Youth Advocate

Position Title: Youth Advocate 

Position Type: Full-time (40 hours per week), Non-Exempt

Reports to: Youth Services Manager 

About LYRIC

Founded in 1988, the Lavender Youth Recreation & Information Center (LYRIC) provides support and services to nearly 2,000 lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning (LGBTQQ ) and allied youth per year. LYRIC’s mission is to build community and inspire positive social change through education enhancement, career training, health promotion, and leadership development with LGBTQQ youth, their families, and allies of all races, classes, genders, and abilities. The organization has a budget of approximately $4million and a staff of 20 .

Position Summary

The number one priority and focus of a Navigator is to provide services and support to LGBTQQ youth and community who access any all LYRIC programs. Navigators are highly skilled youth development practitioners that play a critical role at LYRIC in areas of program planning, implementation, and evaluation. Navigators facilitate the leadership development of youth, guiding program participants through a set of challenging and interesting skill-building opportunities in school-based and community-based settings year-round.  Navigators develop and implement program curricula, facilitate and supervise teams of youth, conduct outreach, and coordinate community events. Navigators strive to imbue program participants with self- awareness and empowerment to take forward into their communities and their future.

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Program staff are in person 5 days a week.

Focus Areas

The Youth Services Team offers wraparound case management for the LGBTQQ population

ranging from community building opportunities to systems and navigation advocacy. We use a

short-term goal focused support model. 

Advocates specialize in supporting youth who are QTBIPOC, sex workers, undocumented, under-resourced, living with health needs, and/or disabled. The team offers wraparound case management for the LGBTQQ population we serve (ranging from community building opportunities to systems and navigation advocacy using a short-term, goal focused support model. Youth Advocates develop and facilitate community support groups for the same population; topics include sexuality education, domestic violence counseling, sex work and safety, workforce development etc. One-on-one and group facilitation skills are a strong requirement.

Responsibilities

1. Develop and implement case management activities that are youth-centered, informed by research and best practices, and incorporate cultural humility.
2. Work directly with youth in groups and/or individually in school-based and community-based settings by providing a welcoming environment in all LYRIC programs. Develop, implement, and evaluate program activities that are youth-centered, informed by research/ best practices, and culturally relevant to LGBTQQ youth.
3. Develop strength-based, social justice-centered individualized service plans in collaboration with youth and staff. 
4. Coordinate and maintain regular appointments with youth accessing case management services and ensure progress toward early adult outcomes.
5. Ensure successful transition of youth exiting case management services to community or other resources.
6. Maintain records of daily contacts and activities with youth as well as related case collateral.
7. Coordinate community building /harm reduction groups and LGBTQQ inclusion training in partnership with youth facilitators.
8. Maintain an active caseload in achievement of program department goals and contract deliverables, while engaging with supervisor to discern appropriate duration of time and level of guidance that encourages growth and personal agency among clients.
9. Provide crisis intervention and conflict de-escalation as needed.
10. Build and maintain relationships with funders, community-based service providers, school districts, youth serving agencies, and community resources.
11. Attend staff meetings as well as other organizational retreats and gatherings.
12. Support organization-wide events and activities
13. Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Knowledge

1. Understanding of positive youth development framework, youth-adult partnership frameworks and knowledge of LGBTQQ youth issues.
2. Understanding of social justice, restorative justice, and systems change.
3. Understanding of program planning, implementation, and evaluation best practices.
4. Understanding of curriculum development, thematic learning, popular education, and project-based learning.
5. Knowledge of San Francisco and Bay Area resources, especially for LGBTQQ youth, youth of color and their families.
6. Broad and deep knowledge of LGBTQQ community and issues impacting LGBTQQ youth.

Who You Are

• Seasoned youth development professional with proven ability to lead programs with at least 2 years of program coordination and case management experience
• Experience with case management model best practices, curriculum development, group facilitation, and staff supervision practices
• Extensive knowledge of San Francisco and Bay Area health resources, especially for LGBTQQ youth, youth of color
• Practiced youth worker who understands diverse models of working with youth (i.e. understanding of principles of youth development, youth-adult partnership, harm reduction, positive sexuality, HIV/STI prevention).
• Engaged community member who has some experiences working with any of the following communities: transgender youth, young women, youth of color, youth with disabilities, young men who have sex with men (YMSM), youth living with HIV, system-engaged youth, immigrant communities, youth engaged in sex work, youth who are homeless/marginally housed, and other historically marginalized groups.
• Someone who thrives in working in a multiracial, multicultural, multi-gendered, and intergenerational environment.
• Organized record keeper who can maintain data collection, quality control, analysis, and reporting.
• Savvy user of multiple technologies, including Microsoft Office Suite, Google Apps, Zoom, Canva, and other online software programs.

The salary for the position is non-exempt and receives an hourly wage of $30.58 per hour at 40 hours per week. LYRIC uses an equity-based model of compensation; we offer a fixed pay rate for staff according to position and tenure with an annual pay increase. Salary is non-negotiable.

Why LYRIC

• A career that truly impacts the lives of LGBTQQ youth.
• $800 annual health & wellness cash supplement.
• Professional and Learning Development Trainings including $1000 optional employee’s choice of professional and learning development external opportunities.
• Comprehensive health insurance including full coverage of medical, dental, vision, and acupuncture/chiropractic insurance for employees.
• Optional Health FSA and Commuter Benefits with employee contributions
• 403b retirement plan, including up to 4% employer matching.
• 19 holidays observed including employee birthday and 5 days for winter break. 19 Vacation (accrued at 6.33 hours twice a month) days, 18 sick days (accrued at 6 hours twice a month), 1 personal day; 3 days of critical incident leave, 3 days of bereavement leave, and 5 days of paid jury duty.
• This is a union position w/ OPEIU Local 29

Equal Opportunity EmployerLYRIC is an equal opportunity employer. Applications are strongly encouraged from women, people of color, immigrants, young people, lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, transgender and genderqueer people, people living with HIV/AIDS, people with disabilities, and bilingual and bicultural people. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment-qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

No phone calls or email inquiries.

Salary : $800