Youth Advocate

• ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES – (ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY) The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that could be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to this class.
  
  Responsible for the coordination of self-help supports groups.
  
  Responsibilities may include but are not limited to in-school assistance; in-home support; mentoring; skills development; crisis intervention; trouble-shooting/problem solving; parental guidance; support and education when requested.
  
  Provides prompt intervention in the event of a crisis, both to resolve the crisis and to notify, when indicated, persons and/or agencies necessary for the resolution of the crisis situation; provides peer counseling that is both helpful and consistent with the philosophy of the program.
  
  Provides forum for educational groups/meetings.
  
  Acts as liaison with and develops list of community self-help resources/supports such as housing; childcare; education; recreation and socialization; medication support.
  
  Involves kids/clients in advisory group activities.
  
  Provides safe transportation to activities and helps make arrangements for childcare, if necessary, to facilitate youth in attendance of support groups, educational forums, conferences, workshops, etc.
  
  Identifies trainings and workshops.
  
  Clarifies grievance process.
  
  Attends to the health, safety, and well-being of each child.
  
  Acts as a member of the Multi-disciplinary Team for purposes of plan development.Participates in Child Family Team Meetings.

Schedule: Monday-Friday, 9:30am-6:00pm

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS :

A typical way of obtaining the knowledge, skills and abilities outlined above is through graduation from high school or university with an Associate degree in Social Work, Psychology, or related field. Experience working with children and families.

Preferred:

Peer Certified

LICENSES; CERTIFICATES; SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
• California driver’s license & current vehicle insurance/registration
• Reliable means of transportation capable of passing vehicle safety inspection if more than five years old excluding all modes of two-wheeled transport inclusive of bicycles, mopeds and motorcycles. KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES

Knowledge Of
• Turning Point’s Mission, Vision and Core Values.
• Principles and goals of community mental health.
• Principles and goals of the “consumer/family driven model.”
• Psychosocial rehabilitation’s treatment and programming.
Ability To
• Work and communicate effectively with staff, families, community agencies, and professionals.
• Perform crisis intervention strategies.
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Work effectively under stress and conflict.
• Exercise appropriate judgment and decision making.
• Be flexible and adaptable in any given situation.
• Work as a member of a team.
• Be well organized, flexible, and self-disciplined.
• Get to multiple locations typically via car. SKILLS
• Mentoring
• Coordinating support groups
• Problem-solving
• Crisis intervention
• Decision-making
• Organization
• Emotional intelligence
• Compassion
• Communication
• Stress-management
• Conflict-management
• Teamwork
• Driving
• Timeliness

MENTAL AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The mental and physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Mental Demands While performing the duties of this class, the employee is regularly required to use written and oral communication skills; read and interpret data, information and documents; analyze and solve complex problems; use math and mathematical skills; perform highly detailed work under intensive deadlines on multiple, concurrent tasks; work with constant interruptions, and interact with TPCP management, administrators, staff, applicants, representatives of external agencies and others encountered in the course of work. Essential Physical Functions The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands
While performing the duties of this class, an employee is regularly required to sit; talk or hear, both in person, and by telephone; use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate standard office equipment; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to walk and stand and lift up to ten pounds. Additionally, specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.
Move around occasionally, stand occasionally, sit frequently, twist at waist or neck occasionally, twist at neck occasionally, use fine finger manipulation frequently, use simple grasping occasionally, use power grasping seldom, reach with either hand occasionally, reach above shoulder height seldom, reach at shoulder height occasionally, lift less than 10 pounds occasionally and more than 10 pounds seldom, carry any weight over 10 feet seldom, bend at waist seldom, travel occasionally.
There are no unusual conditions. Typically, the noise level in the work environment is