Program Specialist

OSITION: Program Specialist

LOCATION: Former Foster Youth Program, Los Angeles

CLASSIFICATION: Full time – 40 hours, non-exempt

REPORTS TO: Intake Manager

POSITION START: ASAP

COMPENSATION: $32-$34/hour

TO APPLY: https://app.trinethire.com/companies/20343-a-sense-of-home/jobs/117468-program-specialist

WORK SCHEDULE: Tuesday-Saturday 8:30am-5pm (subject to change based on program needs) Primarily in-person with some work from home hours

PREFERENCES: Spanish-speaking preferred

ORGANIZATIONAL MISSION

A Sense of Home strives to prevent homelessness by creating first-ever homes and a community for youth aging out of foster care. 50% of those struggling with homelessness are former foster youth. The homeless crisis can only end through prevention.

POSITION PURPOSE

The Program Specialist (PS) is responsible for supporting the onboarding of new applicants who will receive services with A Sense of Home. The PS is the first point of contact for a former foster youth interested in receiving our services, playing an important role in ensuring that a young person is receiving all of the support and resources they need in order to thrive. The PS collects documentation from new applicants and reviews them to confirm eligibility before moving applicants on to the interview process, conducted by the Intake Manager (IM). The PS works closely with the IM to identify furniture and resource needs for applicants, and conducts weekly check-ins with recipients scheduled for services. The PS also provides resource navigation for individuals before and after they receive services, works to identify external organizations who can partner with ASOH to increase access to wraparound services, and supports with the volunteer recruitment and engagement at Home Creations, pop-up style events whereby homes are fully furnished with groups of volunteers and staff. The PS also supports other administrative program duties for the scholarship program and events. ASOH seeks a PS who is a careful listener and is eager to connect individuals to an ongoing community of care.

DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION

ASOH is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and strongly encourages people of color, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those with protected class backgrounds to apply. We value the individuals that we hire and look forward to creating a positive work environment for all identities.

OUR COMMITMENT

We are committed to not only providing a diverse and inclusive workplace, but we value the health and wellbeing of our team members. ASOH offers 100% paid health and medical benefits to employees, along with generous paid sick and sick vacation time. We also believe in providing a workplace that fosters advancement and professional development for all employees, conducting our day-to-day business practices accordingly.

HISTORY AND CONTEXT

ASOH began as a random act of kindness, when the founders Georgie Smith and Melissa Goddard saw an injustice and acted upon it. They noticed that young people exiting foster care had overcome the odds against them, achieved securing a roof over their heads, only to be forced to sleep on cold bare floors, and struggle without fridges, stoves, lighting, a table to eat from nor study off of. The lack of means to make a space a home is a significant inequity that has proven to hold back those working and studying hard to overcome the challenges of the world and create a better future for them. Since then, ASOH has grown into a caring community of skilled staff and dedicated volunteers, providing critical resources and a sense of belonging to over 700former foster youth and their children annually.

A UNIQUE SPACE AND OPPORTUNITY FOR LEARNING AND HEALING FOR ALL

We are committed to action for impact and won’t stop learning, listening, growing and serving. We are committed to evolving our work and model to ensuring we always:

• Evolve how we achieve our goals and deepen the impact
• Listen to those we serve
• Partner with organizations that uplift marginalized communities
• Find and implement new tools in our programs that overcome unique barriers to healing
• Amplify more BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) voices
• Ensure a safe, inclusive, diverse workplace for employees, volunteers, donors, and those we serve
• Integrate social justice and public health scholars in the development of our organization

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Program Specialist (PS) is directly responsible for the following duties:

Recipients – The PS is responsible for reviewing new recipient applications for Home Creations, ensuring documents are collected and reviewed. The PS determines eligibility, with support from the IM as needed for special situations. The PS moves applicants who have submitted documents and have been deemed eligible to the phone interview portion of the intake process. Once interviews have been completed, and applicants have been scheduled for services by the IM, the PS conducts weekly check-ins with recipients waiting for services in order to collect additional documents needed for services to be provided and to provide resource navigation leading up to and in some cases after their Home Creation service. The PS works with IM and Home Coordinator (HC) to review designs and confirm they are in line with recipient needs. The PS supports with collecting logistics information needed to conduct on-site Home Creations from recipients, and sends emails with logistics information for Warehouse Home Creations

Referrals/Community Partner Organizations – The PS identifies potential partners within the sector to ensure that former foster youth are aware of A Sense of Home services and can be easily referred to us. The PS also reports any potential community partners and resources identified to the IM so partner relationships can be developed.

Volunteer/Recipient Events - The PS serves as recipient support at on-site Home Creations as well as for Warehouse Home Creations. The PS also leads recruitment for “Pay-It-Forward “Ambassador” volunteer attendance (attendance by a former ASOH recipient who is “paying it forward” at another recipient’s Home Creation) , and supports with the information that is provided to volunteers who are attending the Home Creation (creating bio’s and meet and greet videos). Occasionally, the PS will support with events as needed.

Case Notes- The PS is responsible for inputting diligent case notes into the A Sense of Home APP in order to track interactions with clients, collect context that may be vital, and log resources that are needed and provided.

