Job Description

San Diego Youth Services

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

Youth Support Partner

San Diego Youth Services seeks a Youth Support Partner in the Our Safe Place Program (OSP) to be based in San Diego Central and East County.  This is a full-time & non-exempt position reporting to the OSP Program Manager.

San Diego Youth Services:  Who we are

San Diego Youth Services has helped improve the lives of more than 780,000 homeless, runaway and vulnerable youth since its beginning in 1970. We provide safe places to live and long-term solutions through shelter, foster homes, community centers and housing to more than 28,000 youth every year at 100+ community and school locations. Through prevention, early intervention and treatment, we also help youth before they need higher levels of care or become homeless.

We aim to:

1. Meet the basic needs of youth.  Hunger, poverty and youth homelessness are on the rise for many youth and their families today. We help meet these basic needs for youth. What could be more vital than food and shelter? We provide safe places to live and long-term solutions through shelter, foster homes, community centers and housing.
2. Create positive connection. We help youth focus on positive life changes and healthy relationships as part of providing needed resources and services. San Diego Youth Services has long provided foster homes and adoption support services for families considering adopting a youth in the foster care system.
3. Help youth develop life skills. In addition to a range of safe and stable housing options, we offer support to  help youth develop the independent living skills necessary to become self-sufficient and keep off the streets.
4. Promote overall health and well-being. Early intervention and care for the whole child are critical. We provide a broad continuum of services to help youth overcome trauma and challenges that put them at risk, including  case management, counseling, mental health treatment and educational support and resources .

SDYS has a staff of approximately 250 employees and 80 volunteers working across San Diego County and an annual budget of approximately $24 million.

You can learn more about us at

DEPARTMENT DESCRIPTION OR PROGRAM DESCRIPTION HIRING FOR

Our Safe Place uses a whole person philosophy and provides safe and affirming spaces of healing through authentic connections, resources for equitable opportunity and avenues for cultivating strengths.

Our Safe Place is a collaborative program with South Bay Community Services and the YMCA of San Diego County, with each partner providing a drop-in center and San Diego Youth Services also providing a mental health clinic.

CONTEXT OF THE POSITION

Assist with the development, implementation, and evaluation of an integrated treatment approach for LGBTQ+ youth and families with co-occurring psychiatric and substance disorders. Provide quality trauma informed services as part of a comprehensive behavioral health program, that adheres to and upholds the rigorous standards of San Diego Youth Services as mandated by its mission, purpose, guiding principles and standards of quality. Tuesday – Saturday Schedule: 11:30 am – 8 pm.

Position begins: Sept 2025.  

Essential functions include:

• Primary role will include the provision of case management and supportive/rehabilitative services to enrolled youth/family, as applicable.
• Provide community outreach and trainings on LGBTQ+ topics.
• Provide assertive outreach services within the LGBTQ+ community.
• Screen youth/families as appropriate for the mental health clinic site. Provide outreach services to youth while waiting for counseling services.
• Must be flexible to provide services in the Drop-in Center, in the community, in-home, and on an approved telehealth platform.
• Provide mentoring to youth.
• Facilitate support groups centered around LBGTQ+ issues and awareness.
• Participate in treatment meetings and service planning. Attend all required agency training courses and meetings.
• Welcome and support volunteers in the organization and assist them in accomplishing their services whenever applicable.
• Maintain documentation and reporting in congruence with behavioral health service standards on all youth and families in a timely manner.
• Maintain a working knowledge of MIS equipment.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Preferred lived experience identifying within the LGBTQ+ community and have received behavioral health services.
• Alumni of Our Safe Place will receive preference in hiring.
• Two years of supervised experience with children and adolescents including the documentation of services following a standard protocol.
• Experience working with LGBTQ+ youth and young adults preferred. Must be able to pass clearance for working with Minors. Bilingual (Spanish/English) preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Committed to cultural awareness.
• Must be willing to drive and be willing to transport youth (mileage re-imbursement provided).
• Must be willing to develop or possess working knowledge of trauma-informed care and dual diagnosis treatment; experience working in trauma-informed and dual diagnosis programs preferred.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain CPR and First Aid certification. 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must have ability to bend at the waist, kneel or crouch to assist students.
• Must have the ability to hear and speak to exchange information and make presentations.
• Must be able to lift and carry 20 pounds-lifting books, materials and equipment to execute lessons and presentations.
• Sitting or standing for extended periods of time.
• Walking extended lengths to move around campuses.
• Potential exposure to physical injury from aggressive behavior.

SDYS EXPECTATIONS

• Adhere to and uphold the rigorous standards of SDYS as mandated by its mission, purpose, guiding principles and standards of quality.
• Maintain confidentiality and privacy standards of service partner protected health information and other applicable information and material in accordance to agency and center policies, and applicable regulations and laws including HIPAA. 
• Welcome and support SDYS volunteers and assist them in accomplishing their services whenever applicable.
• Effectively communicate with people from diverse backgrounds and experiences.
• Recognize, nurture, and learn from strengths in co-workers.
• Maintain warm, welcoming and safe work environments.
• Possess flexibility to accomplish job responsibilities in several work environments, whether it be from home, on the road, or in an office.
• Employment is subject to required clearances which include tuberculosis test, fingerprinting, background checks, and drug testing.

Salary Range : $21.00 – 22.00/hour

To apply, please send resume and cover letter through job posting on SDYS website.

SDYS offers a comprehensive benefits package to full time employees that includes generous PTO, personal holidays, health, vision, dental, life insurance, parental leave and a 403(b)-retirement plan with matching contribution.  SDYS is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) employer.  Read more about the PSLF program here .

All are welcome at San Diego Youth Services.

As an organization working to meet the basic needs of youth, create positive connections, help youth develop life skills, and promote overall health and well-being, SDYS believes its practices and actions must reflect the highest level of commitment to access, equity, and social justice.

The collective sum of the individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, innovation, self-expression, and talent that our members invest in their work represents not only part of the SDYS’ culture, but the SDYS’ reputation and achievements as well.  SDYS remains open to feedback from all communities it touches and knows that input from those with direct experience of issues will make the SDYS more effective in achieving its goals.

SDYS is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status .  Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.  In compliance with the Immigration and Nationality Act as amended, all new employees must verify their eligibility to work in the United States.

SDYS is proud to be a kindness certified company.

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