Connection Coach

San Diego Youth Services: Who we are

1. Meet the basic needs of youth.  Hunger, poverty and youth homelessness are on the rise for many youth and their families today. We help meet these basic needs for youth. What could be more vital than food and shelter? We provide safe places to live and long-term solutions through shelter, foster homes, community centers and housing.
2. Create positive connection. We help youth focus on positive life changes and healthy relationships as part of providing needed resources and services. San Diego Youth Services has long provided foster homes and adoption support services for families considering adopting a youth in the foster care system.
3. Help youth develop life skills. In addition to a range of safe and stable housing options, we offer support to help youth develop the independent living skills necessary to become self-sufficient and keep off the streets.
4. Promote overall health and well-being. Early intervention and care for the whole child are critical. We provide a broad continuum of services to help youth overcome trauma and challenges that put them at risk, including case management, counseling, mental health treatment and educational support and resources.

• Develop, implement, and evaluate an integrated approach for transition-aged youth, some with co-occurring disorders, in quality trauma informed youth programs, which adhere to and uphold the rigorous standards of San Diego Youth Services as mandated by its mission, purpose, guiding principles and standards of quality.
• Establish rapport with transition-aged youth from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Support drop-in center services including intake, needs assessment, provision of basic needs, crisis intervention and link youth with resources that are appropriate to their individualized needs.
• Responsible for developing Independent Life Plans, providing clinical coaching and resource navigation services in areas relating to independent living skills development, psychosocial-emotional wellbeing, educational and vocational services, health and wellness, crisis intervention, and leadership development support, when applicable.
• Work independently and as a team member to create innovative ways to meet goals and provide a high level of service that is engaging and meets the needs of the participants.
• Engage in ongoing assessment and barrier removal to support youth goal plan progress with the support of wraparound Care Team members. Including assessing for usage of funding to support youth stabilization needs.
• Coordinate advocacy efforts for youth serviced within and across the TAY system of care and assist youth in locating, coordinating, and developing informal and formal resources and networks in the community. Build relationships with community partners through community outreach, participant recruitment and training to referring agencies.
• Monitor participant progress at required intervals. Maintain accurate records including data entry into approved database(s) and reports.
• Maintain current knowledge of resources and providers within the community to support youth needs. Ensure that any referral made is actively followed up on.
• Maintain clear, timely, effective, and open communication within the team and among community partners such as referral sources (law enforcement, schools, treatment providers, community-based organizations, etc.). Be available to respond by phone or in person as needed
• Facilitate trauma-informed, strengths-based, psychoeducational groups within the drop-in center.
• Maintain a flexible schedule, including openness to work evening and weekend hours.

• Bachelor’s degree in psychology, Sociology, Criminal Justice, Social Work, or closely related social service field. Master's degree in social work or related field, preferred.  
• Prefer two years’ experience working with adolescents/Transitional Age Youth, parenting youth, and/or foster youth. Experience in crisis intervention, case management, youth participation and youth development and/or foster youth would be valued. Able to work in a very diverse setting with people of all backgrounds, culture and orientation.
• Possess working knowledge of trauma-informed care and dual diagnosis treatment; experience working in trauma-informed and dual diagnosis programs preferred.  Ability to provide quality trauma-informed services in a fast-paced environment, specializing in crisis intervention and de-escalation, motivational interviewing, and Seeking Safety.
• Ability to (re) prioritize and multi-task is a must.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred. 
• Available to work evenings, weekends and some holidays. 
• Must have own reliable transportation and willing to drive youth in the community.

• The ability to bend at the waist, kneel, or crouch to assist youth.
• The ability to communicate information and ideas so others will understand, to exchange accurate information and make presentations.
• The ability to lift and carry 20 pounds-lifting books, materials, and equipment to execute lessons and presentations.
• Able to observe details at a close range and interpret the information (such as reading), prepare, and review a variety of documents related to activities of the youth and to be able to monitor youth activities.
• Sitting or standing (stationary position) for extended periods of time.
• Traversing extended lengths to move around campuses.
• Potential exposure to physical injury from aggressive behavior. 

• Adhere to and uphold the rigorous standards of SDYS as mandated by its mission, purpose, guiding principles and standards of quality.
• Maintain confidentiality and privacy standards of service partner protected health information and other applicable information and material in accordance to agency and center policies, and applicable regulations and laws including HIPAA. 
• Welcome and support SDYS volunteers and assist them in accomplishing their services whenever applicable.
• Effectively communicate with people from diverse backgrounds and experiences.
• Recognize, nurture, and learn from strengths in co-workers.
• Maintain warm, welcoming and safe work environments.
• Possess flexibility to accomplish job responsibilities in several work environments, whether it be from home, on the road, or in an office.
• Employment is subject to required clearances which include tuberculosis test, fingerprinting, background checks, and drug testing.