Youth Advocate

About the Role

Mary's Shelter is seeking a Youth Advocate to join their team. This role is responsible for providing safety and security to residents and assisting with house cleanliness, while demonstrating commitment to the mission and values of Mary's Shelter and relating to residents in a respectful and compassionate manner.

Key Responsibilities

Maintenance Services

• Daily supervision of youth.
• Accompany youth on group field trips, external appointments, and outings.
• Conduct periodic checks (minimum every four hours) of all areas for safety and security.
• Respond to emergencies while on duty.
• Respond to residents’ needs regarding housing, food, clothing, school supplies, transportation, and personal incidentals.
• Assist youth with general maintenance activities, including changing lightbulbs, shoveling snow, spreading ice melt, clearing sinks, and hanging pictures.
• Report general building maintenance concerns to the appropriate personnel.

Direct Treatment Services

• Assist residents with their ISP/TLP related tasks and goals.
• Instruct and assist residents with life skills training, including personal hygiene, cooking, cleaning, resume writing, and interviewing.
• Assist youth with meal planning and grocery shopping to ensure healthy, budget-conscious choices.
• Ensure residents schedule and follow through with needed medical, dental, vision, and mental health/behavioral health services.
• Assist residents with enrollment in educational, vocational, or job readiness programs.

General Responsibilities

• Report significant occurrences/incidents during change of shifts.
• Participate in scheduled staff meetings.
• Complete 40 hours of training annually and keep personal training records and personnel files up to date.
• Answer phones and doors, greet donors, and conduct tours.
• Maintain records as required: shift reports, pantry records, and donations.
• Check and record refrigerator and freezer temperatures daily.
• Light housekeeping duties as assigned.
• Sort and organize donations.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Office Suite
• Internet
• Inventory software
• Valid CPR and First Aid certifications
• Completion of mandated reporter training and all required clearances

Qualifications

• Education: High School Diploma/GED required.
• Preferred Education: College experience.
• Experience: No prior experience required.
• Language Skills:
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• Ability to speak effectively and present information in one-on-one and small group situations.
• Mathematical Skills:
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
• Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent, and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
• Reasoning Ability:
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where limited standardization exists.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions in written, oral, diagram, or schedule forms.
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
• Ability to demonstrate professionalism, time management, problem-solving skills, and act as a team player.
• Physical Demands:
• Regularly required to walk, sit, stand, reach, stoop, climb or balance, use hands, taste, smell, talk, and hear.
• Must be able to lift 50 pounds at minimum.