Retention Specialist - YouthBuild & CRE

AT YOUTHCARE: We value hard work and dedication to helping young people experiencing homelessness move from survival mode into thriving and healthy young adulthood. We also value a sense of humor and respect of each other and the young people we serve. YouthCare serves young people of many racial and ethnic backgrounds, abilities, sexual orientations, gender identities, and religious beliefs, and we seek a workforce that reflects that diversity.
ABOUT YOUTHCARE: YouthCare works to end youth homelessness and to ensure that young people are valued for who they are and empowered to achieve their potential. Founded in 1974, YouthCare was one of the first programs to serve runaway and homeless youth on the West Coast. The goal was to help young people find safety today and build a future for tomorrow. Over four decades, we've defined best practices and developed programs that are a national standard for excellence. Using a youth-centered approach, we ensure that young people experiencing homelessness ages 12-24 have the hope, skills, and confidence to gain long-term stability.
COVID vaccinations are mandated at YouthCare. Employees will be required to submit proof of vaccination or have an approved request for medical or religious exemption and an approved accommodation at the time of On-Boarding. Please note: Philosophical, political, scientific, or sociological objections to vaccination will not be considered for an exemption or accommodation.
WORK SCHEDULE: This position is full-time regular and non-exempt. The work schedule is typically Monday - Friday (9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.). Work site will rotate between Orion Center and YouthBuild's South Seattle location.
TEAM OVERVIEW: The Engagement and Workforce Services Team includes approximately 55 team members focused on building relationships, restoring trust, and planning for the next steps as youth and young adults prepare for independence. The staff helps young people learn soft skills and take attainable first steps toward longer-term employment. The Team offers transformative ways to build skills and confidence to explore a career and gain long-term employment. The Engagement and Workforce Services Team spans seven program sites- Orion Center; YouthBuild programming at the South Seattle College campus; YouthGrow programming at the Interagency Academy; the Denny Shell space (the Annex) and the Broadway/Pine project (slated to open in 2027-2028).
The Engagement and Workforce Services division within YouthCare's Programs Department is responsible for connecting youth and young adults to services that provide continuity and stabilization, connecting young adults to critical resources and services to prevent homelessness, outreaching into the community to educate the public, and share the work YouthCare is doing to end youth homelessness; and working internally to foster an integrative service delivery approach that elevates team member competencies and success in providing culturally relevant services.
YOUTHBUILD PROGRAM OVERVIEW: YouthCare's YouthBuild program is a WA-state registered Pre-Apprentice program that provides educational instruction and vocational training in the construction trades to young people aged 18-24 experiencing homelessness or housing instability. During the 6-month direct instruction portion of YouthBuild, Pre-Apprentices receive construction training, GED instruction, Workforce Development instruction, leadership development, and support services. YouthBuild is located on the Georgetown Campus of South Seattle Community College. YouthCare's YouthBuild is part of a national network of YouthBuild USA Programs.
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE PROGRAM OVERVIEW: YouthCare's Commercial Real Estate program is a cohort model-based program in partnership with Porter Works that provides instruction hosted by sector professionals for young people aged 18-24 experiencing homelessness or housing instability. During the 4-month direct instruction portion of the program, clients receive on-site training, workforce development instruction, leadership development, and support services. After the completion of the program, graduates have the opportunity for an external internship placement within the Commercial Real Estate industry.
POSITION SUMMARY: Under the supervision of the Program Manager - Partnerships & Workforce Strategy, the Retention Specialist role works directly with program participants, other YouthCare staff, service providers, employers, and community members in order to provide vocational training, workforce and education navigation, job readiness skills, internship and work experience opportunities, job placement, and retention support for young people experiencing homelessness or housing instability. This position will focus heavily on program outcomes such as internship placements,12 months of post program follow-up, building and maintaining partnerships with programs and local businesses, governments, and other entities that assist in these goals.
Support the Become level programs which includes both YouthBuild and Commercial Real Estate with job developer responsibilities; assist young people in attaining employment opportunities and develop supportive structures to ensure retention of job placements. This program is intended to bolster clients who are ready to become self-sufficient in their employment and living situations with the primary goal of independence. Clients participating in the Become level program will gain independent work experience outside of YouthCare, learn strategies to maintain employment and advance in their chosen field and work towards industry-recognized certifications and skills.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Build trust and rapport with young people experiencing homelessness and housing instability, young people who have experienced sexual exploitation and/or young people who are at risk.
• Engage, support, coach, and develop young people using healing-centered engagement practices and a strength-based approach.
• Provide on-site in-person services, while maintaining professional boundaries in providing crisis intervention and services to young people. Must learn and apply positive behavior modification techniques and model effective de-escalation, problem-solving and mediation skills. Be willing to intervene in times of crisis using these skills.
• Complete necessary paperwork and data collection, as well as case notes. Additionally complete incident reports within the required timeframe on any facility damage, medical emergencies or any incident which occurs out of the ordinary functioning of the site or program.
• Read and maintain accurate and timely case records, progress notes, emails, logbooks, and other types of documentation and enter data into YouthCare's CaseWorthy client management system according to agency standards.
• Execute Performance and Quality Improvement (PQI) tasks and accreditation standards and adhere to all agency policies and procedures.
• Comply with the agency's mandated reporting requirement and report suspected abuse, neglect, or sexual exploitation of minors within the required timeframe.
• Work cooperatively and collaboratively with all site and programmatic staff, partners, and volunteers to create a nurturing, dynamic, and constructive environment for young people.
• Support with coordination of basic needs, inclusion of meals, obtaining of legal documents, referrals to systems of support, clothing, and more as needed.
• Work collaboratively with other YouthCare programs, families, school district professionals, crisis services personnel, and staff from other agencies in support of youth.
• Communicate client needs and behaviors to the appropriate staff, and refer young people to appropriate and necessary services, as needed.
• Participate in regular supervision, client consultations, and staff and agency meetings. Attend and fully participate in meetings, professional development opportunities, and designated training sessions as required.
• Act as a professional representative of YouthCare and maintain a professional working environment (office, personal workspace, agency vehicle, etc.).
• Be eligible to drive and transport clients in agency vehicles including 15-passenger vans.

ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES:

• In alignment with current service and contract requirements, regularly engage all young people at site and ensure clients remain actively engaged in pursuit of their employment goals; encourage young peoples' movement from emergency services to case management, and education and employment programming.
• Support the client success navigator to recruit, assess, enroll, and retain clients in program, including but not limited to documenting eligibility, facilitating applications and intakes, creating flyers, email blasts, and mobile orientation opportunities, and ensuring that required paperwork is complete and submitted in a timely manner for successful program enrollment.
• Partner with young people, 1-on-1, to develop SMART goals and other attainable goals around education and employment.
• Successfully transition young people into subsidized and unsubsidized employment and provide ongoing job retention support.
• Coordinate and host Job Fairs with local employers. Support young people in attending these opportunities as well as externally organized job fairs.
• Support youth in external and internal internships, including assisting with hiring paperwork, facilitating interviews and employer meet & greets, collecting and submitting youth timesheets, distributing youth paychecks, and regularly connecting with employer and interns to ensure success of the internship.
• Assist clients in identifying and eliminating barriers to success in employment and post-secondary settings; work with YouthCare case managers to provide case management support to young people and meet basic needs; work with each client's support team to support young people in removing barriers that impact their ability to reach their employment and education goals (transportation, legal advocacy, referrals to mental health and substance use support, and more)
• With the support of the YouthBuild Program Manager, identify and build relationships with potential community partners to assist in internship and work experience opportunities.
• Follow each graduate's progress through regular, sustained contact over the course of a year post-program. Make all reasonable efforts to contact or stay in contact with program graduates in that time and accurately capture any data or updates to their progress toward employment and/or post-secondary education.
• Per YouthCare and contract requirements, maintain client records in an accurate, secure, and timely manner, complete intakes, enrollments, service entries, case notes, attainments, exits, referrals, and incident reports.
• Assist with report writing, data tracking, and documentation for contract compliance.
• Attending all team meetings, training courses and other work-related events as directed by your supervisor.
• Reliably attend and participate in training and development as needed for your role and the needs of our Agency as a whole such as program requirements, DEI&J, supervision and others as identified.
• Contribute to our DEI&J culture by creating at least one SMART Goal related to DEI&J within your control to deliver.

