Youth Assessment Center - Youth Development Specialist Time

Purpose of the Position

Covenant House Missouri welcomes youth who are runaway, trafficked, at‑risk, or experiencing homelessness with unconditional love, absolute respect and a place to call home. Beyond shelter and basic needs, we deliver transformative solutions to help young people ages 14 to 24 build productive, independent and sustainable lives.

The Youth Assessment Center Youth Development Specialist is responsible for providing youth engagement, youth safety, youth mentoring and transportation services. The role includes goal‑oriented support, direct care, supervision of the youth, and development and delivery of youth activities. The specialist works as part of a team including case managers, program managers and other support services to engage, empower and encourage youth toward stability.

• Establish and maintain good relationships with youth while setting appropriate boundaries.
• Assess and meet youth’s immediate basic needs such as food, clothing, medical attention and other services.
• Manage daily workflow while providing direct care, supervision, and programming for youth in accordance with CHMO policies and procedures.
• Transport and accompany youth home, to appointments and partnering agencies in company vehicles.
• Develop, organize, and conduct life skills and group activities to prevent and resolve problems related to human relationships and self‑care.
• Ensure the facility is secure and well‑maintained at all times.
• Report all maintenance concerns to the onsite manager in a timely fashion.
• Maintain an environment in which the needs of the youth are addressed in a manner that is comfortable, motivating, and consistent with CHMO service philosophies.
• Conduct life skills training and safety related drills for youth.
• Administer medication and first aid per CHMO policies and guidelines.
• Provide agency presentations in the community to schools, service providers and other community‑based groups and organizations.
• Represent the agency at community fairs and events.
• Assist with day‑to‑day operations upkeep and stocking of the pantry.
• Lead, plan and participate in group activities and meetings for youth as assigned.
• Record and maintain required paperwork and documentation according to agency policy and procedures.
• Assist the onsite manager in planning appropriate community‑based and leisure activities for youth.
• Participate in all required trainings and staff meetings, completing at least 40 hours of training annually.
• Support CHMO service philosophies—Housing First, Harm reduction, Trauma Informed Care, Strength Based approach, and positive Youth Development—while acting in accordance with all organizational and legal protocol, policies, and procedures.
• Participate in the organization Quality Improvement Program through incident reporting and identifying opportunities for improvement.
• Ensure confidentiality of youth personal information.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

None

• High School diploma or GED. Some college or two years’ experience preferred.
• Driver’s license.

• Cooperate with others to achieve shared goals, showing diplomacy and flexibility when there are conflicting opinions.
• Take control of a situation.
• Relate to youth and people at all levels and maintain good working relationships with co‑workers, supervisors, other agencies and the public.
• Write concisely and convey meaning appropriate to different readers.
• Anticipate, manage, and respond positively to change as it relates to youth.
• Prioritize and juggle multiple concurrent tasks effectively.
• Mitigate conflict with co‑workers.
• Implement tasks within an allotted timeframe.
• Use logic and reasoning to identify strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Follow policy, regulations, and laws pertaining to delivery of human services.
• Knowledge of mental health, trauma, substance abuse, homelessness, etc.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, assessment tools, database systems, and Windows environment.

• Lifting and carrying up to 15 lbs.
• Moderate concentration.
• Frequent interruptions.
• Moderate noise level.
• Moderate sitting, standing, eye strain, light walking, bending, and lifting.

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