PREVAIL is hiring for multiple positions within our Youth Services Department! Opportunities may include full-time, part time, and per diem positions supporting youth through safe, supportive, and trauma-informed services.

If you are passionate about making a positive impact in the lives of young people and want to be part of a mission driven team, we encourage you to apply. Benefits are available for eligible positions.

PREVAIL (formerly Women’s Center – Youth & Family Services) is pioneering restoration and elevating voices of advocacy, idealism, and leadership for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and the aftermath of such victimizations, including youth homelessness and human trafficking/sexual exploitation.

For more than five decades, PREVAIL has been providing safety, compassion, and respect as we educate, empower and advocate for individuals, families, and young people. Our vision is to create opportunities for hope, healing, and growth by breaking intergenerational cycles of violence and abuse.

Join our team and be part of building a safer community.

Position Description

The Youth Services Program Specialist provides trauma-informed direct services and support to youth and young adults across PREVAIL’s Youth Services programs. This position may support Youth Shelters, Gateway Services, Street Outreach, and Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) services based on program, client, staffing, and funding needs.

The Program Specialist works directly with youth experiencing or at risk of homelessness, housing instability, exploitation, abuse, and other challenging circumstances. The position helps create a safe and supportive environment while providing crisis intervention, advocacy, case management support, access to basic needs, referrals, outreach, and connections to community resources.

Duties/Responsibilities

Youth Shelters – Safe House & Opportunity House

• Provide onsite shift coverage and direct support to youth residing in PREVAIL’s youth shelters.
• Supervise youth and maintain a safe, supportive, structured, and trauma-informed shelter environment.
• Role model and assist youth with daily living skills, including meal preparation, laundry, housekeeping, and other appropriate independent living skills.
• Provide crisis intervention, peer support, advocacy, referrals, and connections to available services.
• Reinforce shelter policies and procedures and utilize conflict resolution and de-escalation skills when responding to challenging situations.
• Support day-to-day facility operations, including cleanliness, supplies, safety, and compliance with applicable licensing requirements.
• Coordinate communication with guardians, schools, Child Protective Services, and other providers when applicable.
• Serve as the onsite facility manager when assigned and participate in backup shift coverage as needed.

Gateway Services

• Serve as a first point of contact for youth experiencing homelessness, housing instability, or other crises.
• Conduct intakes and initial needs assessments and assist with the development and implementation of individualized service plans.
• Provide ongoing case management, including client check-ins, service coordination, referrals, documentation, and progress monitoring.
• Assist youth with access to basic needs and Gateway services, including showers, laundry, hygiene supplies, clothing, meals, and other resources.
• Prepare and serve meals and help maintain clean, safe, and welcoming program spaces.
• Supervise client activities and promote positive, respectful interactions.
• Conduct safety assessments and provide crisis intervention, advocacy, referrals, and connections to PREVAIL and community resources.

Street Outreach

• Conduct community-based outreach to identify and engage youth experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
• Build rapport and establish supportive relationships with youth in community settings.
• Distribute basic supplies, including food, hygiene items, and other available resources.
• Conduct safety assessments and provide crisis intervention and immediate support as needed.
• Connect youth with shelter, Gateway, PREVAIL, and other community-based services and resources.
• Collaborate with outreach partners, community organizations, law enforcement, and other service providers to support coordinated care.
• Utilize conflict resolution and de-escalation techniques when responding to challenging or crisis situations.

CSEC Services

• Provide trauma-informed engagement, advocacy, and support to youth involved in or at risk for Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC).
• Facilitate support groups for CSEC youth and their families, providing a safe environment for healing, education, and empowerment.
• Participate in outreach efforts to identify and engage youth who may be at risk of exploitation.
• Provide crisis intervention and connect youth and families with appropriate resources and supportive services.
• Support CSEC prevention and education efforts.
• Conduct presentations, workshops, and training sessions related to CSEC, public safety, prevention, and available community resources.
• Build and maintain relationships with community partners and organizations serving youth and other at-risk populations.

Community Engagement & Administrative Responsibilities

• Represent PREVAIL at community events, multidisciplinary team meetings, program partnerships, funder meetings, and other collaborative activities.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external partners to coordinate services and support youth stability and long-term outcomes.
• Maintain accurate and timely client records, service documentation, data entry, and other required program records.
• Provide reception and administrative support as needed, including greeting visitors, responding to incoming communications, preparing documents, maintaining files, and supporting general office operations.
• Participate in required training, staff meetings, and program activities.
• Provide services at PREVAIL locations, in the community, or other designated locations based on client and program needs.
• Maintain flexibility to work various schedules, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and outside standard business hours, as program needs require.
• Travel between PREVAIL locations and throughout the community as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of Youth Services and PREVAIL’s mission.
• Execute comprehensive and detailed documentation, and perform other administrative tasks, as necessary, to support both program operations and role responsibilities.
• Provide administrative support by handling document preparation, data entry, and office organization.
• Manage office supplies, maintain files and calendars, and oversee the distribution of incoming and outgoing mail.

Required Skills/Abilities

• Must support PREVAIL’s mission and be dedicated to eliminating domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and youth homelessness, in addition to supporting the fundamental values of both feminism and the social work profession, including the worth, dignity, and uniqueness of all persons as well as their rights and opportunities.
• Maintain flexibility to work weekends and hours outside of normal business hours based on client, staffing, and program needs.
• Work schedules may include evenings, weekends, holidays, or other non-traditional hours depending on program assignment and coverage needs.
• Travel between PREVAIL locations and throughout the community as needed to provide services, outreach, or program support.
• Experience working with children, adolescents, and families/adults.
• Reliability and consistency with attendance and punctuality.
• Ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and cultures, and awareness of and sensitivity to the cultures represented in San Joaquin County.
• Ability to productively work both autonomously and as a team member.
• Complex Problem Solving, identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Ability to function well in a high-paced and, at times, stressful environment.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software.
• Ability to effectively communicate and work with key stakeholders, including but not limited to government partners, community and individual supporters, executive leadership, and the Board of Directors.

Education and Experience

• High School Diploma/GED.
• Associate’s degree in related field preferred or equivalent years of experience working with homeless youth. Experience shall be verified as having been performed as a paid or volunteer staff person whose duties required direct supervision.
• Successful completion of Victim Assistance Training for domestic violence and sexual assault within one year of hire.
• Fingerprint clearance through Guardian, or a criminal record exemption, is required.
• Reliable transportation, valid California Driver’s License, and proof of insurance.

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift 50 pounds at times.
• Must be able to ascend and descend up to three flights of stairs throughout a typical workday.

About Employer

PREVAIL is an equal opportunity employer and hires and promotes employees regardless of race, color, religion, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, marital status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, veteran and/or military status, protected medical leaves (requesting or approved for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act or the California Family Rights Act), domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, and any other status protected by state or federal law.

PREVAIL strives to be culturally competent, responding respectfully and effectively to people of all cultures, classes, races, ethnic backgrounds, and religions in a manner that recognizes, affirms, and values the cultural differences and similarities and the worth of individuals, families, and communities and protects and preserves the dignity of each person.

Additionally, PREVAIL is an at-will employer. Employees, as well as the agency itself, are free to terminate employment status at any time, with or without reason. Although PREVAIL may choose to terminate employment for cause, cause is not required.

PREVAIL is a highly established nonprofit organization funded by a variety of federal, state, and local government agencies, foundation grants and individual supporters. The continuation of programs, and therefore employment positions, may be contingent upon continued receipt of these or alternative funding sources.