Diversion Specialist - At-Risk Youth

Schedule: Full time; benefits-eligible! Tuesday-Saturday 10am-6pm
Pay: $20 / hr

Benefits - Approximate full-time benefits package value = $21,000+:

• Low-cost medical, dental, and vision coverage. Health savings account. 403b retirement plan with employer match (50% match up to 3%).
• Employee Assistance Program for all employees
• 33 paid days off: 11 observed paid holidays, 12 sick days, and 10 vacation days to start. Vacation increases to 12 days after 1 year, 15 days after 2 years, and more at 5 and 9 years of service.
  • Sick and vacation time accrue hourly per pay period.
• $50,000 in employer-paid life insurance; additional coverage available.
• $1,200 annual employer contribution to your Health Savings Account (paid quarterly).
• Employee Referral Program including cash bonuses and paid time off.
• Employment that allows you to be creative and build a diverse skillset.

Volunteers of America, Utah provides community-supported paths for those who are vulnerable to improve their lives and increase their self-reliance. In alignment with our mission, VOA Utah encourages individuals with lived experience to apply. We recognize that a person’s life experiences can provide firsthand knowledge relevant to being successful in the work that we do.

Position Summary
 

As a Youth Diversion Specialist, your role involves comprehensive support for youth navigating crisis situations, ensuring they receive the assistance and resources essential for stabilizing their housing. Your responsibilities include conducting intake assessments, evaluating emergency shelter bed eligibility, providing immediate support, assisting in obtaining vital documents, and facilitating connections to pertinent services.

 

Essential Duties

• Engages with youth in case plans and conversations with the intent to empower them in identifying and making positive choices toward stability as well as assisting them in accessing emergency shelter.
• Conduct thorough intake assessments for incoming youth, gathering pertinent information to understand their circumstances and needs accurately.
• Ensures that all paperwork is in accordance with licensing and contract requirements, properly completed, managed confidentially, and stored appropriately.
• Identify and refer youth to appropriate transitional living facilities.
• Assist youth in obtaining all vital documents necessary, including identification cards, birth certificates, social security cards, and other relevant paperwork.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of interactions, assessments, and referrals, ensuring compliance with organizational protocols and confidentiality standards.
• Collaborate effectively with internal teams, external agencies, and community partners to obtain resources and support networks for the benefit of our clients.
• Provide immediate support and guidance to youth experiencing crises, offering a compassionate and non-judgmental approach to de-escalate situations and ensure their safety.
• Stay informed about best practices, trends, and developments in youth services, participating in professional development opportunities to enhance knowledge and skills.
• Attend work as scheduled and arrive at the designated time.  
  • Work must be performed on-site due to the need to provide direct client care.

 

Secondary Duties

• Submits all paperwork in a timely manner and records important notes in shift change log, UHMIS or Google document as appropriate.
• Ensures a safe environment for staff, volunteers, and clients and assesses medical emergencies and provides CPR/First Aid as needed.
• Answers phones, greets clients, volunteers, donors, and other visitors in a friendly and professional manner.
• Maintains cleanliness of shared workspace, facility, and vehicles.
• Maintains positive, professional interactions with community resources including staff from other VOA programs, emergency services, fire, police and sheriff, criminal justice, staff from other community providers, client family members, agency donors, community support groups, and referral sources.
• Communicate clearly and respectfully with coworkers and supervisory staff.
• Perform other functions as necessary or assigned.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. High school diploma or equivalent required and 2 years of social services or homelessness-related experience or any combination of education, experience, and training which provides the following knowledge, skills and abilities:

• Experience working with youth, specifically youth who may be in crisis.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build rapport and establish trust.
• Experience with de-escalation techniques and managing a crisis.
• Awareness of intake processes and policies
• Ability to uphold professional boundaries, confidentiality regulations, agency policies and procedures, and interact in a professional manner with a diverse workforce, clients, and the public.
• Willingness to accept supervision and direction.
• Must be at least 21 years of age, possess a current driver’s license, have a good driving record, and be insurable on the agency liability policy.
• Must be able to pass Utah-DHS – Office of Licensing background screening and pre-employment drug screen.

 

Physical Demands

• Ability to lift and carry 25 lbs.
• Ability to move around the facility, interacting with clients for extended periods.
• Work is generally performed in an office environment.  May entail using a computer for extended periods of time.

Complete the application on the career page of our website:  www.voaut.org/careers

Volunteers of America, Utah is committed to creating a diverse environment, where all people feel valued, have the opportunity to do their personal best and where leadership development is fostered. The organization is proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All employment decisions are based on business needs without regard to race, ethnicity, skin color, nationality, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, mental and developmental abilities, physical ability or religious belief. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply.