Education and Employment Specialist

JOB TITLE: Education and Employment Specialist 

REPORTS TO: Education and Employment Supervisor

SCHEDULE: Monday-Friday (11:00am-7:30pm)

LOCATION: Venice, CA

STATUS: Full-Time, 40 hrs/wk, Non-Exempt

CELL PHONE: Reimbursement for use 

DRIVER POSITION: Yes [If yes, see driving policy below] 

SALARY RANGE: $24.00/hr 

ABOUT US:  

Safe Place for Youth (SPY) is the leading service provider for youth experiencing or at-risk of homelessness in West Los Angeles. Founded in 2011, our agency offers trauma-informed, low barrier programs that support young people in exiting the streets and achieving stability so that they can thrive, not just survive. Our robust continuum of care includes street outreach, drop-in services, health and wellness programming, case management, education and employment services, and housing programs.

SPY is a unique social impact agency that is committed to overcoming structural barriers to equity, community collaboration, and innovative youth-focused programming. If you have the skills, passion and collaborative spirit, join our growing team of over 100 employees.

SPY strives to attract and develop individuals who reflect a broad spectrum of diversity, including (but by no means limited to) racial, ethnic, gender identity and socioeconomic dimensions. We believe that inclusion of diverse perspectives is essential to achieving long-term, systemic change. We explicitly seek applications from those who self-identify as coming from historically marginalized populations to enrich and elevate our equity-centered approach to problem-solving.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

A member of the Education & Employment (E&E) Team, the E&E Peer Navigator will work to support and enhance the accessibility and relevance of the E&E program through the provision of peer support, volunteer/facilitator training, and survey collection. The SPY E&E Peer Navigator will also be responsible for community advocacy, outreach and engagement, supporting SPY members, and engaging in Innovations 2 activities and partnerships.

This includes, but is not limited to participation in community and local government meetings; speaking engagements; and planning and leading the Venice Youth Network meeting, SPYsocial, SPY Squad, and MyPath.

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

Programmatic Support | 50% Time

Development:

? Develop, facilitate and maintain data for weekly E&E peer-support/discussion group

? Support workshop facilitators to identify ways in which E&E workshops can best be adapted to the needs of SPY members

? Recruit SPY members to participate in E&E workshops and activities

Support:

? Manage and regularly update E&E Celebration board

? With the E&E Specialist, train E&E volunteers to best support members’ various

education and employment needs during Drop-In

? Support the E&E Specialist in the E&E Drop-In Office, workshops, and field trips, as

needed

? With the E&E Program Manager, develop program-specific (E&E Drop-In Office, SPY

Garden) training guidelines for E&E volunteers

Program Evaluation:

? Develop and conduct member feedback surveys

? Evaluate program to identify ways in which E&E can be more accessible or useful to youth experiencing homelessness

Advocacy, Outreach + Engagement | 50% Time

? Understand and be able to speak to all components and partners of SPY’s Innovation 2 grant from the Department of Mental Health (DMH)

? Develop an understanding of the Los Angeles service provider landscape and network with community agencies to provide youth with referrals and linkages to address needs

? Foster collaborative and supportive relationships with SPY members in order to engage them in SPY programming and partner services

? Work with a multidisciplinary team in the access center to meet the immediate, as well as longer-term, needs of youth experiencing homelessness

? Plan, recruit for, execute, and lead monthly Venice Youth Network meeting in collaboration with other peer navigators and the Innovation team

? Co-locate at partner agencies and/or accompany youth to partner agencies to support SPY members in addressing their needs, as needed

? Serve on SPYsocial advisory group to develop methods for better engaging with youth via social media

? Develop leadership and advocacy skills through weekly participation on SPY Squad, SPY’s youth advisory meeting

? Table and recruit members to participate in groups, meetings and partner activities, including, but not limited to, SPYsocial, SPY Squad, MyPath and Venice Youth Network

? Attend DMH convenings such as the SAAC 5, Mental Health Network, and Health Neighborhood meetings

? Actively participate in outreach and engagement activities, including attending at minimum 2 community engagement activities and 3 street outreach sessions per month

? Participate in staff meetings, conferences, training, supervision and evaluation

? Other duties and responsibilities as assigned to support the mission of the program and organization.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

? Bachelor’s Degree is Sociology, Psychology, or any related field.

