Youth Services Navigator Jobs

Youth Services Navigator

Summary:

Streetwork Project is an innovative drop-in and outreach-counseling program for homeless youth, which utilizes a harm reduction approach. The CAPP Youth Services Navigator provides comprehensive services to adolescents and young adults impacted by homelessness and involved in street activities (gangs, violence, drug use/sale and survival sex). The CAPP Youth Services Navigator will provide comprehensive services to adolescents and young adults seeking assistance with obtaining supportive services to address their sexual and reproductive health. Ancillary support is available to clients for case planning, case facilitation and management, supportive counseling, mental health counseling, housing and benefits assistance, crisis transportation, daily living services (food, shower, respite), triage counseling, recreational activities and support groups. The CAPP Youth Service Navigator will coordinate with other program staff in obtaining assistance and linking youth to HIV/STI treatment and care, and other needed services.

Responsibilities:

• Facilitate access to daily living needs (food, clothes, hygiene supplies, space to rest)
• Participate in weekly supervision
• Provide sensitive harm reduction counseling on pregnancy prevention, reproductive health, and sexual health issues
• Conduct and collect evaluation measures with program participants;
• Engagement of adolescents into program structure (harm reduction philosophy, rules, mutual respect)
• Engage in community organizing activities/events pertaining to adolescent sexual health and behavioral issues;
• Provide bilingual, culturally competent anonymous and confidential HIV antibody counseling, testing, referrals
• Conduct intake and assessment and screen for sexual risk & risk reduction techniques
• Implement and facilitate behavioral health HIV prevention group intervention, “Be Proud! Be Responsible!” and other sexual behavioral health interventions;
• Performs HIV risk assessments, HIV testing, disclosure of HIV testing results, and enhanced risk assessments to individuals who test for HIV
• Connect clients to supportive resources with both internal and external partners to increase client’s access to benefits and resources; provide accompaniment as necessary and requested by clients
• Participate in weekly case conferencing meetings and clinical group process
• Milieu counseling; Mediation for internal conflicts
• Provide group facilitation and conduct educational presentations on sexual health, risk reduction and topics related to sub-populations of homeless youth
• Participation in staff trainings, staff meetings, and staff group process workshops
• Maintain routine administrative responsibilities to include the preparation of correspondence, maintaining files, mail, email, and telephone
• Coordinate services with other Streetwork staff and on-site legal, medical, and psychiatric service providers
• Learn and integrate a trauma-informed, client-centered approach, using an anti-oppressive lens, into your work with clients.
• Connect clients to medical and other supportive resources for treatment and care
• Conduct community outreach to make connections, build resources, and provide presentations on homeless youth sexual health and reproductive health care needs and prevention to service providers and community members

Secondary Job Functions:

• Manage events in the Drop-In Center, monitor entrance to the program, oversee concrete support to clients.
• Provide wellness and recreational (engagement) activities
• Petty Cash reconciliation
• Identification of new resources appropriate for population

Interacts with:

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

Knowledge and Skills Required:

• Understanding of and ability to work from harm reduction perspective addressing substance use, mental health issues and sexual and reproductive health
• Non-judgmental approach and ability to empathize with others
• One (1) year experience working with homeless population, youth, or harm reduction, including experience with persons at high-risk for HIV infection
• Specialized training or experience in sexual health, including HIV prevention interventions
• Demonstrated ability to work independently
• Clear and concise verbal and written communication skill, excellent interpersonal and organization skills
• Genuine interest in working with disenfranchised youth and young adults
• Compassionate approach to others and openness to new ideas
• Dynamic energy, able to multi-task and negotiate multiple demands on attention

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience with direct service to similar populations experience in human services or related field 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

Hiring Pay Range: 26.10 - 29.05 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