SUN Youth Advocate

Job Details
Level:    Entry
Job Location:    Dancing Tree Resource Center - Portland, OR
Salary Range:    $ $23.91 Hourly

Description

DATE PREPARED: October, 2025

POSITION TITLE: SUN Youth Advocate

PROGRAM: SUN Youth Advocacy Program (SYAP)

DEPARTMENT: Early Childhood Youth & Family

MANAGEMENT POSITION___ or CLIENT SERVICES POSITION_X__

ENTRY SALARY or HOURLY WAGE:  X  $22.71- $23.91

EXEMPT___ or NONEXEMPT_X__

FTE: Full-time, 40 hours/week

LOCATION: Portland, OR.

At Impact NW we are a nonprofit with a mission to prevent homelessness, because we believe in the fundamental right to: beautiful life, stability and peace. More importantly, it also means a life filled with opportunity and community support, especially for Indigenous, Black, Brown, Melanated, Immigrant, and Asian people.

What we seek is for you to share your skill sets - especially if you:

*Put people first

*See the beauty in people

*Promote peace

*Find a way

We believe that with our mission and values as our north star, we can move toward our vision of a future where housing is a human right. If this resonates with you, we'd love to have your purpose and passion on our team at Impact NW.

Benefits Summary

At Impact NW, we care deeply about the well-being of our team and strive to support a healthy balance between work

and life. Our comprehensive benefits package includes:

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) and additional Self-Care Leave to help you recharge and take care of yourself.
• Employer-paid health insurance for employees, plus a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) with an employer contribution to help cover out-of-pocket medical expenses.
• Long-Term Disability Insurance fully paid by Impact NW.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offering free and confidential support for mental health, finances, and more.
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with an employer matching contribution to help you plan for the future.
• A positive, inclusive, and mission-driven work culture where every team member is valued and supported.

We believe that taking care of our people helps us take care of our community.

Job Summary

SUN Youth Advocacy (SYA) is a program that connects youth to a supportive adult advocate that will  assist in navigating youth through different barriers so they can reach their goals both academically, socially and professionally.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• Travel to various schools and worksites within outer SE Portland (Kellogg MS, Mt. Tabor MS, Franklin HS, Ida B. Wells HS, Jackson MS, Robert Gray MS).
• Supporting and working with youth entering into the 6th-12th grades.
• Advocacy and support activities, advocating for youth in school, working with youth to create an individualized success plan, referring youth to other services as needed.
• Out-of-school time supports such as tutoring, after school programs, and summer programs. 
• Help finding other services to meet their family's needs such as rental or utility assistance.
• Whole family support and family engagement, like home visits, and help with school meetings.
• Advocate for both youth and their family members within the community. 
• Work within the school environment to outreach to teachers, other school personnel, parents and students to obtain appropriate program referrals.
• Provide outreach and case management services including development of a strength-based client relationship, comprehensive needs and strengths assessment, client referral and advocacy, service coordination, development of outcome based support plans and follow-up.
• Develop and facilitate skill development classes for 10-12 on the caseload, within the school environment.
• Effectively collaborate with other Impact NW programs, schools, social service organizations and community groups.
• Develop and maintain a working knowledge of best practices for prevention and intervention services for issues related to poverty, homelessness, juvenile delinquency, family dysfunction and school challenges.
• Effectively interact with a diverse population of volunteers, staff, and community members.
• Complete accurate, legible, and timely documentation of services delivered in accordance with the agency's management information system.
• Meet program service standards set forth by the program's supervisor regarding quantity, type, and quality of services to be delivered to clients.
• Attend ongoing training for the curriculum used in the school classroom setting.
• Attend agency and community meetings and trainings as required.
• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Supervision:

Reports to: SUN Program Manager

Qualifications

Requirements and Qualifications:

• Associate degree or equivalent in social work, child development or related field.
• Minimum of two (2) years experience in a human services, social work or related field, preferably working with low-income youth.
• Familiarity with SE/SW Portland cultures and communities.
• Strong classroom/small group management skills.
• Excellent capacity for connecting positively with adolescent youth.
• Ability to effectively work within a strength-based, integrated family support service delivery system.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Computer skills including familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills and ability to prioritize and complete multiple and varied tasks.
• Sensitivity and ability to relate to people from diverse lifestyles, socioeconomic levels, and cultures.
• Willingness to work a flexible schedule including some evenings and occasional weekends.
• Willingness to work as a team member and support the mission and goals of Impact NW.

 

PREFERRED BUT NOT REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor degree in social work or related field.
• Bicultural (Spanish/English).
• Bilingual (Spanish/English).

 

THIS JOB ALSO REQUIRES THE FOLLOWING PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES:

• Repetitive motion, prolonged sitting, and extensive visual involvement.
• Orally communicate with others.
• Ability to efficiently travel within the agency's service area; SE & SW Portland.
• Moderate lifting.

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