Youth Engagement Specialist

Youth Engagement Specialist

Classification:
Full-time, In-Person, Non-Exempt

Compensation: $25.00 to $28.17 per hour

MISSSEY works to prevent girls and gender‑expansive youth from ever entering circumstances of sexual exploitation and violence. We support young people who are experiencing exploitation to exit and partner with them after exit to avoid re‑entering exploitative circumstances and live free of harmful transactional relationships. As an organization, we value healing, youth voice, integrity, and relationships. Our service model focuses on healing through trauma‑informed, survivor‑centered, youth‑focused approaches.

We recognize the crucial voices of survivors in facilitating healing in victims of commercial sexual exploitation and value young people empowering other young people. Our work with youth is a partnership, helping them transition from victim to survivor to leader, encouraging long‑term stability and success in whatever path they choose. MISSSEY believes that with the right opportunities and support, youth can overcome exploitation and thrive.

The Youth Engagement Specialist (Y.E.S.) plays an important role in identifying and engaging with youth involved in the Alameda County Social Services Agency’s Children and Family Services who are vulnerable to or have experienced commercial sexual exploitation. Under the supervision of the Integrated Services Manager (ISM), the Y.E.S. is responsible for prevention, intervention, and stabilization work with youth in the child welfare system, making referrals to MISSSEY case management as needed.

The staff collaborates across systems, participates in multi‑disciplinary team meetings, and advocates for the needs of exploited young people as part of a service delivery team. The role works within the limits of the organization’s resources and in compliance with grants, contracts, and agency policies. The ideal candidate is self‑motivated, builds rapport with highly at‑risk and exploited youth, navigates systems, is reliable, committed to the self‑determination of marginalized young people, works collegially with colleagues and the MISSSEY team, and is steadfast in delivering impactful services.

• Have a minimum of 1‑year experience working with systems‑involved youth
• Have solid experience working with Black girls and other youth of color who have experienced homelessness, interpersonal violence, trafficking, and abuse
• Have a thorough understanding of youth development, advocacy, and crisis intervention
• Be a continual learner deeply invested in women and girls
• Have experience building relationships with community partners and coordinating services that engage youth and support them to thrive
• Have an understanding of crisis intervention, de‑escalation, restorative practices, interpersonal relationship and resiliency building, and harm reduction theory and practice
• Have the ability to co‑create a strong, reflective, highly productive, and caring culture

Direct Services (70%)

• Engage and build rapport with young people in the Alameda County SSA at various locations including the Assessment Center, STRTP placements, Resource Family Placements, and in the community.
• Assess participant’s vulnerability to or experience with commercial sexual exploitation.
• Facilitate 1‑on‑1 prevention sessions with youth identified as highly vulnerable to exploitation.
• Provide support and service linkages to youth, including referrals to MISSSEY transformation coaching services.
• Provide follow‑up sessions for identified youth who are placed in foster care and STRTPs.
• Attend team decision‑making meetings, advocating for the young person, utilizing a strengths‑based framework, and representing the organizational philosophy.
• Work collaboratively with child welfare workers, caregivers, housing providers, and other Alameda County staff to improve the collective response to CSE.
• Refer County staff, caregivers, and STRTP providers to MISSSEY’s CSE trainings and youth‑prevention workshops.
• Maintain transparency and assist participants in making informed decisions.
• Provide psycho‑education…