Organizational Information

Avenues for Youth provides emergency shelter, transitional housing, rapid re-housing, collective housing, and host homes housing for youth and young families experiencing housing instability and homelessness. We strive to do that in a safe and nurturing environment through a social justice lens. Avenues seeks to partner with youth and young families while they define their experiences, life dreams and future. Our work takes into account historical trauma, systems of oppression, and intersectionality while being grounded in the power of resiliency, healing, and community.

Program Information

ConneQT is a host home program offering LGBTQI+ youth the opportunity to live with supportive community members. The program centers youth choice, safety, and belonging, providing individualized support while youth live in host homes. ConneQT’s approach is rooted in trauma-informed, harm-reduction, strengths-based, and anti-oppression principles. The program aims to help youth build life skills, pursue personal goals, and develop a sense of community and self-determination, ultimately supporting their transition to stable housing and greater independence.

Key Responsibilities

The following duties are normal for this position. These duties are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. 

Overview

The Youth Advocate and Engagement Specialist serves as a primary support and advocate for LGBTQI+ youth participating in the ConneQT Host Home Program. This role helps youth navigate the intake and placement process, provides ongoing support to youth and host homes, and assists youth in building life skills, accessing resources, and achieving their goals. The Youth Advocate and Engagement Specialist is a key connector between youth, hosts, and community resources, ensuring that program values and expectations are clearly understood and that daily program operations run smoothly.

Program Support & Coordination

• Assist with planning, development, operations, and evaluation of the ConneQT program in alignment with Avenues’ mission, vision, and strategic objectives.
• Collaborate with the Program Manager to match youth with appropriate host homes.
• Guide youth through the intake and placement process, providing clear information and support at every step.
• Coordinate and facilitate weekly on-site drop-in hours and group activities focused on life skills, relationship building, and topics important to youth.

Direct Youth Support & Advocacy

• Provide ongoing, individualized support to youth and host homes, including weekly contact with youth and monthly house meetings (with youth, hosts, youth workers, and Program Manager).
• Engage in crisis prevention and de-escalation as part of ongoing support, ensuring youth and host safety in emotionally or physically charged situations.
• Support youth in developing and pursuing individual goal plans using strengths-based, youth-led coaching.
• Help youth access and navigate resources such as housing vouchers, SNAP, student aid, mental health and primary care, employment, and legal supports.
• Center mental health in all coordination with youth and partners.
• Support youth in gaining independent living skills and transitioning from host homes to permanent housing.
• Assist youth with moving logistics, including the physical transport and lifting of personal belongings up to 40 lbs; reliable transportation and willingness to transport youth and belongings is required.

Case Management & Documentation

• Deliver comprehensive case management throughout the youth’s time in the program, including intake, assessment, resource connection, and transition planning.
• Maintain timely, accurate documentation in youth files and databases (e.g., HMIS, ClientTrack).
• Complete Coordinated Entry System (CES) assessments and maintain eligibility documentation for housing programs.
• Provide aftercare support for youth transitioning out of the host home program.

Community Engagement

• Participate in community outreach, education, and organizing around LGBTQI+ youth homelessness.
• Serve as a positive representative of Avenues for Youth, including participation in fundraising or public-facing activities as requested.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, human services, education, or related field; or equivalent combination of education, lived and work experience, and training.
• Three to five years of related experience and/or training.
• Experience with principles-based youth work and restorative justice.
• Understanding of power, privilege, and systems of oppression.
• Experience with program development and implementation.

Skills & Attributes

Communication & Relationship Building

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to build trusting, non-judgmental relationships with youth, hosts, and community partners.
• Strong team-building and collaboration skills.

Organizational & Problem-Solving

• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to take initiative, follow through on commitments, and manage multiple priorities.
• Proficiency with computers and standard office software.

Commitment to Mission

• Deep commitment to anti-oppression, social justice, and supporting LGBTQI+ youth.
• Willingness to engage in community education and advocacy.

Additional Requirements

• Valid Minnesota Driver’s License, automobile insurance, and access to a reliable vehicle.
• Ability to lift and transport items up to 40 lbs

Background Check

All Avenues For Youth employees must pass a background check, including a MN Department of Human Services background study.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, bend, twist, kneel, and communicate. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 40 pounds.

Other

Avenues is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. Avenues complies with laws relating to discrimination against qualified applicants and employees in hiring or in any decision affecting job status or pay, based on race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, marital status, disability, familial status, covered veteran status, public assistance status, membership in a local commission, sexual orientation, age, genetic information, or other applicable protected classes.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the organization will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

To Apply

To learn more and apply, please visit avenuesforyouth.org/join-our-team.

JOB CODE: 1000072