This job description is not intended to cover every aspect of your job at YouthCare. We are a team that works together to meet the needs of our clients, and every member of the team is expected to pitch in and help even beyond the specific responsibilities listed in this description.
WHAT YOU BRING:

• Demonstrated commitment to anti-racism and equity.
• The ability to maintain positive regard for young people despite periods of ambiguity and opposition.
• Coachability, and a desire to engage in candid two-way feedback as a means for professional growth.
• Demonstrated professionalism through a positive and cooperative attitude and by maintaining the confidential and proprietary nature of client/staff relationships and related work products.
• The ability to maintain stable performance under pressure or conflict; handle stress in a manner that maintains teamwork and respect for others and to the agency.
• Initiative, creativity, and flexibility
• Experience with and demonstrated integrity when working with diverse populations and cultures.
• Sense of humor and joy for the work.

QUALIFICATIONS -
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• At least two years' of successfully working with at-risk-youth or young adults in a job training program.
• Bachelor's degree in social work or relevant field of study and 1+ years of relevant work experience, OR an equivalent combination of education, relevant work experience, and/or lived experience (3+) serving young people experiencing homelessness, housing instability, poverty, and systemic oppression
• Experience and credentials must comply with program contractual requirements, including but not limited to the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) background clearance process and must be at least 21 years of age. DCYF Clearance must be maintained for entirety of employment when working with under-18 clients.

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS:

• Master's degree in social work, Public Administration, Education or related field.
• Demonstrated ability in youth development, employment training and/or familiarity with YouthBuild model.
• Strong commitment to the philosophy of the program - to help youth people succeed and reorient their lives, nurture their leadership skills and enable them to make a difference in their community.
• Public speaking skills and excellent listening and written communication skills.
• Willingness to learn from young people.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• Must be able to provide I-9 supporting documentation for employment.
• Ability to provide a negative TB Test (results must be within one year of hire date).
• Employees who drive YouthCare vehicles as a requirement for their position , must be at least 21 years of old, possess a valid Washington State Driver's License, meet minimum safe driver criteria established by the agency and our insurance company which includes completion of Defensive Driving and 15-passenger Van trainings. Drivers under the age of 25 must have been licensed for at least 3 years and those operating vehicles with a capacity of 15 or more passengers must be at least 25 years old.
• Successful completion of pre-service training courses as required by contracting agencies. Training such as CPR & First Aid (Adult/Child), Bloodborne Pathogens, and Behavior Management.
• The ability and willingness to operate a 15-passenger van to transport clients.
• Ability to deal therapeutically with behavioral and emotional problems presented by youth and understanding of emotionally, physically and sexually abused youth.
• Ability to accurately maintain and produce files, records, logs and reports.
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries with clients while building trust and respect.
• Ability to verbally and physically respond to an aggressive person in ways that de-escalate, establish and maintain staff and youth safety.
• May be required to assume responsibilities or duties within the Unit not specifically delineated in this job description for short periods of time or on an infrequent basis.
• Commitment to YouthCare's initiative to build cultural proficiency across the agency. Acceptance of a variety of lifestyles, behaviors, and cultural and spiritual practices.

PHYSICAL CONSIDERATIONS:

• Ability to perform a range of physical motions, exerting up to 50 pounds. Lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds; standing, walking, sitting for long periods of time, kneeling, squatting, and stooping; running for brief periods of time; and go up and down stairs.