
6. Support and assist in training On-Call Safe Place employees and volunteers.
7. Listen to and communicate verbally and in writing with clients, employees and community partners.

Program Operations

1. While on call, answer and respond to phone calls 24 hours a day with the support of the Manager of Outreach and Supportive Services and expected to be present in the office for 25 hours during the on-call working week.
2. Coordinate the ongoing operations of Safe Place across King County.
3. Collaborate with the Manager of Outreach and Supportive Services to improve, grow and monitor the impact of the Safe Place program services.
4. Work with Friends of Youth’s Development and Marketing and Communications team to publicize the service, present to community businesses and organizations and complete administrative tasks.
5. Collaborate with the Manager of Outreach and Supportive Services, Friends of Youth’s Development and Marketing and Communications team to strategically grow the National Safe Place model in needed areas of support for at risk youth.
6. Work collaboratively with the Friends of Youth’s under 18 years shelter, to monitor the impact of Safe Place implementation.

Community Outreach and Engagement

1. Perform outreach with youth and relevant community members to ensure community awareness of how to access the Safe Place program services as a resource for youth in crisis.
2. Maintain effective relationships with community providers, caregivers and law enforcement.
3. Participate in professional group seminars and conferences to increase professional knowledge of current best practices and issues impacting youth who are experiencing homelessness.

job requirements

a. Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in a human-service field preferred.
• Minimum of 2 years of relevant working experience, including supporting youth and diverse populations.
• Experience providing crisis response and intervention in the following areas: child abuse/neglect, domestic violence, family dynamics, housing and homelessness, juvenile justice, mental health, public assistance rights, sexual abuse and assault and substance use.
• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge of MS365 Power Platform.

b. Additional Requirements

• Must satisfactorily pass criminal history check.
• Must satisfactorily pass tuberculosis (TB) test.
• Must have reliable transportation and a valid Washington State driver's license (or be able to obtain one by date of employment).
• Employees and volunteers who operate their own or Friends of Youth vehicles on Friends of Youth business, must have a safe driving record as defined by Friends of Youth.
• Employees and volunteers who operate their own vehicle(s) on Friends of Youth business must carry auto liability insurance that complies with the requirements of Friends of Youth.
• Must successfully complete the following health certification requirements within 30 days of employment: CPR, First Aid and Bloodborne Pathogens.
• Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required. There are no exemptions.

c. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Able to engage with diverse populations in a culturally responsive manner.
• Demonstrate a commitment to the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion by honoring and celebrating diverse characteristics and expressions of personal identity.
• Strong commitment to Friends of Youth’s mission, vision, and values.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills.
• Able to work independently and as part of a team.
• Able to establish and maintain positive working relationships with youth and young adults.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed care, harm reduction philosophy and strengths-based practice.
• Able and willing to travel to multiple local sites and other locations in personal vehicle (mileage reimbursement provided).
• Able to learn and implement relevant Council on Accreditation (COA) standards and participate in Performance and Quality Improvement (PQI) processes.
• Proficient skill set with Microsoft Office programs.