Engagement Coordinator

Position Title: Engagement Coordinator

Location: Whatcom County

Reports to: Engagement Manager

Hours: 40 hours per week, non-exempt position

Date Developed: March 2025

Mission: At Northwest Youth Services, we affirm youth experience and autonomy, as we work together to foster collective healing and justice, in order to dismantle the systems of oppression that perpetuate youth homelessness.

Core Values:

Community – We promote interdependence and recognize that everybody needs a community to thrive. We know that we are stronger together.

Justice & Liberation - We believe that it is critical to acknowledge, name, and actively work to dismantle the historic systems and societal structures that fuel crisis and poverty.

Humanity - We work with respect and compassion for each other and believe that everyone deserves to belong: to be safe, heard, and valued.

Accountability – We believe that no one is done learning; as a community we hold each other to a high standard, and work to educate, grow and heal together.

Vision: Guided by our core values and commitment to becoming an Anti-Racist organization, Northwest Youth Services envisions a community in which all young people are seen as catalysts in creating a just and liberated society that supports each of our unique journeys through life.

Job Mission

This position contributes to Northwest Youth Services’ (NWYS) success by providing basic engagement and coordination of care for youth program participants within NWYS Ground Floor Day Services. The Ground Floor is a youth daytime drop-in center for unhoused youth and young adults in the Bellingham area. Under the direction of the Engagement Manager and the Engagement Assistant Manager, Engagement Coordinators are responsible for facilitating and cultivating an environment where young people feel welcome, are oriented to the services that are provided at the Ground Floor and referred to social and clinical support services when appropriate. Youth Engagement Coordinators must operate in a collaborative team format that offers group activities, housing support services, and resource navigation.

Core Competencies

To perform this job successfully, the individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

Change Agility: Able to embrace needed change; able to provide and implement feedback; effective in the face of ambiguity.

Integrity: Must be honest and take responsibility for actions and enforce healthy boundaries with both youth and staff members.

Positive Impact: Have a passion for NWYS’ mission and vision; display a positive attitude.

Learning Agility: Seeks to improve knowledge, skills, and abilities in related service areas. Accepts and is receptive to supervision, accepts direction and integrates feedback.

Creativity: Resourceful in finding ways to improve and advocate for change when necessary; fosters creativity in others.

Active Listening: Ability to effectively work independently and in partnership with team members; ability to communicate effectively with youth and others.

Informal Communication: Articulate ideas clearly and organize ideas effectively. Answers phone calls and emails promptly and respectfully.

Organizational Knowledge: Understands operational procedures; demonstrates an in-depth understanding of what the organization does.

Initiative: Proactive; act without being prompted.

Team Player: Effectively partner with people across the organization; is committed to the success of all team members as it supports the vision and mission of the organization.

Sensitivity: Communicates empathy and respect of individuals; ability to be appreciative of diversity.

Key Responsibilities

Care Coordination:

• Be part of creating an environment at the Ground Floor that is focused on safety, inclusion, and belonging for participants, staff, volunteers, and interns.
• Answer phone calls and emails in a timely manner.
• Maintain a caseload of participants who are actively involved in case management through programs at the Ground Floor.
• Proactively create engagement opportunities with youth with the purpose of building supportive relationships and establishing trust. Assist youth in developing short-term and long-term goals.
• Partner with other NWYS staff and community partners to help youth access supportive services such as:

o Access to basic needs supplies (shower, laundry, etc.)

o Meals and food

o Medical care

o Mental/behavioral health care

o Substance use detox and treatment

o Education

o Employment

o Conflict mediation

o Legal aide

o And more

• Partner with the NWYS Housing Team and community partners to help youth access coordinated entry and/or housing options such as:

o Transitional living placements

o Rapid rehousing

o Section 8 vouchers

o FYI vouchers

o Family or community resources

o Independent living

o And more

• Assist youth by making referrals to partner agencies, helping make and keep appointments with providers, and acting as an advocate when it is needed.
• Manage client data and information using NWYS privacy and confidentiality policies and procedures and in adherence to all applicable laws and regulations.
• Help to plan/organize and facilitate youth activities on a daily and/or weekly basis. Inform youth of scheduled activities.
• Uphold appropriate boundaries and manage conflict in group spaces.
• Develop and maintain partnerships with other community agencies and individuals and act as a representative of NWYS.
• Provide follow-up and aftercare services such as referrals to relevant programs or agencies for youth exiting or aging out of NWYS programs.

Operations and Clerical:

• Complete timely and accurate enrollment and exit paperwork, including collecting and submitting data.
• Maintain up to date, organized, and complete files, shift logs, and case notes.
• Ensure that the day-to-day operations of the Ground Floor function smoothly.
• Be responsible for opening and closing the Ground Floor facilities and maintaining a hospitable environment.
• Clean and organize facilities including restrooms, showers, clothing closet, supply closet, pantry, quiet rooms, and other areas needing care.
• Keep supervisor informed of issues relating to participants or the functioning of the space.
• Assist in processing and distributing incoming donations and supply deliveries.
• Attend all required staff meetings and agency meetings and events as required.
• Maintain knowledge of agency and program policies and procedures.
• Complete professional training and development as assigned.
• Manage time and tasks, including specified deadlines.
• Other duties as assigned.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 35 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and depth perception. While performing these job duties, the employee is regularly required to listen to others and provide verbal feedback. The employee is required to frequently sit for extended periods of time, stand, walk, climb, or balance.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience working with young people in crisis.
• Demonstrated experience working with people experiencing homelessness.
• A minimum of:

o one year experience working with young adults ages 13-24 or

o one year experience working with people experiencing homelessness or

o one year experience working as a Case Manager or

o two years’ experience working with other vulnerable populations or

o a post-secondary education that demonstrates acquired knowledge applicable to this position.

• Must be 21 years of age or older;
• Proof of Washington State Driver’s License, driving record, and auto insurance; and
• Must pass background checks.

Required within first 30 days of employment:

• CPR/First Aid/Bloodborne pathogens certifications required;
• Must have a negative TB test
• Full understanding of the CPS reporting requirements
• Food handler’s certification
• Participate in the onboarding and training process (agency-wide and team-specific) within 30 days, including topics on Positive Youth Development, Trauma-Informed Care, Motivational Interviewing, CSEC 101, and Harm Reduction.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Human Services, or related field;
• 2-3 years of experience working with at-risk and/or homeless youths
• Knowledge of issues faced by young people at-risk of/experiencing homelessness.

Benefits

• Earn paid time off based on hours worked;
• Medical, vision, and dental insurance benefits begin first of the month following date of hire (positions at or above 0.75 FTE);
• Voluntary life, critical illness, supplemental vision, long term disability, and accident insurance eligibility begins first of the month following date of hire (positions at or above 0.75 FTE);
• Simple IRA Retirement plan with match up to 3% of employee contributions, per pay period, after first year of employment;
• Annual Healing Fund stipend; and
• Juneteenth and Indigenous Peoples Day paid holidays;

Northwest Youth Services is an Equal Opportunity employer. Employment is based upon individual qualifications without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, citizenship, age, marital status, veteran status, disabilities, political ideology, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status.

Northwest Youth Services participates in E-Verify.

To apply please visit our website at https://www.nwys.org/employment.