Youth Advocate at Sacramento LGBT Community Center in Sacramento, CA

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. It is the goal of the Youth Advocate to provide peer support to vulnerable LGBTQ+ youth to decrease isolation, risk of suicide, increase connection, and improve overall mental health and well-being.   

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: 

1. Client advocacy, support, and harm reduction 
2. Resource navigation and referrals  
3. Program implementation, documentation and compliance  
4. Community outreach and engagement 

Client Advocacy, Support, and Harm Reduction: 

1. Provide community members with a safe and affirming space to de-escalate their mental health or other crisis conditions. 
2. Partner with other Youth & Family Program team members, Housing department staff, and other Center departments to provide support and programming for clients.  
3. 3.   Complete intake for the youth clients and determine eligibility for Center’s housing and other services.   
4. 4.    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.  
5. 5.    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. 
6. 6.    Facilitate youth support groups in collaboration with other staff and volunteers. 
7. 7.    Assist clients with their goals to gain identity documentation, medical and/or mental health, housing, school/college, employment, social support, and other basic needs. 

Support Program Implementation, Documentation, and Compliance: 

1. 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. 

1. Provide regular written program progress reports, grant deliverable reports, and other data and program evaluation reports as directed by supervisors. 

1. Cultivate partnerships with service providers in the greater Sacramento area to increase the Center’s capacity to serve the LGBTQIA+ community.  

1. Coordinate and participate in meetings, activities, workshops relevant to the program.  

1. Support programming in Q-Spot and other Center programs. 

General Duties: 

1. Functions as an essential member of the Program Team and Youth & Family Services Department. 

1. Staff and support Center and collaborative partner events. 

1. Participate in staff meetings, planning meetings, committee meetings, and other external collaborative meetings as needed.   

1. Collaborate with program, development, and operations staff, as well as external partners, to maximize the reach of Center programs and advocacy efforts. 

1. Cultivate, train, and supervise interns and volunteers that support programs. 

1. Stay actively informed about Center and community resources and assist clients with resources and referrals. 

1. Maintain healthy boundaries with community members who are experiencing homelessness, substance use disorders, sexual/physical assault, bullying, mental health crisis, and other vulnerabilities.  

1. Handle a variety of special projects and other related duties, as assigned. 

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE: 

1. 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. 

1. Experience working with queer and transgender Black, Indigenous, and other youth of color experiencing homelessness, undocumented community members and asylum seekers, people living with HIV/AIDS, people with mental health and addiction issues, non-native English speakers, having modeled a client-centered approach is critical. 

1. Existing relationships with service providers, advocates, and stakeholders engaged with LGBTQIA+ Latinx, immigrant/refugee communities.  

1. Working knowledge of community resources as they relate to mental health, crime victim services, homelessness, and youth.  

1. Coalition building capabilities to balance interests, negotiate, and work with a variety of internal and external stakeholders.   

1. Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills; public speaking and facilitation. 

1. Ability to work independently and as part of a team. 

1. Knowledge of trauma-informed and client-centered philosophy and a commitment to maintain strict confidentiality with client and organizational information. 

REQUIREMENTS: 

1. Passion for the Center’s mission and work to create a region where LGBTQ people thrive and a commitment to follow all policies and procedures of the organization. 

1. Collaboration as a team player and works to create a positive environment for clients and staff. 

1. Education: Bachelor’s degree in a relevant social services field plus 1-2 years experience working with youth or 4 years experience working with at-risk youth may be substituted for formal education.  

1. Language Skills: Ability to speak, read, write in English.  Bilingual applicants encouraged to apply. 

1. Flexible availability to work evenings and weekend hours as needed.  

1. Certifications Required: If not already certified at time of hire, the candidate must complete the CPR/First Aid and Mandated Reporting for Suspected Child Abuse trainings.  

1. Computer/Office Equipment Skills: Proficiency working with Microsoft Office, particularly Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive, and Teams. Experience working with client database systems and social media tools is helpful. 

1. Transportation: Access to reliable transportation. 

1. Physical Demands:  The person in this position will be required to operate office equipment, open and close filing cabinets, closets, and boxes, observe visitors, and communicate messages by telephone and Teams.  

1. Offer of employment may be contingent on satisfactory results of a criminal history background check. 

1. Employees must be legally permitted to work in the United States. 

1. The Sacramento LGBT Community Center is a drug free workplace, employees may be subject to a drug test. 

1. Vaccination Requirement: All employees are required to be vaccinated for COVID-19 and are encouraged to stay up to date annually or obtain an approved medical or religious exemption. Documentation will be required prior to your first day of work.  

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice. 

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION: 

The Sacramento LGBT Community Center works to create a region where all LGBTQ+ people can thrive.  We support health and wellness, advocate for equity and justice, and work to uplift a diverse and culturally rich LGBTQ+ community. 

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY: 

The Sacramento LGBT Community Center is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All individuals, including those of color, women, persons with disabilities, and persons who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex are encouraged to apply. The Center maintains a policy of non-discrimination with respect to employees, volunteers, interns, and applicants. No aspect of employment will be influenced in any matter by actual or perceived race, color, religion, religious creed, ancestry, sex, age, national origin, marital status, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, physical or mental disability (including HIV or AIDS), medical/mental condition, genetic information, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by statute; nor as to any individuals associating with an individual of any legally protected class. 

TO APPLY: 

Please submit application materials through our career portal at saccenter.org/careers. No phone calls please. Posting will remain up until the position is filled.