Youth Force Counselor

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 primary role of the Youth Force Counselor is to assist in creating a positive hands-on work environment for transitional-aged youth within the mission and goals of Larkin Street Youth Services, and to model ideals of professionalism while providing positive reinforcement as well as constructive criticism to the program trainees. The Counselor will work closely with the Program Manager in a collaborative effort to help young adults ages 18-24 prepare for the pursuit of employment. While this position works closely with all program participants, the primary emphasis is to support our higher needs youth as they enter into our employment services.

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

Your responsibilities:

• Oversee short and long-term manual labor projects, and provide appropriate feedback to youth trainees.
• Co-facilitate professional and personal development workshops that are pertinent to success in the workplace.
• Assist in generating and maintaining client records including, but not limited to: initial assessments, client progress notes, and program database.
• Attend meetings at various LSYS program sites to facilitate coordinated care.
• Conduct community outreach to maintain positive relationships with existing local partners as well as to solicit business from new contacts in the SF community.
• Collaborate with community partners to organize appropriate work projects and coordinate cultural and educational excursions that will provide broad exposure for Larkin Street youth.
• Transport multiple youths to work sites in the SF Bay Area using LSYS vehicles.
• Assist Program Manager and supervisor in assessing youth for the ability to participate in employment and education programs.
• Collaborate with the mental health team to coordinate care of higher needs youth.
• Maintain the strictest confidentiality.
• Other duties as assigned.

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 $22.00-$24.54.
  • +$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.