Support Specialist - Street Outreach

The Support Specialist is responsible for providing program assistance, guidance, crisis support, and administrative support to Youth & Family Services projects. This position will assist weekly with participant engagement, resource navigation, and participant group while using appropriate research methods to conduct duties, as well as, lead group exercises, develop professional rapport with participants, and monitor participant progress throughout the duration of the program.

The Support Specialist supports participants through a human centered and trauma informed approach, in addition they are engaging, culturally responsive and aware of the diverse needs of various cultures, races, ethnicities and populations.

SCHEDULE:

• This position is Monday - Friday, 9:00AM - 5:30PM with occasional weekend or evening shifts as needed for events

WORK DESIGNATION:

• In-Person at our Oceanside and Escondido drop-in centers
  • Please note that the work designation may change based on business needs.

PROGRAM

SUMMARY:

The Street Outreach Program (SOP) serves runaway, homeless, and street-involved youth and young adults ages 24 and under throughout North San Diego County and surrounding communities. Through direct, face-to-face outreach and services offered at YMCA drop-in centers in Escondido and Oceanside, the SOP team engages youth experiencing homelessness or housing instability, builds trusting relationships, and connects them to essential resources. The program provides a continuum of supportive services, including basic needs assistance, intensive case management, and referrals to housing, healthcare, and other stabilization resources.

These efforts are designed to address immediate needs, reduce barriers to services, and support youth in achieving greater safety, stability, and self-sufficiency.

• Provide administrative and intervention support to program staff; prepare agendas and activities for groups, assist with documentation and data collection, support various meetings and activities, facilitate groups and lead activities, provide support for the collection and analysis of data required for reporting purposes
• Utilize shared life experience expertise to advance program interventions and participant satisfaction
• Identify and navigate complex community resources and referral processes
• Apply mental health first aid training to participants in crisis
• Engage in recruitment and outreach activities and advocacy strategies
• Provide aftercare, follow-up, and stabilization support services to participants
• Maintain engaging, professional relationships with participants
• Individually meet with participants, assess the need for and provide supportive services, and apply designed curriculum as needed
• Perform other administrative tasks as assigned and assist with maintaining proper document storage and auditing
• Participate in and attend all required staff meetings, trainings, YMCA staff development events, and appropriate agency-wide committees

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must have access to reliable transportation to travel occasionally throughout San Diego County

• High school diploma preferred
• Must be 18 years of age or older
• Minimum two years’ relevant experience required
• Familiarity with life experiences common among the transition aged youth population preferred
• Experience with Independent Living Skills issues (financial aid, college admissions, GED preparation, housing, transportation) preferred
• Familiar with the operations of federal grants preferred
• Basic computer knowledge and skills
• Familiar with community resources and referral processes preferred

• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to quickly build rapport with others
• Must be an adult role model with the ability to effectively set limits and function in crisis-oriented and high stress situations
• Must be able to work independently and as part of a team
• Must be self-aware, flexible, adaptable, and teachable
• Ability to navigate community resources
• Visual and auditory ability to respond to critical incidents and the physical ability to act swiftly in an emergency situation
• Ability to adequately observe participants’ activities, enforce safety regulations, and apply appropriate policies and procedures
• Must possess the ability to lead and interact in group activities and perform related physical skills
• Ability to work effectively with others in alignment with the YMCA 4 Core Values;
  Models the 4 Core Values in all aspects of position responsibilities

PRE-HIRE…