Job Purpose
Support the mission of the YWCA by providing great customer service to our youth center participants, community guests, volunteers, and staff members. The GRIT (Growing Resilient Independent Teens) Advocate will serve as a mentor to all participants. The GRIT Center Advocate is the first person that many participants will meet; this position is considered critical to the success of the center.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Monitor and provide service within the GRIT Center.
• Check in/check out all participants.
• Interact with youth participants in a professional and friendly manner.
• Address positive and negative behaviors with appropriate interventions.
• Discover unmet needs of program participants and make referrals.
• Design, organize and lead group activities that appeal to youth.
• Track attendance.
• Serve as a good role model.
• Exhibit good boundaries and judgment in conversations and relationships with participants.
• Help with set up and clean up for daily activities.
• Schedule can be flexible with working hours between 3:00pm-8:30pm Monday-Friday and 10:30am-6:30pm Saturday-Sunday.
• Treat all service recipients in a kind and respectful manner.
• Maintain security of the center and confidentiality of all youth participants.
• Serve as a member on the GRIT Advisory Board.
• Report any issues, needs or concerns to GRIT Center Manager.
• Provide inclusive services that do not discriminate based on ethnicity, color, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital or partner status, age, disability including substance abuse, economic or educational status, religion, HIV/AIDS or other physical health status, mental health status, immigration status, or residency including county, state or country of origin.
• Complete required documentation and maintain according to YWCA policies and in a manner that ensures the confidentiality of the youth participants.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred or equivalent experience.
• 3 5 years experience working with youth between the ages of 12 and 19 preferred.
• 1 2 years experience working with at-risk youth is preferred.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and willingness to sign confidentiality agreement.
• Culturally sensitive and able to relate to diverse populations.
• Reliable transportation to and from YWCA and to any required training.
• Ability to pass background check with the Childrens Division of the Department of Social Services and a criminal background check.

Working Conditions

• GRIT Advocate will provide services in an office environment and is protected from weather conditions and contaminants.

Physical Requirements

• Standing or sitting for long periods, bending, stooping, and lifting.
• Ability, on a consistent basis, to perform activities requiring cooperation, instruction, persuasion or speaking with others.
• Ability to communicate effectively in person.

Personal Characteristics

• The successful individual will demonstrate the following:
• Behave Ethically: Understand ethical behavior and professional boundaries and ensure own behavior is consistent with professional ethical standards.
• Build Relationships: Establish and maintain positive working relationships with others both internally and externally to achieve the organizations goals of empowering women and eliminating racism.
• Communicate Effectively: Speak, listen, and write in a clear, thorough and timely manner using appropriate and effective communication tools and techniques.
• Focus on Client Needs: Anticipate, understand, and respond to the needs of clients.
• Make Decisions: Assess situations to determine the importance, urgency and risks and make clear decisions which are timely and in the best interests of the clients and the organization.

***YWCA St. Joseph provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.***