? 1-2 years of experience providing employment services to people experiencing homelessness is required.

? A commitment to and passion for the mission, vision, values and culture of SPY

? A willingness to work collaboratively as part of the SPY team and the ability to work harmoniously as part of a diverse workforce

? A devotion to ensuring SPY’s sites remain clean, beautiful, and a hopeful place for all who enter

? A strong interest in providing direct service to youth experiencing homelessness and pursuing a career in the field of social services

? A self-starter who is prepared to drive innovative solutions for an emerging organization

? An ability to work in a fast paced environment that requires effective collaboration with a variety of organizations and individuals

? Able to take a strengths-based approach when working with others

? Knowledge of trauma-informed care, harm reduction and housing first models

? Must possess great communication and organizational skills

? Proficient in Microsoft Office and Google Drive

? Lived experience of homelessness preferred

? 1+ years in experience providing direct services to high-risk youth is a plus

? Working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Microsoft Outlook), and Google Drive (preferred)

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Changes in the environment, such as the office or outdoors.
• Physical effort/lifting, such as sedentary- up to 15-20 pounds at times.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS:

Mandated Reporting Requirements: The person holding this position is considered a ‘mandated reporter’ under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 Revised July 21, 2017 as a condition of employment.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements: Effective August 9, 2021, the State Health Officer has mandated that all workers, paid or unpaid, in homeless services organizations must provide proof of vaccination. If eligible for a booster shot, proof of booster is also required. If not fully vaccinated, weekly COVID-19 testing is necessary depending on the program. Please submit proof of vaccination to HR@safeplaceforyouth.org. To request a reasonable accommodation or exemption, please get in touch with HR at the same email address. It's important to note that these accommodations are limited.

Driver Positions:

Applicants are required to provide a copy of their driving record from the Department of Motor Vehicles, along with a copy of their valid driver’s license and proof of insurance. Job offers are contingent upon a satisfactory driving record. Examples of an unsatisfactory driving record include:

• Suspended or revoked license
• Three or more moving violations in the past 36 months
• Any violations, including drugs, alcohol, controlled substances, within the past 24 months
• Reckless driving, including hit and runs, within the past 24 months
• At fault accidents, resulting in fatality or serious injury, within the past 5 years

The motor vehicle record will need to include a review of all states listed on the individual's employment application and resume. See instructions on obtaining your driving record below:

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/customer-service/request-vehicle-or-driver-records/online-driver-record-request/

For driver positions, driving is an essential job function and cannot be reasonably accommodated, employment may be discontinued.

NOTE: All staff members will be considered introductory employees for the first three months of employment and will not be considered regular employees until the conclusion of this period. SPY reserves the right to extend an employee’s introductory period. In no way does the expiration of this introductory period change the fact that all employees are at-will. It is the supervisor’s responsibility to orient the employee and to communicate the expectations of the supervisor and SPY, as well as to evaluate whether the employee has the necessary level of skill, job knowledge, motivation, and attitude to become a regular member of the SPY staff. New employees are also encouraged to seek guidance and assistance during this period. Employees who fail to demonstrate the expected commitment, performance and attitude may be terminated at any time during the introductory period. However, completion of the introductory period does not change or alter the “at-will” employment status. Employees continue to have the right to terminate their employment/business relationship at any time, with or without cause or notice, and SPY has the same right. The organization, in its sole discretion, may change the job duties, responsibilities and assignments of any position, at any time.

BENEFITS & PERKS:

Safe Place for Youth offers a competitive benefit package including comprehensive health coverage, 403b with agency contribution, and vacation/sick time. We also offer unique perks including weekly meditation/mindfulness and professional development opportunities that are tailored to your individual career growth. 

EEO STATEMENT:

All aspects of employment including the decision to hire, promote, discipline, or discharge, will be based on merit, competence, performance, and business needs. Safe Place for Youth does not discriminate on the basis of any protected status under federal, state, or local law. 

Safe Place for Youth is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce. In addition, the organization will consider employment-qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.

Please include references in your application