Youth Advocate

Description

Schedule:
Grave, swing, and day shift available. Full Time positions are 40 hours per week. Some shifts include weekends.

• Low-cost medical, dental, and vision coverage. Health savings account. 403b retirement plan with employer match (50% match up to 3%).
• Employee Assistance Program for all employees
• 33 paid days off: 11 observed paid holidays, 12 sick days, and 10 vacation days to start. Vacation increases to 12 days after 1 year, 15 days after 2 years, and more at 5 and 9 years of service.
• Sick and vacation time accrue hourly per pay period.
• $50,000 in employer-paid life insurance; additional coverage available.
• Employer contribution to your Health Savings Account (paid quarterly)
• Employee Referral Program including cash bonuses and paid time off

Volunteers of America, Utah is an affiliate of a national, nonprofit, faith-based organization that has served communities across the United States for more than 125 years. Volunteers of America, Utah’s mission is to provide community-supported paths for those who are vulnerable to improve their lives and increase their self-reliance. Our programs serve people experiencing challenges related to mental health, substance use, and homelessness.

We encourage all who are passionate about making a difference, including individuals with lived experience, to apply.

The Youth Advocate provides direct support and supervision to youth and young adults ages 15–22 who are experiencing homelessness and accessing the Youth Resource Center. Youth Advocates help create a safe, welcoming, trauma-informed environment while supporting youth with basic needs, emergency shelter services, resource connections, and daily program routines.

Youth Advocates are responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Youth Resource Center, including direct engagement with youth, maintaining safety and appropriate boundaries, responding to crises, completing required documentation, supporting shelter and drop-in center operations, and maintaining a clean and organized facility.

This is an on-site, direct service position. Youth Advocates are assigned to a primary shift (day, swing, or graveyard) and are expected to perform the responsibilities associated with that shift.

• Provides direct support, supervision, and engagement to youth and young adults accessing the Youth Resource Center using trauma-informed, person-centered, and strengths-based approaches.
• Assists youth with basic needs, emergency shelter, daily routines, referrals, and connection to YRC and community resources.
• Maintains a safe and supportive environment by actively monitoring the facility, completing assigned rounds, identifying safety concerns, and responding appropriately to emergencies or crises.
• Uses verbal de-escalation and established YRC procedures to respond to conflict, behavioral concerns, and other challenging situations.
• Supports daily drop-in center and emergency shelter operations, including intake and shelter procedures, programming, and other assigned activities.
• Completes required client and program documentation accurately and on time, including shift notes, incident reports, shelter records, HMIS/UHMIS documentation, and other required records.
• Communicates important client, safety, staffing, and operational information during shift change and to supervisory staff as appropriate.
• Maintains professional boundaries, confidentiality, and respectful interactions with youth, coworkers, volunteers, community partners, and visitors.
• Maintains assigned client and staff areas in a clean, safe, sanitary, and organized condition, including completing cleaning, laundry, restocking, and other facility-support duties.
• Works collaboratively with other Youth Advocates, Coordinators, case managers, facilities staff, behavioral health staff, and other YRC team members to provide consistent services and maintain continuity between shifts.
• Participates in required staff meetings, supervision, shift-change meetings, training, and professional development activities.
• Maintains punctual, regular, and predictable attendance; reports to the assigned worksite ready to begin duties at the scheduled start of the shift; and follows established attendance, call-out, PTO, and coverage procedures.
• Performs the responsibilities associated with the employee's assigned day, swing, or graveyard shift and provides support to other shifts when needed based on program and staffing needs.
• Performs other duties as…