Youth Support Partner

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.

• To provide individual and group expressive art therapy services which includes but is not limited to, integrating curriculum, maintaining supplies, and setting up materials and workspaces.
• Orienting service partners to EXA and Shelter services through intake assessment as appropriate, provide crises intervention, recreational opportunities and peer support services to youth.
• Welcome and treat youth with co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders as having two primary conditions each requiring attention.
• Provide transportation, advocacy, information, referral, case management and other services to youth and their families, as needed.
• Maintain accurate and timely uniform record documentation, data collection and contract compliance of records as required for all Expressive Arts and Youth Emergency Shelter activities and grants.
• Organize individual and group art shows and projects, both on-site and in the community
• Teach and model skills through individual and groups including youth leadership.
• Promote greater youth participation in policy, program and service delivery at Storefront Youth Emergency Shelter and within San Diego Youth Services.
• Support Residential counselors in maintaining program structure, supervising residents, completing documentation, and maintaining cleanliness.
• Welcome and support volunteers in the organization and assist them in accomplishing their services whenever applicable.
• Conduct ongoing outreach to youth and community organizations and participate in multi-disciplinary teams to assist youth in obtaining/maintaining stability and independence.
• Availability to work evenings and weekends.
• Support program leadership with administrative assistance and support
• Other Duties as assigned by Program Manager.

• Highschool Diploma or Equivalent Encouraged.
• Must be 21 years of age and must have direct experience as a consumer (or caregiver of a consumer) of children’s mental health services, homelessness, juvenile justice system, child protective services, or special education.
• Completed peer specialist training.
• Must be willing to develop or possess working knowledge of trauma-informed care and dual diagnosis treatment; experience working in trauma and dual diagnosis programs preferred.
• Able to work in a very diverse setting with people of all backgrounds, culture and orientation. Demonstrated leadership and problem-solving abilities, training skills, creativity, and public speaking. Training or Experience facilitating creative art groups. Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred. 
• Available to work some evenings, weekends and holidays. Able to be clear to drive and have a valid driver’s license.
• Able to obtain and maintain CPR/First Aid Certification.
• Employment offers will be subject to clearances, which include background checks, TB, and drug testing.

• 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.
• Receive and give supportive feedback to foster equity and inclusion in working relationships.
• 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.