Youth Engagement Advocate

Mission/

Purpose:

Roy Maas Youth Alternatives (RMYA) creates brighter futures for children in crisis by promoting individual success and healthy relationships in a safe, healing environment, giving children and families the tools to end the cycle of abuse. RMYA provides treatment programs for traumatized children who most often are victims of sexual, physical, and/or emotional abuse. RMYA supports using trauma‑informed techniques and relationship‑based approaches to create a safe environment that provides consistency, structure, and caring for the children we serve.

The YEA is responsible for ensuring the overall safety and well‑being of youth in RMYA's care. Leveraging RMYA's Treatment Model(s), the YEA provides face‑to‑face trauma‑informed supervision, support and intervention to youth in their care. Through intentional engagement and building strong connections, the YEA contributes to a safe and healing environment that promotes individual success, achievement of goals, improved physical and emotional well‑being, and healthy relationships, supplying the tools to gain a sense of normalcy, self‑resilience and trust.

• Supervision of Youth:
  • Be consistently present with youth when on shift and prioritize intentional engagement with each resident in care—individually and frequently throughout each shift.
  • Be a source of encouragement for youth participation in school, therapy, and program activities as well as positive interpersonal relationships with other youth and staff.
  • Understand and model a trauma‑informed approach to foster growth and development in youth, especially in times of crisis.
  • Facilitate and promote appropriate youth contacts with family members and other care providers.
  • Ensure basic needs of hygiene, nutrition, and clothing are met for each youth; provide encouragement and coaching on maintaining good hygiene and proper attire.
  • Support Normalcy activities to include, but not limited to clothing, hygiene products, hair care, birthdays, holidays, graduations, etc.
  • Supervise groups of four to eight youth and always know their whereabouts to ensure safety. Transport residents as necessary.
  • Model and teach constructive behaviors, problem‑solving, and assist residents with age‑appropriate life skills.
  • Facilitate and promote appropriate youth contacts with family members and other care providers.
  • Ensure maintenance and cleanliness of all facilities and teach the youth to do the same.
• Administration:
  • Assist with basic operating needs of the programs and address various licensing requirements relating to health and safety.
  • Adhere to a daily schedule that fosters a structured, therapeutic environment.
  • Fulfill stringent requirements for documentation.
  • Fulfill requirements for initial and ongoing RMYA‑provided employee training and take ownership of own professional development.
• Relationships and
  
  Collaboration:
  
  
  • Embrace and model the RMYA values of Protection, Simplicity, Integrity, Community, Equality, and Responsibility.
  • Maintain confidentiality, professional, and ethical standards as prescribed by RMYA.
  • Adhere to and uphold RMYA policies, procedures, values, and best practices.
  • Collaborate and communicate with other staff members and leadership to provide and improve services to youth; actively participate in regular team, staff, and shift change meetings.
• Compliance and Administrative Requirements:
  • Contribute ideas and solutions to the Compliance and Quality Improvement Plan by understanding and implementing the service delivery standards in their care for the youth of RMYA.
  • Maintain Compliance with all training requirements.
  • Maintain compliance with all RMYA, DFPS, T3C, SSCC, and COA policies and procedures and with all federal, state and local laws.

Other Duties/Responsibilities:
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

• Education: High School Diploma or equivalent
• Experience: 0–1-year experience in similar setting.
• Certif…