ABOUT YMCA YOUTH & FAMILY SERVICES:
YMCA Youth & Family Services (YFS) is dedicated to creating positive change in the San Diego community by addressing today’s most pressing social issues. We are focused on bringing about meaningful and lasting change in children, youth, adults, and families by ensuring they have a safe place to live, connecting them to critical resources, building them a reliable support system, and supporting their pursuit of happiness. Growing over the course of fifty years, YFS supports our community by offering a continuum of services and resources designed to:
- Meet basic needs and remove barriers and stressors
- Increase protective factors to support mental health and well-being
- Strengthen economic stability and mobility
- Build social capital and increase access to opportunities
- Increase resources and support to keep families together
Learn more about YMCA Youth & Family Services at ymcasd.org/yfs.
ABOUT THE ROLE:
The Support Specialist is responsible for providing program assistance, guidance, crisis support, and administrative support to Youth & Family Services projects. This position will assist weekly with participant engagement, resource navigation, and participant group while using appropriate research methods to conduct duties, as well as, lead group exercises, develop professional rapport with participants, and monitor participant progress throughout the duration of the program. The Support Specialist is responsible for applying an intersectional, anti-racist, and equity lens to our work that lifts up and centers Black, Indigenous, People of Color, non-binary, and trans, and LGBTQ+ communities and youth.
TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:
- This position must have access to reliable transportation to travel occasional throughout San Diego County.
WORK DESIGNATION:
- In-Person (North County- Oceanside & Escondido)
- Please note that the work designation may change based on business needs.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM:
The Street Outreach Program (SOP) supports runaway, homeless, and street-involved youth and young adults under 21 across North San Diego County, with a primary focus on areas from Oceanside to Escondido. The Outreach Team connects directly with youth experiencing homelessness through face-to-face outreach in the community. Additionally, staff offer support at the YMCA drop-in centers in Escondido and Oceanside. Through these efforts, the SOP team provides a continuum of supportive services, including assistance with basic needs, intensive case management, and referrals to stabilization resources.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Provide administrative and intervention support to program staff; prepare agendas and activities for groups, assist with documentation and data collection, support various meetings and activities, facilitate groups and lead activities, provide support for the collection and analysis of data required for reporting purposes
- Utilize shared life experience expertise to advance program interventions and participant satisfaction
- Identify and navigate complex community resources and referral processes
- Apply mental health first aid training to participants in crisis
- Engage in recruitment and outreach activities and advocacy strategies
- Provide aftercare, follow-up, and stabilization support services to participants
- Maintain engaging, professional relationships with participants
- Individually meet with participants, assess the need for and provide supportive services, and apply designed curriculum as needed
- Perform other administrative tasks as assigned and assist with maintaining proper document storage and auditing
- Participate in and attend all required staff meetings, trainings, YMCA staff development events, and appropriate agency-wide committees
QUALIFICATIONS:
- High school diploma preferred
- Must be 18 years of age or older
- Minimum two years’ relevant experience required
- Familiarity with life experiences common among the transition aged youth population preferred
- Experience with Independent Living Skills issues (financial aid, college admissions, GED preparation, housing, transportation) preferred
- Familiar with the operations of federal grants preferred
- Basic computer knowledge and skills
- Familiar with community resources and referral processes preferred
COMPETENCIES:
- Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to quickly build rapport with others
- Must be an adult role model with the ability to effectively set limits and function in crisis-oriented and high stress situations
- Must be able to work independently and as part of a team
- Must be self-aware, flexible, adaptable, and teachable
- Ability to navigate community resources
- Visual and auditory ability to respond to critical incidents and the physical ability to act swiftly in an emergency situation
- Ability to adequately observe participants’ activities, enforce safety regulations, and apply appropriate policies and procedures
- Must possess the ability to lead and interact in group activities and perform related physical skills
- Ability to work effectively with others in alignment with the YMCA 4 Core Values; Models the 4 Core Values in all aspects of position responsibilities
EMPLOYMENT CONTINGENCIES:
- Licensing, state law and our funders require that applicants be fingerprinted, prior to reporting to work, and include subsequent arrest notifications
- CPR/AED, and First Aid Certification, must include Adult and Child/Infant, within 30 days of hire, and must be from one of the following certifying organizations: American Red Cross, American Heart Association, or American Safety and Health Institute
- Position may require additional clearances in order to comply with all program, licensing, state law, and funding requirements:
- Physical exam obtained prior to first day
- Negative TB test results obtained within the past one year, prior to first day, and annually thereafter, as required
- Pass pre-employment drug testing prior to first day
- Exclusion and Debarment checks prior to first day and monthly thereafter
- Must be 21 years of age or older with a valid CA Driver’s License, a good driving record and a current CDL H6 print-out (must be dated within 30 days of application) and pass vehicle proficiency exam
Y EMPLOYEE PERKS
- FREE Complete Gym Membership, including access to Pools, workout classes and 30% off eligible programs
- Professional Growth
- Community Involvement
- Student Loan Forgiveness: As part of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program (PSLF), your student loan debt may be canceled upon meeting the service requirements.
- Professional Development Opportunities: Access to professional development, training, and learning opportunities at no cost.
- Looking for Benefits? We’ve got you covered:
- Medical, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Pet Insurance
- PTO (Sick time, vacation days, personal days and paid holidays)
- Retirement Contributions
- Employee Discount Program
- Education Benefits
- To learn more about YMCA of San Diego County’s comprehensive employee benefits package, visit: https://www.ymcasd.org/get-involved/ymca-careers/employee-benefits
WHY WORK AT THE Y?
We live by our values: Belonging, Authenticity, Integrity, and Innovation.
We are committed to our community: We strive to provide equitable access to the opportunities, connections, and support people need to learn, grow, and prosper.
We lead with justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion: We seek to provide trauma-informed and culturally responsive services that support and uplift our clients, actively working to remove barriers and increase access for all.
Our culture fosters growth, teamwork, and workplace wellness: We offer opportunities for continuous learning, growth, collaboration, and personal well-being, ensuring that our team members thrive both personally and professionally.
EEO Statement
The YMCA of San Diego County is an organization open to all people. We welcome and value individuals of all ages, race, ethnicity, religion, gender expression, ability, sexual orientation, or financial circumstance. We are committed to having programs and services that embrace diversity, reflecting the people and needs of our community.