Starting wage: $17.00 an hour (depending on experience)

Hours and Schedule: We have full & part-time positions open; position requires the employee to have a flexible work week, that includes nights and weekends; must be willing to be on-call.

Make an impact: The Oasis Teen Shelter & Oasis Daylight Center is a welcoming space and provides a safe and creative environment for teens 13-17. Youth might need to stay overnight for a variety of reasons, such as family conflict, crisis, feeling unsafe at home, not having anywhere to go, or just needing a healthy break from family. No reason is not valid! We are first come, first serve and all youth have access to a case manager who will work with them and their family to locate safe, stable, and permanent housing.

The role of the Youth Advocate will be to serve youth during 13-13.5-hour overnight shifts. During an overnight shift you will use active listening techniques to help youth while in crisis. As a Youth Advocate, you will also cook dinner and breakfast for every youth and maintain a safe, confidential, and clean environment for all youth and staff alike. This position serves youth with compassion; therefore you will be responsible for compiling detailed case notes, identifying potential referrals for youth, and formulating ideas that could aid day staff in finding a solution for each youth. Must have a clear understanding of the Harms Reduction and Housing First models and how they affect each youths positive outcome.

Learn, Grow and Serve: Were committed to growing the capabilities of our people. We are devoted to a community where employees feel a sense of belonging, and are valued for their contributions and the perspectives they bring. We are on a mission to create positive community change through relationships by empowering the mind, body and spirit of ALL! Above all else, we are on a relentless quest to make our community stronger.

This position is for you, if you can:

• Model and execute an unconditional (non-rejecting) care approach to working with at-risk adolescents. Maintains awareness of the emotional and physical state of youth.
• Work with Oasis Case Manager, Teen Shelter Manager, and identified community agency partners in executing interventions as prescribed in the individual service plan of each resident.
• Monitor residents behavior during all aspects of the daily schedule and maintains appropriate case records.
• Conduct intake orientation interviews with new residents and completes necessary paperwork in relation to intake procedures.
• Provide conflict resolution and verbal de-escalation in both group and individual crisis situations, respond in a timely manner to aggressive or violent behavior and responds to and reports suicidal gestures exhibited by youth.
• Track and log residents behavior, maintaining clear and concise records of all incidents, either critical or non-critical.
• Utilize other Homeless Prevention Specialists, Director/Case Manager to increase skill and experience in service delivery to at-risk youth.
• Attend regularly scheduled staff meetings and ensures completion of other regularly scheduled duties as assigned (such as grocery shopping, meal planning, etc.).

You have got this, if you are:

• 21 years of age or older
• Associates Degree in a related field, or equivalent work experience
• Good verbal and written communication skills.
• Knowledge of crisis de-escalation, negotiation, and problem-solving techniques.
• Ability to model appropriate behavior and socialization skills for clients.
• Ability to work with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to institute positive reinforcements and to work as a team member in a residential, multi-cultural environment.
• Must be able to be cleared by the State of Washington to work in an OYS facility
• TB Test by Mantoux method (required before beginning work).
• Current Food Handlers Card within 30 days of employment.
• Current state-approved certifications in CPR/AED, First Aid & Bloodborne Pathogens, as well as Abuse Prevention and Mandatory Reporting training are required within 90 days of hire.

Benefits from day 1:

• Free YMCA household membership;
• 403(b) Saving Account enrollment;

Your other benefits will be (waiting period applies):

• 8 paid federal holidays a year (full-time benefited employees to be eligible)
• Paid Sick & Vacation Day (accrual begins from day-1, eligible to use after 90-days)
• 2 paid personal days & 1 paid birthday per year
• Medical, vision, and dental insurance (full-time benefited employees to be eligible)
• 403 (b) Retirement Employer Match (after 2 years with 1,000 hours)
• Life insurance, and more! (full-time benefited employees to be eligible)
• Additional bilingual, premium pay of $0.50 for those who are fluent bilingual Spanish, Triqui, Mixtec, Russian and Ukrainian speakers. Ability to write or translate written materials is not required to receive this premium.