New 9/98

City of San José

YOUTH OUTREACH WORKER I (FT) (8063)
YOUTH OUTREACH WORKER I (PT) (8064)

CLASS PURPOSE
   Under direct supervision, provides specialized services to youth such as youth employment, youth delinquency prevention and intervention, and gang intervention, diversion or mediation.

TYPICAL DUTIES AND RESULTS (Any one position may not include all the duties listed, nor do the examples cover all the duties which may be performed.)

• Recruits potential youth participants.

• Provides information and referral services to participants and their families.

• Interviews participants to determine individual and/or family needs for services.

• Enrolls and/or refers participants to appropriate services determined by an assessment interview.

• Provides services to targeted participants that may include, but not be limited to, job preparation and placement services, career development, work based internship and career development opportunities, mentorship training and referral, gang intervention and mediation services, gang diversion, family support services, tattoo removal, case work, street outreach, etc.

• Identifies and establishes trusting relationships with gang leaders in an effort to reduce gang recruitment and violence.

• Provides immediate response to probable, imminent, and post incidents of school and/or community-based gang-related violence and, as a result, provide appropriate intervention and mediation services/activities to diffuse and/or divert the immediate crisis.

• Interacts and develops working relationships with a variety of public and private agencies including, but not limited to, private businesses, community based organizations, non-profit organizations, other City, County, and State departments and agencies, etc.

• Attends community meetings and effectively interacts with various community organizations including, but not limited to, community or neighborhood associations, community action teams (CAT), business associations, schools, churches, and other segments of the community.

• Works and interacts with law enforcement agencies.

• Maintain appropriate records on participants and program success measurements.

• May be required to provide bilingual translation, both orally and in writing.

• May perform shift work.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
   This is the entry level in the Youth Outreach series performing outreach and referral services under supervision in the fields of human and social services. This class differs from the next higher classification of Youth Outreach Worker II in that incumbents of the latter supervise the former and perform at a higher level in community organizing, employee training, and coordinating services with other agencies.

QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Ability to understand and follow written and oral instructions.

• Ability to express oneself clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.

• Ability to work and interact effectively with youth.

• Ability to interact effectively with a variety of public and private agencies including, but not limited to, private businesses, community based organizations, non-profit organizations, other City, County, State, and Federal departments and agencies.

• Ability to interact effectively with law enforcement agencies.

• Ability to work effectively with diverse cultural communities.

Competency Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of public, private, and community resources and program services available to youth.

• Knowledge of techniques and strategies in working with gang-involved youth.

•  Knowledge of specific problems and issues, services needs, perspectives, and living style patterns of youth in general, high-risk youth, gang prone and/or gang involved youth.

• Ability to maintain basic client service records and prepare basic reports.

• Ability to attend and effectively interact with various community organizations including, but not limited to, community or neighborhood associations, community action teams (CAT), business associations, schools groups, churches, and other segments of the community.

•  Bilingual languages are desirable and in some positions required. (Spanish, Vietnamese, Cambodian).

Education
   Graduation from eighth grade.

Experience
   One (1) year full-time equivalent experience working with at-risk youth to provide intervention, diversion or employment services and programs.

Licenses/Certificates
   Must possess a valid California Drivers License and may be required to obtain and maintain a Class B California Drivers License.

(9/98)
8063s000.doc