About SMYAL
SMYAL (Supporting and Mentoring Youth Advocates and Leaders) supports and empowers lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth in the Washington, DC metropolitan region. Through youth leadership, SMYAL creates opportunities for LGBTQ youth to build self-confidence, develop critical life skills, and engage their peers and community through service and advocacy. Committed to social change, SMYAL builds, sustains and advocates for programs, policies and services that LGBTQ youth need as they grow into adulthood.
SMYAL is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibility, physical or mental handicap, or political affiliation.
Current Openings
General Job Description:
The Youth Housing Program case manager has shared case management responsibility in the Extended Transitional Youth Housing Program. The case manager provides client-centered case management services to address the resident’s education, mental health, physical health, and permanent housing needs/goals through coordinated activities and referrals. The case manager assists youth in obtaining appropriate permanent housing and/or reunifying with their family or kin, if clinically appropriate. The case manager works to connect youth to holistic supportive services with the goal of developing skills that lead to sustainable independent living upon graduation from the program.
Requirements:
- Master of Social Work or equivalent master’s degree
- 2+ years case management experience
- Knowledge of LGBTQ+ identities and issues, housing interventions, and mental health support
- Ability to pass a criminal background check
- Ability to pass a employee drug screening
Reports to: Director of Youth Housing and Director of Clinical Services
Job Duties:
- Develop mutually agreed upon client identified goals, complete assessment of service needs, youth primary goal is permanent stable housing in the community; provide weekly 1 hour case management to each resident of the 12 youth residents.
- Coordinate psychosocial, legal, and medical referrals as needed.
- Provide SPDAT and need assessments to non-resident community youth as needed.
- Provide crisis intervention services as needed, facilitate peer mediation, and if necessary, refer clients for psychiatric assessment.
- Assists clients in advocating for and obtaining benefits and entitlements.
- Plan and lead group meetings with residents.
- Assist in program management duties including but not limited to, coordinating with volunteers and outside stakeholders, participating in community events, engaging in population advocacy.
- Liaise with other service providers and assist in outreach efforts.
- Responsible for developing and maintaining community partnerships.
- Responsible for distributing food and transportation funds to residents, reconciling receipts and tracking purchases.
- Present psychosocial needs, strengths and limitations of all assigned clients during supervision and interdisciplinary (staff meetings) care planning meetings, and case consultation.
- Responsible for maintaining accurate, up to date, client records and documentation, and clinical notes.
- Responsible for ensuring residents are held accountable to program rules and responsibilities.
- Screen program candidates for admission, completing resident intakes, orientations, and graduations (exits).
Operations Duties:
- Perform monthly unit checks to ensure that units are safe, clean, and adhere to program rules and regulations.
- Establish and maintain partnerships with outside organizations for supply donations and volunteering events.
- Create new resident kits and prepare units for resident move in and move out.
Salary Range: $50,000 to $55,000
To Apply:
Applicants may send a resume and cover letter to Tim Saxton at jobs@smyal.org with the subject line Case Manager Position. Resumes will be reviewed as they are received. No phone calls, please. Please apply by Friday, January 22nd. This is a full-time salary position. Benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance, retirement, vacation and sick time, training opportunities, and clinical supervision
SMYAL Youth Fellow Program:
This will be a twelve-month paid part-time fellowship. During this time, Youth Fellows will be provided with access to professional development opportunities while assisting the SMYAL team with crucial administrative and programmatic tasks, as well as contributing to SMYAL’s decision making and overall growth. There are two Youth Fellowship positions open: The Drop-In Programs Youth Fellowship, and the Leadership Development Youth Fellowship. All Youth Fellows must be between 16 and 24 years old. Fellows must have an interest in supporting and empowering the LGBTQ community and communities of color.
SMYAL Leadership Development Youth Fellow Position Description:
The Youth Leadership Development Fellow will be expected to work 20 hours a week, with some weekends required. The Fellowship will begin in March 2021, and end in March 2022 (exact dates to be determined based on SMYAL and fellow availability). As part of their fellowship responsibilities, the Youth Leadership Fellow will be asked to:
- Assist Community Engagement and Youth Leadership Manager in the general operations of SMYAL’s leadership work
- Conduct virtual workshops for SMYAL youth, and/or SMYAL’s school-based programming (Develop and give at least four workshops during their Fellowship)
- Spearhead outreach and recruitment of youth for SMYAL’s youth leadership programs
- Assist Community Engagement and Youth Leadership Manager in overseeing other interns/ fellows/ and volunteer youth for the duration of their time with SMYAL
- Help organize, and participate in SMYAL’s annual 4 dayActivist Camp, now held as a virtual Rise Up conference in July. The Youth Leadership Fellow is expected to co-facilitate or facilitate solo at least one workshop and assist staff as needed
- Be engaged members of Rise Up! Youth Activist Summits, a quarterly group of young LGBTQ leaders in DC, MD, and VA
- Attend and help facilitate Little SMYAL’s, a twice-monthly program for LGBTQ+ youth ages 6-12
- Demonstrate a commitment to communicating across difference, as well as to advancing racial and gender equity
- Develop and strengthen other skills they have previously specified as an area of interest, such as activism, social media management, development, etc.
Daily duties may include, but are not limited to the following:
- Data entry
- Social media outreach within the LGBT+ community via Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter
- Attending professional development trainings to build communication and facilitation skills
- Supporting event planning and project management logistics
- Leading workshops for youth and/ or adults in school or community trainings
- Brainstorming and developing workshops for youth ages 13-24
- Virtually attending SMYAL’s youth and donor events upon request
- Assisting with virtual after-school programs, which may include facilitation of groups/ workshops
All Fellows will be provided with:
- Trainings in leadership skills and advocacy development, as well as necessary professional development
- Opportunities to provide input into SMYAL’s decision making
- Access to lectures, webinars, summits, and/ or conferences
Compensation
SMYAL believes young people deserve to be paid for their time, energy, and work. Youth Fellows will earn $15 an hour.
To apply for the SMYAL Youth Leadership Development Fellowship, please send a resume and cover letter to programs@smyal.org. In the subject line, please include the title of the Fellowship you’re applying for. In your application, please include any prior experience in activism or organizing, especially if related to LGBTQ work, any other relevant skills or experience, and the reasons for your interest in this fellowship.
NOTE: This position requires regular use of a computer, including regular interaction with youth and adults through video call, chat, and email.
SMYAL Youth Fellow Program:
This will be a twelve-month paid part-time fellowship. During this time, Youth Fellows will be provided with access to professional development opportunities while assisting the SMYAL team with crucial administrative and programmatic tasks, as well as contributing to SMYAL’s decision making and overall growth. There are two Youth Fellowship positions open: The Drop-In Programs Youth Fellowship, and the Leadership Development Youth Fellowship. All Youth Fellows must be between 16 and 24 years old. Fellows must have an interest in supporting and empowering the LGBTQ community and communities of color.
SMYAL Drop In Programs Youth Fellow Position Description:
The Drop In Programs Youth Fellow will be expected to work 20 hours a week, with some weekends required. The Fellowship will begin in March 2021, and end in March 2022 (exact dates to be determined based on SMYAL and fellow availability). As part of their fellowship responsibilities, the Drop-In Programs Fellow will be asked to:
- Assist Programs staff in the daily operations of our drop-in, after-school, and Summer programming.
- Co-create, plan, and facilitate youth programming with Drop-In Programs Manager.
- Demonstrate personal and professional commitment to racial and gender equity, accessibility, as well as community safety and accountability
- With the help of the Drop-In Programs Manager, increase peer education by developing culturally relevant workshops. (Fellows will be required to develop and give at least four workshops during their time at SMYAL)
- With the help of the Drop-In Programs Programs Manager, spearhead outreach and recruitment of youth for SMYAL programs and events.
- Develop and strengthen other skills they have previously specified as an area of interest, such as activism, social media management, development, etc.
- Assist with planning, as well as participating in, our annual 4 day, 3 night Activist Camp (Now virtually known as Rise Up!). Youth fellows are expected to co-facilitate workshops and assist staff as needed.
- Attend and help facilitate Little SMYAL’s, a twice-monthly program for LGBTQ+ youth ages 6-12
Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to the following:
- Youth program facilitation and co-facilitation
- Data entry and other administrative tasks
- Virtual tabling at SMYAL events upon request
Fellows will be provided with:
- Training in leadership skills, advocacy, and positive youth development
- Opportunities to provide input into SMYAL’s decision making
- Access to lectures, webinars, summits, and / or conferences
Compensation
SMYAL believes young people deserve to be paid for their time, energy, and work. Youth Fellows will earn $15 an hour.
To apply, please send a resume and cover letter to programs@smyal.org. In the subject line, please include the title of the Fellowship you’re applying for. In your application, please include any prior experience working in youth work, activism, organizing, and any community service, especially if focused on LGBTQ+ community issues.
NOTE: This position requires regular use of a computer, including regular interaction with youth and adults through video call, chat, and email.