Independent Life Skills Instructor

Since 1984, Larkin Street Youth Services has helped more than 75,000 young adults in San Francisco with outreach, shelter, housing, education, employment, healthcare, and other services.

Today, Larkin Street Youth Services is the largest provider of housing and services to homeless youth in the Bay Area. We serve 1,500 youth annually, operating or partnering to provide more than 500 emergency shelter, transitional, supportive, and subsidy-based housing beds at several unique sites across San Francisco.

Working at Larkin Street, no matter what department, means making a real difference in the lives of young people experiencing homelessness. Our team is skilled, diverse, and passionate. Our culture encourages achievement and professional development, as well as teamwork and self-care. Our focus is always on the young people at the heart of our mission and to nurture potential, promote dignity and support bold steps by all.

For more information about us, visit www.larkinstreetyouth.org.

WHAT YOU'LL DO:

Under the guidance of the Program Manager, the Independent Life Skills Instructor provides support and training for transitional aged youth in activities of financial literacy, self-regulation, socialization, daily living, and community integration for development in both academic and career readiness using culturally relevant pedagogy, harm reduction and restorative practices offered in the Larkin Street Academy classroom and events. Additionally, the applicant should have exceptional skills to communicate and inspire learning in students in diverse academic, socio-economic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds, and those with learning disabilities. Providing equitable outcomes so all members of our community may enjoy safe, healthy, and vibrant educational and employment environments is critical to our success as Larkin Street Academy instructors. The instructor must be able to organize and manage classrooms; provide classroom instruction; and implement successful hands-on, student-centered instruction.

This is a full-time position, eligible for full benefits.

Your responsibilities: 

• Teach core life-skills topics in cohorts/workshops for transitional aged youth experiencing homelessness.
• Prepare culturally relevant and interactive lessons using discussion and activity-centered lessons related to basic financial literacy, communication, goal setting/planning, self-control, self-awareness/social skills, and adaptability. Etc.
• Provide periodic programming to Larkin Street’s residential sites in the local area as needed, fostering an environment conducive to learning and community outreach
• Keep accurate records and intake information on each participant including attendance, assessment, consent forms, surveys, ETOs, etc.
• Work with program staff to develop and accomplish program goals of 70% of youth successfully employed or enrolled in higher education.
• Outreach, retain, and motivate students to increase their performance, attendance, and program retention.
• Coordinate with Larkin Street Youth Services staff to link youth to college and career programming offered through Larkin Street Academy and beyond.
• Support youth in academic tutoring in classroom and individual tutoring/advising sessions.
• Support with all Larkin Street Academy programming

WHO YOU ARE:

• You are passionate about the Larkin Street Youth Services mission to end youth homelessness.
• You embody our values and core strategies: "This Is How We Roll":
  • Client-Centered
  • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
  • Trauma Informed Care
  • Restorative Practices
  • Harm Reduction
  • Non-Violent Crisis Intervention
  • Motivational Interviewing
• You have some social services and/or direct-service experience.
  • *BONUS* You have experience working in drop-in services, shelter, transitional, and/or permanent supportive housing programs.
• You are most excited to serve Transitional Aged Youth (TAY), aged 18 to 25 of diverse backgrounds.
• You are a self-starter and team player. Your colleagues describe you as compassionate, dependable, and patient.
• You work best in an on site, in person working environment. This role is 100% onsite/in person.
• You are willing to work holidays occasionally.
• You are vaccinated against COVID 19.

THE PERKS:

• Hourly Rate of $25.00-26.37
  • +$1.50 for bilingual incentive pay. Must be fluent in Spanish and English.
• Choice of Kaiser and Sutter medical plans, plus dental and vision.
• Generous 3 weeks of vacation annually, plus 11 Paid Holidays and 3 Floating Holidays.
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching.
• Flexible spending accounts for Healthcare and Dependent Care expenses.
• Life Insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for counseling services.
• Health Advocate Service.
• Commuter Benefits Programs.
• Paid Sabbatical following 5 and 10 years of employment.

Larkin Street Youth Services is an equal opportunity employer. Larkin Street Youth Service seeks qualified candidates with an interest in the non-profit sector. We are committed to embracing diversity and consider all applicants for all positions without regard to color, ethnic background, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, HIV/AIDS status, veteran status, or any other legally protected class. We encourage applicants of diverse backgrounds to apply for any open position in which they feel qualified. 

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider employment for qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. 

All City and County of San Francisco employees are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment.  For details on how it is applicable to your employment, please click here.