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Youth Support Specialist

Ignite Org
Chicago, IL

Job Details

Full-time
$45,000 - $50,000 a year

Qualifications

Housing advocacy
Volunteer support
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Mental health stabilization
Personal service client interaction documentation
Housing case management
Program design
At-risk youth mentorship
Caregiving documentation requirements
Referral services for crisis intervention support
Team supervision
Volunteer management
Emotional support for clients
Community engagement relationship building
Trauma-sensitive environment
Cooking
Care documentation
Clinical case management notes
Mid-level
Community resource coordination in health services social work
Emergency response in crisis intervention
Assisting with ADLs
Medicaid health insurance
Experience working with individuals experiencing homelessness
Mental health resources facilitation
Records management
Emergency response
Compliance documentation
Welfare benefit application assistance
Emotional safety support

Full Job Description

Title:Youth Support Specialist, Behavior Health

FLSA Status: Salary, Exempt

Salary: $45,000-$50,000/year Reports To: Behavior Health Therapist Supervisor

Youth Support Specialist

Function: Responsible for providing stabilization support, advocacy, and guidance to young adults experiencing homelessness or housing instability as part of the Behavioral Health team. The specialist builds trust, supports emotional well-being, and helps youth navigate mental health and housing-related challenges. The role emphasizes trauma-informed engagement, emotional regulation support, and connection to essential resources that promote safety, stability, and long-term housing retention. By providing consistent, relationship-based support, the Youth Support Specialist plays a key role in helping participants maintain engagement in services, access to mental-health care, and successfully transition into and remain stably housed. Demonstrates an understanding of and commitment to the mission and core values of Ignite. Reports directly to the Behavior Health Therapist, Supervisor.

Duties: The following duties are the essential functions of this position. The Youth Support Specialist will perform these essential functions with or without requested reasonable accommodation.

Schedule: Full-time, hours of operation may include the hours of 9am – 7pm to meet client needs. Flexibility may be required.

Key Responsibilities

Promote engagement, stabilization, and housing retention for Aftercare participants and other youth receiving support through the HC-MHC program.
Use lived experience to build authentic, trusting relationships with participants.
Provide mentoring, emotional regulation support, and trauma-informed guidance.
Offer support in navigating mental health systems, attending appointments, and following through on treatment recommendations.
In coordination with case management team, assist clients in obtaining identification, vital documents, and other materials needed to support stability.
Support youth with applications for housing, benefits, and assistance programs (e.g., SNAP, Medicaid, SSI).
Help clients access community resources related to healthcare and mental health.
Collaborate closely with Ignite’s behavior health team, case managers, and housing/navigation staff while maintaining clear peer support boundaries.

Assist in leading Ignite’s youth leadership initiatives and support participants in ongoing recruitment and development.
Encourage client self-advocacy, coping skill development, and progress toward personal goals.
Provide immediate support during crisis situations and coordinate with behavior health staff on crisis protocols.
Maintain accurate and timely documentation of contacts, services, and stabilization efforts.
Participate in staff meetings, individual supervision, and all required trainings (including mental-health and crisis response training).

Youth Engagement & Relationship Building

Create a supportive environment that empowers young adults to advocate for their needs and take active roles in their care.
Engage youth in decision-making about referral options and service preferences.
May be called upon to support Community Programs as necessary.
Be knowledgeable in milieu shift requirements which may occur during morning and/or afternoon hours. Provides general supervision and appropriate intervention in the community supported space.
Participate in youth educational and personal development groups on the milieu in coordination with other staff and/or volunteers.
Completes all required shift and activity documentation.
Provides life skills training on the units both formally (in groups) and informally. Works with each client on basic life skills and daily issues impeding their progress toward self-sufficiency.
Manages any crisis and/or emergency that may occur on the units with clients.
May accompany youth on activities and presents proper activity documentation to include receipts.
Assists youth with maintaining cleanliness, completing daily chores, and cooking.
Writes clear and concise shift notes and maintains daily logs on all youth.

General

Works as part of a team environment by providing support and assistance whenever needed.
Timely prepares and submits all required forms and statistical reports. Maintains documents regarding participant’s cooperation, daily activities and other records in compliance with agency and external policies, procedures and applicable licensing standards.
Follows agency policies and procedures for the obtainment of information and provision of services to clients.
Participates in program planning and evaluation.
Participates in and contributes to regularly scheduled supervisory and team meetings.
May be called upon to participate in agency interviews.

Provide on-going support and supervision for all volunteers and their tasks.
Performs other duties as assigned.

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