Youth Advocate

About this Position

Position: Youth Advocate

Reports to: Director of Youth & Family Programs

Status: Full-time, Regular, Non-Exempt

Compensation: $21-22 per hour

Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance;
Employee Assistance Program; 403(b) retirement plan;
Paid Holidays, Sick, and Vacation

Location: Sacramento, CA (This position is not eligible for remote work.)

Availability: Anticipated schedule is Tuesday 11:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.;
Wednesday to Friday 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.;
Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.;
Schedule subject to change.

Job Summary: Youth Advocates (YA) work directly with youth and transitional aged youth ages 13-24 in the Q-Spot Youth Center. YA’s plan and facilitate youth events and daily programming, youth outreach and help connect youth to resources using a client-centered, inclusive, trauma-informed approach. The goal of the Youth Advocate is to provide peer support to vulnerable LGBTQ+ youth to decrease isolation, risk of suicide, increase connection, and improve overall mental health and well-being.

• Client advocacy, support, and harm reduction
• Resource navigation and referrals
• Program implementation, documentation and compliance
• Community outreach and engagement

• Provide community members with a safe and affirming space to de‑escalate mental health or other crisis conditions.
• Partner with other Youth & Family Program team members, Housing department staff, and other Center departments to provide support and programming for clients.
• Complete intake for the youth clients and determine eligibility for the Center’s housing and other services.
• Support community members with developing an action plan, accessing personal and community support to reach identified goals and building skills that support making positive life choices regarding their own health and well-being.
• Assist with daily client support services tasks such as coordinating showers, distributing clothing and supplies, helping youth use the washer/dryer and providing food/drinks.
• Facilitate youth support groups in collaboration with other staff and volunteers.
• Assist clients with their goals to gain identity documentation, medical and/or mental health, housing, school/college, employment, social support, and other basic needs.

• Accurately and completely record client profile information, all services provided to clients, and client progress/successes in the client data systems on a daily basis per agency guidelines.
• Provide regular written program progress reports, grant deliverable reports, and other data and program evaluation reports as directed by supervisors.
• Cultivate partnerships with service providers in the greater Sacramento area to increase the Center’s capacity to serve the LGBTQIA+ community.
• Coordinate and participate in meetings, activities, workshops relevant to the program.
• Support programming in Q-Spot and other Center programs.

• Functions as an essential member of the Program Team and Youth & Family Services Department.
• Staff and support Center and collaborative partner events.
• Participate in staff meetings, planning meetings, committee meetings, and other external collaborative meetings as needed.
• Collaborate with program, development, and operations staff, as well as external partners, to maximize the reach of Center programs and advocacy efforts.
• Cultivate, train, and supervise interns and volunteers that support programs.
• Stay actively informed about Center and community resources and assist clients with resources and referrals.
• Maintain healthy boundaries with community members who are experiencing homelessness, substance use disorders, sexual/physical assault, bullying, mental health crisis, and other vulnerabilities.
• Handle a variety of special projects and other related duties, as assigned.

• Knowledge and understanding of the issues, needs, and interests of LGBTQIA2S+ youth, including a thorough understanding of the intersections of race and the spectrum of gender and sexual identities.
• Experience working with queer and transgender Black,…