Prevention Specialist

San Diego Youth Services

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

Prevention Specialist

San Diego Youth Services seeks a Prevention Specialist in the Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) Program to be based in Spring Valley. This is a full-time & non-exempt position reporting to the Program Manager.

San Diego Youth Services: Who we are

San Diego Youth Services has helped improve the lives of more than 780,000 homeless, runaway and vulnerable youth since its beginning in 1970. We provide safe places to live and long-term solutions through shelter, foster homes, community centers and housing to more than 28,000 youth every year at 100+ community and school locations. Through prevention, early intervention and treatment, we also help youth before they need higher levels of care or become homeless.

We aim to:

• Meet the basic needs of youth. Hunger, poverty and youth homelessness are on the rise for many youth and their families today. We help meet these basic needs for youth. What could be more vital than food and shelter? We provide safe places to live and long-term solutions through shelter, foster homes, community centers and housing
• Create positive connection. We help youth focus on positive life changes and healthy relationships as part of providing needed resources and services. San Diego Youth Services has long provided foster homes and adoption support services for families considering adopting a youth in the foster care system
• Help youth develop life skills. In addition to a range of safe and stable housing options, we offer support tohelp youth develop the independent living skills necessaryto become self-sufficient and keep off the streets
• Promote overall health and well-being. Early intervention and care for the whole child are critical. We provide a broad continuum of services to help youth overcome trauma and challenges that put them at risk, includingcase management, counseling, mental health treatment and educational support and resources
  
  

SDYS has a staff of approximately 250 employees and 80 volunteers working across San Diego County and an annual budget of approximately $24 million.You can learn more about us at www.sdyouthservices.org

Department Description Or Program Description Hiring For

Our East County Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) team works with children and their families to improve adult-child relationships both at school and in the home. All services offered are free!

PEI now provides services to children and families atAvondale, Kempton, Bancroft,La Presa,Rancho,Highlands,Sweetwater Springs,La Mesa Dale, andLemon Avenueelementary schools within theLa Mesa-Spring Valley SchoolDistrict.

The program’s goals are to prevent behavioral problems and serious mental illness in elementary school-aged children and to support families who are struggling with these concerns.

East County PEI uses the Incredible Years evidence-based model to improve the lives of children and families in the community.

CONTEXT OF THE POSITION

This is a school-based program serving specific schools within the La Mesa Spring Valley School District. Responsible for providing comprehensive trauma-informed school-based Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) services to children (preschool to 3rd grade) and their families. Facilitate the Incredible Years evidence-based curriculum with children in large classroom groups and small group settings.

Essential functions include:

• Facilitate Incredible Years (IY) Classroom lessons to elementary school children (preschool to 3rd grade) to strengthen student’s emotional, persistence, social and academic competencies and prevent behavioral problems for all students in the classroom
• Support outreach and recruitment to parents & caregivers for students to attend PEI IY Small groups and caregivers to attend PEI IY parent groups
• Facilitate the collection of screening tools and post service surveys completed by teachers
• Support recruitment and provide wellness family events and workshops at least four times a year at each assigned school.
• Provide high quality services and appropriate referrals/linkages/resources to meet the needs of children and families that are underserved and living in high-risk communities often burdened with poverty, illiteracy, limited education, insecure housing, and other community needs.
• Collaborate with families, school personnel and referral sources to reduce disparities and stigma in accessing mental health services.
• Support the implementation of other components of the PEI program services as assigned including but not limited to intake assessments and child group facilitation.
• Sustain the team commitment to County of San Diego System of Care Principles
• Actively participate in all agency and county required trainings, meetings, consultation and supervisions.
• Maintain accurate and timely uniform record documentation per San Diego County standards via the online case management system, Apricot 360. Maintain data collection and contract compliance of records as required
  
  

PREFERRED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Bilingual (English/Spanish or English/Farsi) preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, or another closely related field required.
• A minimum of two years’ experience including direct service experience with at-risk, multiple families and children on a school campus and/or home-based settings preferred.
• Experience with children, family, and community development.
• Must possess excellent oral and written skills and be able to provide services and communicate effectively with small and large groups of children and adults.
• Must work well autonomously as well as collaborate effectively with others.
• Must be highly organized with the ability to focus on multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Must have the ability to work in a fast-paced and busy school-based environment.
• Creativity, flexibility, high-energy, and sense of humor are a must.
• Passionate about working in a child-directed environment.
• Must be willing to develop or possess working knowledge of trauma-informed care and dual diagnosis treatment; experience working in trauma-informed and dual diagnosis programs preferred.
• Must have reliable vehicle and relevant auto insurance, plus a clean driving record (mileage reimbursed). Some availability after 5:00PM and on weekends to meet community needs.
• Employment subject to maintaining clearances, which include fingerprinting, background checks, TB test, driving record and drug testing.
  
  

SDYS EXPECTATIONS

• Adhere to and uphold the rigorous standards of SDYS as mandated by its mission, purpose, guiding principles and standards of quality.
• Maintain confidentiality and privacy standards of service partner protected health information and other applicable information and material in accordance to agency and center policies, and applicable regulations and laws including HIPAA.
• Welcome and support SDYS volunteers and assist them in accomplishing their services whenever applicable.
• Effectively communicate with people from diverse backgrounds and experiences.
• Receive and give supportive feedback to foster equity and inclusion in working relationships.
• Recognize, nurture, and learn from strengths in co-workers.
• Maintain warm, welcoming and safe work environments
• Possess flexibility to accomplish job responsibilities in several work environments, whether it be from home, on the road, or in an office
  
  

Salary Range: $20-23/hour, + up to $1500 annual bilingual differential

To apply, please send resume and cover letter through job posting on SDYS website.

SDYS offers a comprehensive benefits package to full time employees that includes generous PTO, personal holidays, health, vision, dental, life insurance, parental leave and a 403(b)-retirement plan with matching contribution. SDYS is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) employer. Read more about the PSLF program here.

Candidates must be able to follow all the guidelines provided by the agency, government, and health authorities to maintain safety and health when the job requires physical presence and/or contact with others during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the submission of proof of vaccination as mandated by the California Public Health Order. The successful candidate will need to submit verification of vaccination or have a valid religious or medical reason not to be vaccinated.

Commitment to cultivating and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

As an organization working to meet the basic needs of youth, create positive connections, help youth develop life skills, and promote overall health and well-being, SDYS believes its practices and actions must reflect the highest level of commitment to access, equity, and social justice.

The collective sum of the individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, innovation, self-expression, and talent that our members invest in their work represents not only part of the SDYS’ culture, but the SDYS’ reputation and achievements as well. SDYS remains open to feedback from all communities it touches and knows that input from those with direct experience of issues will make the SDYS more effective in achieving its goals.

SDYS is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.

In compliance with the Immigration and Nationality Act as amended,

all new employees must verify their eligibility to work in the United States.

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