Youth Support Specialist

General Description of the job
The 15th Night Youth Support Specialist (YSS) will play a crucial role in developing and implementing the Neighborhood Builders (NB) program’s goal of connecting youth with resources and creating a safe environment in Springfield. They will foster a supportive and inclusive community environment, and work closely with high school and middle school students in the Springfield school district to make meaningful connections to guide the trajectory of NB. Through a gradual increase in presence at each school, the YSS will aim to create a sense of community, reduce gun violence, and connect students with essential resources. NB is a support programs aimed at reducing gun violence and promoting non-violent conflict resolution. The Youth Support Specialist will provide education and awareness on the impacts of gun violence and the importance of safety.

The ideal candidate will have a passion for helping others, strong interpersonal skills, and a commitment to promoting safety and well-being among youth, drawing from their own lived experiences. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

o    Co-facilitate with NB team leads, peer support groups and activities that promote inclusivity and a sense of belonging.
o    Collaborate with NB staff and school staff to develop programs that enhance community engagement and provide youth with leadership opportunities:
?    Work with NB youth to design events, service projects, and leadership workshops.
?    Coordinate with NB Program Manager to determine budget and other event requirements.
?    Assist in development of detailed event budget and work plan.
o    With support from supervisor, organize events and initiatives that encourage positive interactions and relationships among students:
?    Work with NB youth to implement quarterly service projects and leadership workshops.
?    Report to NB Program Manager on budget and workplan progress.
?    Submit receipts for project expenditures to supervisor.
?    Resource Connection
o    Identify and connect students with school and community resources, including mental health services, academic support, and extracurricular activities.
o    Assist students in navigating available resources and provide ongoing support as needed.
o    Collect Oregon Health Plan billing information from participants and enter the information into database. 
o    Maintain up-to-date knowledge of local resources and services to effectively guide students by utilizing the RAN, attending 15N Network meetings and team meetings; and using the 15th Night Resource Guide.
o    Utilize both school-based and community Rapid Access Networks to add alerts for resource and communicate with providers to ensure needs are met
?    Student Support:
o    Offer one-on-one peer support to students experiencing personal, social, or academic challenges.
o    Act as a liaison between students and school staff to ensure students’ needs are met, as needed.
o    Provide crisis intervention and support as needed. Will refer to school counseling staff and/or youth crisis line if youth is indicating harm to self or other. 
?    Training and Development:
o    Participate in ongoing training and professional development to stay informed about best practices in peer support and violence prevention. Trainings include the Peer Support Specialist certification, Crisis De-escalation, First Aid Mental Health for Youth, Basic Mediation, and Restorative Justice. 
o    Help train and mentor student leaders to assist in peer support initiatives.
o    Help direct youth and students to Our Neighborhood and Neighborhood Builder activities
o    Help guide the direction of Neighborhood Builders to ensure it stays youth informed.

Other Duties and Responsibilities 
?    Other related duties as needed. 

Behavioral Competencies 
?    Interest in working with unhoused youth and/or youth at risk for gun violence. 
?    Must be comfortable working with participants in schools and the community. 
?    Must be comfortable discussing sensitive topics regarding housing instability, mental health, and gun violence. 
?    Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. 
?    Strong service-oriented attitude.  
?    Organized, with time management skills and attention to detail. 
?    Willingness to take the initiative to accomplish project tasks as needed and to apply skills and knowledge to new situations. 
?    Willingness to work in a team environment, requiring participatory decision-making and cooperation among employees. 
?    Will perform work as assigned by a supervisor regularly (e.g. daily or weekly basis). 
?    Will manage own workload.
?    Requires no interpretive or independent judgement.
?    Must be flexible in regard to work schedule.