Youth Navigator Full Time

The Youth Navigator works to ensure that participants of Beloved’s programs have the space, resources, access, and advocacy needed to support them in their healing journey, as well as accessing their own power and voice to navigate the systems and conditions that impact their lives. The Youth Navigator works closely with all program staff and program participants, playing a critical role in supporting youth or young women and trans youth of all genders* and their parents/caregivers in identifying their individual life roadmaps, building self-determination, and using their lived experience and skills to advocate on behalf of themselves and their communities.

The role of the Youth Navigator is to ensure that youth and parent/caregiver participants at Beloved are provided support from a peer-based, restorative justice framework that is culturally grounded, and gender-responsive/affirming. Additionally, the Youth Navigator mobilizes the proper resources, support, and partners in place to effectuate this work. They are responsible for conducting initial intakes and assessments, working with youth and parents/caregivers to identify their needs and strengths, assisting them in developing personal and professional goals, and providing support in accessing community resources, such as housing, childcare, educational programs, etc. Additionally, this position is responsible for ensuring that all coaching approaches and methods are in line with the organization’s mission, vision, values, theory of change, methodology, as well as ensuring that we fulfill grant requirements, and Beloved’s annual goals and site-specific goals.

All of this work is conducted under the supervision of the Program Manager

General Duties

• Building rapport with youth and caregivers on-site at Los Angeles offices and off-site at various locations including but not limited to: juvenile hall, jails, courts, Short Term Residential Therapeutic Programs (“STRTPs”), Foster Family Agency (“FFA”) placements, community based programs/organizations and caregiver homes.
• Ensure participants receive non-in person individualized advocacy and support including, but not limited to: phone calls, emails/texts, advocacy letters, and referrals to services.
• Conduct interviews, assessments, and develop Self-Determined Life Maps for participants, based on their goals.
• Collaborate with all members of the Beloved team, coordinating efforts to support youth and caregivers across caseloads, and ensuring activities are cohesive and coordinated amongst program staff.
• Provide orientation and training to new staff, interns and volunteers who will support programming of Beloved’s guiding principles, methodology, and policy and procedures.
• Plan, facilitate, and oversee various Beloved activities, including Culture and Healing Circles and Programs, youth-driven community projects, special events, and outings.
• Coordinate early career exploration and leadership development, including sharing job opportunities, scholarship information, college tours, financial aid workshops, career mentoring, and healing centered opportunities.
• Engage participants as community experts and provide leadership based economic opportunities for participants to begin to engage in Beloved’s work as appropriate and as a part of a larger site based strategy.
• Collaborate with other program staff on building organizing and advocacy capacity and skills for youth and caregivers ready to step into leadership roles and engage in Beloved advocacy initiatives.
• Monitor referrals and maintain relationships with external stakeholders and system partners working with participants, including, but not limited to Probation Departments, Public Defenders, community-based agencies, School districts, Social Workers, community based organizations, etc.
• Participate in necessary meetings with other team members to ensure holistic support and additional strategies for Beloved’s participants and our community.
• If and as requested and approved by supervisor, contribute to Beloved’s movement, policy, and local campaign work including: participation in strategy work to advance campaigns, representing the organization publicly, and involvement in coalitions/collaboratives and other community based work.
• Support Beloved participants in navigating systems (juvenile justice, foster care, mental health, etc.) by providing advocacy, resources, and ongoing support in self-advocacy strategies and education, including preparation for court and meetings with other systems representatives.
• Build authentic, deeply supportive relationships with youth and caregivers. Uphold the Beloved mission, methodologies and frameworks.
• If working with youth, parents or caregivers participating in the Beloved Village FFA, provide services necessary to implement the child or non-minor dependent’s Needs and Services Plan.
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Reporting and Evaluation

• Write all required documentation and submit within the prescribed timeline(s), both for participants as well as employee requirements (work plan updates, self-appraisals, etc.).
• Maintain and enter data and documentation into appropriate data collection systems for reporting to city, county and state government entities, private donors, and foundation/grant funders, as well as abiding by Beloved’s internal organizational data collection processes, as directed and in a timely manner.
• Provide monthly program summaries to supervisor as requested, including quantitative and qualitative data of all programmatic activities, trainings and outcomes pertaining to programmatic goals.
• Ensure programs and program activities are evaluated and updated on an ongoing basis and that feedback and findings from evaluations are used to develop, revise, and update programs and activities.
• Track participant attendance and engagement, and provide support and accountability to youth and caregivers around consistent attendance and engaged participation.
• Ensure all documentation and data is updated and stored appropriately, in accordance with Beloved’s filing and storage procedures.

Administrative Duties

• Participate in additional projects, and tasks as needed and directed and approved by supervisor and in efforts to support the advancement of Beloved and site goals.
• Create ongoing opportunities for leadership development of youth and caregivers that including opportunities to learn new tasks and skills, take leadership in the work, and engage in ongoing opportunities.
• Respond to emails, text messages, and other correspondence within a timely manner (generally one working day).
• Participate in Beloved events, staff meetings, trainings, and staff development opportunities on an ongoing basis, as directed and approved by supervisor.

Minimum Qualifications

• Deep familiarity in California and local site socio-political landscape and youth service providers strongly preferred.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrate the ability to interact effectively and articulate the Beloved mission/vision with program participants, staff colleagues, board members, external stakeholders, and the public..
• Strong organizational skills, ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects simultaneously, and meet and handle multiple deadlines and tasks simultaneously.
• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Suite, and general computer/ internet use.
• Willingness and ability to grow professionally, accept and give feedback, be accountable, and to expand skills and adapt to evolving organization environments and constantly changing circumstances.
• Advanced problem-solving skills; tactfully address and resolve questions/concerns, with consultation from supervisor.
• Must be able to meet participants in the field and community, and attend external meetings outside of the designated office as an essential function of this role (Driver’s License Strongly preferred).
• Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed in order to meet with caregivers during their non-work hours.
• Parenting/Caregiver direct experience with systems (justice, child welfare, behavioral health, etc.) involvement and/or who have/have had children with systems involvement (i.e., “Lived Experience”) is strongly encouraged.
• A minimum of an associate’s degree and one year of experience in working with children who have serious emotional or behavioral needs, or children who have special needs, including, but not limited to, intensive medical needs;
• The educational requirements in this section may be waived for client support staff who have at least two years of experience working with children who have serious emotional or behavioral needs, or children who have special needs, including, but not limited to, intensive medical needs, and who have specific skills to meet the needs of a target population, including cultural and linguistic needs.
• Ability to undergo a criminal record clearance. Exemptions will be considered and granted when appropriate.

Salary Range: $65,000 – $68,000