AGENCY: Homeless Children’s Network

TITLE: Youth Development Coordinator

SCHEDULE: Full-time position. Onsite Community Based some late evenings and weekends 

BENEFITS: Health, Dental, and Vision insurance; Commuter stipend and travel reimbursement, gym membership, 6 Weeks paid time off, 13 paid holidays, Work Laptops Provided

START DATE: July 1st. 2024

HOMELESS CHILDREN’S NETWORK MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of Homeless Children’s Network is to decrease the trauma of homelessness and domestic violence for children, youth, and families; to empower families; and to increase the effectiveness of collaborative efforts among service providers to end homelessness and poverty.

Homeless Children's Network is a community-based organization providing mental health and family support services to children and families who are homeless and formerly homeless.

MA’AT YOUTH PROGRAM OVERVIEW:

The Ma'at Youth Leadership Program welcomes transitional age youth who identify as African, African-American, or Black from all corners of the city. Participants receive tailored mentorship in academic, employment, and life skills, empowering them to explore pathways that foster personal growth and community impact. Additionally, they collaborate in group settings to innovate community-based projects. While the program specifically targets African-American youth, it warmly embraces young people from diverse backgrounds and identities.

HEALING SF YOUTH ADVOCACY COMMITTEE PROGRAM OVERVIEW:

The program by HCN aims to empower Transitional Age Youth (TAY)/African American (AA) individuals through youth-led organizing. It focuses on developing culturally responsive, trauma-informed strategies to address intertwined issues of poor mental health and substance use, shaped by AA experiences with the War on Drugs and community norms favoring abstinence over harm reduction. Participants will receive leadership training, create advocacy platforms, engage with city departments and the Board of Supervisors, and influence policy discussions with their lived experiences. The curriculum progresses from understanding day-to-day impacts to exploring systemic implications and culminates in youth-led initiatives, amplifying their voices in policy-making and advocacy efforts.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Youth Development Coordinator oversees the supervision, operations, development, and execution of youth programs focused on Transitional Age Youth (TAY), including the Ma'at Youth Program and the Healing SF Youth Advocacy Committee. This role emphasizes collaboration, requiring the coordinator to cultivate strong relationships with youth, families, HCN staff, partner organizations, and community members. The ideal candidate thrives in a dynamic, fast-paced environment, demonstrating agility and proactive leadership. They are responsible for designing engaging and relevant curriculum, providing direct services, mentorship, and fostering an environment that supports youth development, community engagement, and skill-building.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in public health, education, community health, psychology, sociology, or a related field.
• Experience in community outreach, engagement, or advocacy, particularly within Black communities.
• Experienced and knowledgeable in teen programming, youth development, especially in BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, POC) families and communities; Familiar with resources and communities in San Francisco.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Knowledge of substance use and prevention strategies, with a focus on addressing disparities in Black youth outcomes.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build and maintain relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Cultural competence and sensitivity to the unique experiences and needs of Black individuals and families.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.
• Proficiency in computer skills and data management systems.
• Ability to work flexible hours
• Have excellent written and verbal communication skills 
• Knowledge of computer software, particularly MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint). 
• Ability to pass a criminal background check. 
• Courteous, professional, and able to reason logically. 
• Detail-oriented and well organized. 
• Able to establish and meet deadlines.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS 

1. Program Oversight: Manage and oversee the day-to-day operations, development, and execution of youth programs focused on Transitional Age Youth (TAY), specifically the Ma'at Youth Program and the Healing SF Youth Advocacy Committee.
2. Collaboration and Relationship Building: Cultivate strong and productive relationships with youth, families, HCN staff, partner organizations, and community members to ensure effective program delivery and support.
3. Curriculum Development: Design and implement engaging and relevant curriculum that meets the needs of program participants, focusing on academic, employment, life skills, and youth-led organizing principles.
4. Direct Services and Mentorship: Provide direct services, mentorship, and support to youth participants, guiding them in personal growth, leadership development, community engagement, and skill-building activities.
5. Community Engagement and Advocacy: Facilitate youth engagement in community-based projects and advocacy initiatives, empowering them to contribute to and influence policy discussions and decisions.
6. Cultural Responsiveness and Trauma-Informed Practices: Implement culturally responsive and trauma-informed strategies in program activities, addressing issues such as poor mental health, substance use, and systemic inequities faced by African American and Black identifying youth.
7. Leadership and Proactive Management: Demonstrate proactive leadership in a fast-paced environment, adapting to changing circumstances and fostering an environment where youth can learn, build relationships, and thrive.
8. Monitoring and Evaluation: Monitor program effectiveness, collect feedback from stakeholders, and evaluate outcomes to continuously improve program quality and impact.
9. Advocacy and Representation: Represent the interests and perspectives of TAY/AA youth within HCN, partner organizations, city departments, and the broader community, advocating for their needs and amplifying their voices in relevant forums.
10. Policy Influence: Collaborate with city departments, the Board of Supervisors, and other stakeholders to influence policies and practices that impact TAY/AA youth, based on their lived experiences and insights.
11. Ethical and Legal Compliance: Adhere to ethical and legal standards in all aspects of job performance, including confidentiality, informed consent, and professional boundaries. Maintain compliance with organizational policies and procedures, as well as relevant laws and regulations governing service delivery.
12. Uphold HCN policies for safety, supervision, mandated reporting and risk management. 
13. All other duties as assigned by your supervisor. 

At HCN, we don’t just accept differences; we CELEBRATE them! At HCN, we thrive on

your humanness, your individualism, and your authenticity. Mohawks, weaves, braids, bald,

twists, dreads, straight, mullet? Yes, that, too. The people we serve are as diverse as a jar

of multicolored marble, and for the benefit of our clients, our employees must be, too.

HCN is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer.