Youth Services Aide - Streetwork, Uptown

Youth Services Aide - Streetwork, Uptown 
 

Summary

Streetwork Project is an innovative outreach-counseling program for homeless youth in Harlem, which utilizes a harm reduction approach. Youth Services Aide provides comprehensive services to adolescents and young adults impacted by homelessness and involved in street activities (gangs, violence, drug use/sale and survival sex).  Services provided by the Youth Services Aide include assessment, referrals, outreach, crisis transportation, daily living services (food, shower, respite), triage counseling, recreational activities and support groups.  The Youth Services Aide coordinates with Safe Horizon supporting programs and local agencies to provide short and long term care necessary to meet the wide range of needs related to homeless adolescents.

Responsibilities:

• Learn and integrate a trauma-informed, client-centered approach, using an anti-oppressive lens, into your work with clients. Coach and guide staff in their client practice that reflects these approaches.
•  Intake and assessment for individuals seeking assistance.
• Provide ongoing safety assessment and risk management, crisis intervention, crisis counseling, emotional support.
• Engagement of adolescents into program structure (harm reduction philosophy, rules, mutual respect).
• Milieu counseling; Mediation for internal conflicts.
• Facilitate access to daily living needs (food, clothes, hygiene supplies, space to rest).
• Provide support to case managers on behalf of clients with both internal and external partners to increase client's access to benefits and resources; provide accompaniment as necessary and requested by clients.
• Provide supportive role in group facilitation and conducting of educational presentations on HIV/AIDS, risk reduction and topics related to sub-populations of homeless youth.

• Participate in weekly case conferencing meetings and clinical group process.
• Maintain routine administrative responsibilities to include the preparation of correspondence, maintaining files, mail, email, and telephone.
• Participation in staff trainings, staff meetings, and staff group process workshops.
• Participate in weekly supervision.

Secondary Job Functions:

•  Petty Cash reconciliation
•  Identification of new resources appropriate for population
•  Provide wellness and recreational (engagement) activities
•  Coordinate services with other Streetwork staff and on-site legal, medical, and psychiatric service providers
•  Manage events in the Drop-In Center, monitor entrance to the program, oversee concrete support to clients

 Interacts with:          

• All Streetwork program sites and staff
• All internal Safe Horizon programs and departments that can comprehensively support the client and case plan
•  All external agencies and organizations that can provide appropriate services to the client

Knowledge and Skills:

Required:

• Compassionate approach to others and openness to new ideas.
• Dynamic energy, able to multi-task and negotiate multiple demands on attention.
• Non-judgmental approach and ability to empathize with others.
• Clear and concise verbal and written communication skill, excellent interpersonal and organization skills.
• Genuine interest in working with disenfranchised youth and young adults.
• Understanding of and ability to work from harm reduction perspective addressing substance use and mental health issues.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently.

Qualifications

• High school high school diploma or equivalency plus relevant training and experience in human services or related field, including some prior experience working with victims of crime OR
• Two years of high-quality work at a Streetwork Project site

Desirable:

• Personal experience with street survival activities (homelessness, gangs, drug economy, sex industry) with at least three years separation from involvement in these activities as well as a deep understanding of the relationship between personal experiences and professional standards.

Other:

•  Basic understanding of computer and systems for managing case records.

https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/migrated_files/employers/eeoc_self_print_poster.pdf

Hiring Pay Range:22.80 - 25.37 Hourly 
Full-time Hours:35 Hours per week 
Full-time Benefits:Vacation Time, Paid Sick Time, Holidays, Medical, Dental, Vision, 403(b) Retirement Plan, Company Life Insurance, Medical/Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, Tuition Assistance Program, Commuter Benefits Program, Gym Reimbursement, Parental Leave, Employee Learning Center