Drop-In Youth Worker

POSITION SUMMARY

The Drop-In Worker is responsible for providing daily basic needs, outreach, youth development, and resource linkage services targeting LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) youth, youth experiencing homelessness, and street-based youth at the Broadway Youth Center (BYC). This role requires a dynamic integration of harm reduction frameworks with youth development best practices the goal of improving LGBTQ/ street based quality of life through youth access to health, cultural, and social services.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Demonstrate a profound understanding of, and knowledge of working with LGBTQ and street-based youth age 12-24; demonstrate the ability to speak to and affect a wide variety of audiences related to the health, wellness and development needs of the target population; demonstrate the ability to connect with, and provide development services and interventions.
• Provide LGBTQ and street-based youth with high-quality and responsive care, particularly basic needs services (food, hygiene, laundry, showers, and clothing services) in a milieu setting at the Broadway Youth Center.
• Incorporate anti-oppression frameworks including harm reduction, trauma-healing care, restorative justice, and body positivity into your youth work.
• Provide referral information, group based education, and crisis intervention counseling utilizing a trauma informed approach, toward youth accessing the drop-in program.
• Participate in community-, street based-, and digital outreach services targeting street-based and LGBTQ youth age 12-24.
• Link youth to appropriate in-house services at BYC and Howard Brown including walk-In sexual health, primary care, mental health, education, vocation, and resource advocacy
• Maintain knowledge on best practices of youth development work and Chicago area resources for LGBTQ and homeless youth through continuing education workshops and trainings.
• Actively participate in regular staff meetings to plan accountability processes and program development for young people.
• Attend all required trainings and meetings, specifically briefing and debriefing meetings prior to and immediately following Drop-In.
• Foster youth leadership and advocacy by facilitating supporting the design of staff- and peer- led education and cultural workshops.
• Enter documentation of basic needs, outreach, milieu intervention, and programming services through electronic health records, HMIS (Homeless Management Information System), and manager developed databases in a timely and accurate manner
• Demonstrates commitment to Howard Brown core values, mission, and vision.
• Maintain highest level of client confidentiality and professionalism; follow HIPAA regulations; performs duties according to approved policies and procedures relating to OSHA and Standard Precautions.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Interest in the social service/public health fields
• Must be able to complete an 8 hour work day from 10am -6pm. (The hours of operation are subject to change)
• Must demonstrate the ability to work effectively with diverse populations and easily establish rapport with youth.
• Must have a working knowledge of, and/or desire to support a harm reduction, trauma informed, anti-oppression, anti-violence approaches to care.
• Experience working with youth, especially LGBTQ and street-based youth is a plus

HOW TO APPLY:
To apply for this position, please start the application process using the link below. Applicants should submit both their cover letter and resume together as the same document into our ADP system for consideration.

Click here to apply!

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT:

Decisions and criteria governing the volunteer relationship with all volunteers at Howard Brown are made in a non-discriminatory manner, without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, age, FMLA status, or any other factor determined to be unlawful by federal, state or local statutes.