Community Representation – Speaking at community events, referring agencies’ programs, conferences, etc as directed by IM, PD and/or ED.

Administrative Program Support - Collecting, transferring, and uploading information, scheduling calls/meetings, organizing and research for programs.

Duties and responsibilities may be added, deleted, modified or changed at any time at ASOH’s discretion, to fulfill the Position Purpose. Changes may be made formally, informally either verbally or in writing.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

Relevant experience working in foster youth, transition-aged-youth, or homeless services is preferred. Spanish speaking preferred. Bachelor’s degree in relevant field is preferred.

The position requires consistent travel to off-site locations to perform job duties. Employees must have readily available access to reliable transportation at all times to fulfill these duties. Employees may use any form of transportation of their choice, including public transit, rideshare services, bicycling, walking, or a personal vehicle. The employer does not require a driver’s license to apply for or perform this job. If an employee chooses to drive a vehicle for work-related travel, they are responsible for maintaining a valid driver license and any legally required automobile insurance. ASOH will provide mileage reimbursement in accordance with applicable law.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Working with computers, cameras, scanners, phones, and printers
• Using various software including client database software, cloud based software such as Google Drive, Zoom, and DropBox.
• Communications over the phone, virtually and in person with persons outside
• the organization, supervisors, peers, etc.
• Organizing, planning, and prioritizing work
• Making decisions and solving problems
• Processing information and verifying accuracy of data
• Establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships
• Assessing the qualities of things, services, or people
• Performing administrative activities
• Documenting/recording information and maintaining logs
• Evaluating information to determine compliance with standards/policies
• Estimating the quantifiable characteristics of products, events, or information

KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENT

Analytical Skills - Ability to process and analyze vague, abstract verbal and written instructions. Ability to visualize and assess abstract ideas and develop structured plans for implementation of marketing plans. Ability to read, analyze complex documents, and communicate analysis in oral and written form.

Reasoning Ability - Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

Communications and Media - Requires public speaking, phone conversations, use of email, writing letters and memos, face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams and contact with others.

English Language - Strong knowledge in reading, writing, and speaking of the English language. Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of the Company.

Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing superior customer and personal services.

Mathematical Skills - Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.

Computers and Electronics - Working knowledge of email, social media networks, computers, smartphones, equipment, graphics software and CRM system.

Clerical - Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, and other office procedures and terminology.

Law and Government - Knowledge of applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Lifting and moving - Requires ability to lift, move, transport, and stage furniture and other home goods sometimes in excess of 25 pounds.

Body positioning - requires using hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls and prolonged periods of standing and/or sitting

Competition - requires competition or awareness of competitive pressures

Conflict - requires dealing with potentially unpleasant, angry, or discourteous people, including conflict situations

Impact of decisions - requires making decisions that impact the results of co-workers, vendors, sponsors, donors, volunteers or the company

Opportunity to make decisions without supervision - Requires making decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization

Level of challenge - requires being exact or highly accurate. Also requires repeating the same physical activities or mental activities over and over - often with freedom to determine tasks, priorities, and goals

Pace and scheduling - requires meeting strict deadlines and adhering to tight timelines

Personal Interaction - requires work with external individuals, organizations, businesses, or the public. Also, requires coordinating or leading others in accomplishing work activities and work with others in a group or team

Responsibility for Others - Includes responsibility for work outcomes, results, and safety of others

WORK SETTING - Requires working in office space as well as warehouse space in cold or hot conditions as well as outdoors in hot, cold, wet, humid and/or dry conditions. Work is often performed in recipients’ homes. Also, requires ability to climb stairs or hills at times while lifting. Work is often performed in warehouse settings with tight spaces for

travel/access. Requires ability to lift, reach, hold and move heavy items, at times onto and from shelving units.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

By submitting an application for employment, I acknowledge that my employment relationship is and is intended to be at will. This job description contains the entire agreement between you and A Sense of Home as to the duration of your employment and the circumstances under which your employment may be terminated. Nothing contained in this, or any other materials generated by A Sense of Home or its employees, or any statement made by any employee of the organization, shall require the company to have “just” or “good cause” to terminate the employment relationship or to change the terms and conditions of your employment. Notwithstanding any disciplinary procedures or A Sense of Home rules or regulations, either you or A Sense of Home may terminate the employment relationship at any time, for any reason, with or without cause or prior notice. Further, A Sense of Home can demote, transfer, suspend or otherwise discipline an employee in its sole and absolute discretion. Nothing in this job description, or any other personnel documents creates or is intended to create a promise or representation of continued or indefinite employment or employment for a specific term, in a specific position, or at a specific rate of pay, or to prohibit A Sense of Home from terminating you for any reason even if previously agreed that such a reason would not result in termination.

I also understand that A Sense of Home has the right to change the compensation, assignments, duties, responsibilities, or geographical location of my job at any time, with or without cause.

By submitting my application, I confirm that I have read the A Sense of Home Program Specialist Job Description and acknowledge that a copy has been given to me at the time of signing below.

ASOH offers 100% paid health and medical benefits to employees, along with generous paid sick and sick vacation time. We also offer a 401K plan. We believe in providing a workplace that fosters advancement and professional development for all employees, conducting our day-to-day business practices accordingly.

Spanish fluency preferred.