Youth Development Specialist

Howard Brown Health is a nationally recognized leader in LGBTQ+ health and wellness. Our commitment to inclusive and affirming care has made us a cornerstone of the Chicago community.

At Howard Brown, we believe in providing holistic, patient-centered care that empowers individuals and enriches lives.

Why Join Us?

• Be part of a mission-driven organization dedicated to health equity and social justice.
• Work in a supportive, inclusive, and culturally competent environment.
• Access to continuous learning opportunities and professional development.
• Comprehensive benefits package.
• Contribute to groundbreaking health initiatives and research.

Benefits

• Employer-sponsored health, dental, and vision insurance with two PPO plans and an HMO plan. BCBS HMO, PPO, and PPO Select PlansBCBS Dental
• BCBS Vision
• Paid Time Off :
• 3-weeks paid vacation and 1-week of personal time
• 12 accrued sick days per year
• 10 paid holidays, including Juneteenth
• PTO Exchange allows employees to turn unused PTO into liquid assets
• 401k program with up to 5% employer match after 90 days
• Employer-paid basic life insurance valued at one times the annual salary
• Voluntary Life and AD&D, and Short-term and Long-term disability
• Pre-tax commuter and parking benefit account
• Flexible Spending Accounts for healthcare and dependent care
• Tuition Reimbursement and Student Loan Forgiveness Programs; NHSC & PSLF
• Employee Assistance Program with 5 employer-paid counseling sessions
• 50% off at Brown Elephant Resale Shops and discounts at local businesses

What you can expect :

The Youth Development Specialist is responsible for providing daily basic needs, outreach, youth development, and developing and facilitating youth development programming for youth experiencing homelessness, resource linkage services targeting LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) youth, youth experiencing homelessness, and street-based youth at the Broadway Youth Center (BYC).

This role requires a dynamic integration of harm reduction frameworks with youth development best practices the goal of improving LGBTQ / street based quality of life through youth access to health, cultural, and social services.

How you will make an impact :

Demonstrate a profound understanding of, and knowledge of working with LGBTQ and street-based youth age 12-24; demonstrate the ability to speak to and affect a wide variety of audiences related to the health, wellness and development needs of the target population;

demonstrate the ability to connect with, and provide development services and interventions.

• Provide high quality youth development programming and facilitation
• Develop relationships and maintain contact with external community partners and conducting outreach
• Provide LGBTQ and street-based youth with high-quality and responsive care, particularly basic needs services (food, hygiene, laundry, showers, and clothing services) in a milieu setting at the Broadway Youth Center.
• Incorporate anti-oppression frameworks including harm reduction, trauma-healing care, restorative justice, and body positivity into your youth work.
• Provide referral information, group based education, and crisis intervention counseling utilizing a trauma informed approach, toward youth accessing the drop-in program.
• Participate in community-, street based-, and digital outreach services targeting street-based and LGBTQ youth age 12-24.
• Link youth to appropriate in-house services at BYC and Howard Brown including walk-In sexual health, primary care, mental health, education, vocation, and resource advocacy
• Maintain knowledge on best practices of youth development work and Chicago area resources for LGBTQ and homeless youth through continuing education workshops and trainings.
• Actively participate in regular staff meetings to plan accountability processes and program development for young people.
• Attend all required trainings and meetings, specifically briefing and debriefing meetings prior to and immediately following Drop-In.
• Foster youth leadership and advocacy by facilitating supporting the design of staff- and peer- led education and cultural workshops.
• Enter documentation of basic needs, outreach, milieu intervention, and programming services through electronic health records, HMIS (Homeless Management Information System), and manager developed databases in a timely and accurate manner
• Demonstrates commitment to Howard Brown core values, mission, and vision.
• Maintain highest level of client confidentiality and professionalism; follow HIPAA regulations; performs duties according to approved policies and procedures relating to OSHA and Standard Precautions.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS & ABILITIES :

Required :

• Interest in the social service / public health fields
• Minimum education of High school Diploma or GED required
• Previous experience providing and developing youth development programming and facilitation
• Previous experience in youth case management
• Must demonstrate the ability to work effectively with diverse populations and easily establish rapport with youth.
• Must have a working knowledge of, and / or desire to support a harm reduction, trauma informed, anti-oppression, anti-violence approaches to care.
• Must pass a background check.
• Must be screened for Tuberculosis.

Preferred :

• Bachelor’s Degree (preferred)
• Experience working with youth, especially LGBTQ and street-based youth is a plus
• Bilingual Spanish / English preferred, but not required

WORKING CONDITIONS :

The Broadway Youth Center is a fast paced environment where space is limited. All staff, including volunteers and interns, may be asked to lift and carry as much as 50 pounds.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT :

Decisions and criteria governing the volunteer relationship with all volunteers at Howard Brown are made in a non-discriminatory manner, without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, age, FMLA status, or any other factor determined to be unlawful by federal, state or local statutes.