Outreach Counselor

About the role

Since 1984, Larkin Street Youth Services has helped more than 75,000 young adults in San Francisco with outreach, shelter, housing, education, employment, healthcare, and other services.

Today, Larkin Street Youth Services is the largest provider of housing and services to homeless youth in the Bay Area. We serve 1,500 youth annually, operating or partnering to provide more than 500 emergency shelter, transitional, supportive, and subsidy-based housing beds at several unique sites across San Francisco.

Working at Larkin Street, no matter what department, means making a real difference in the lives of young people experiencing homelessness. Our team is skilled, diverse, and passionate. Our culture encourages achievement and professional development, as well as teamwork and self-care. Our focus is always on the young people at the heart of our mission and to nurture potential, promote dignity and support bold steps by all.

What You'll Do

Under the guidance of the Program Manager, the primary responsibility of the Outreach Counselor is to provide street-based outreach services to youth ages 12-24 as well as organizational outreach services to youth-serving organizations. Staff will work with a team to maintain a safe and supportive spaces and coordinates care for youth accessing our drop-in/engagement centers.

The Outreach Counselor will provide information, referrals, and will link youth within Larkin Street's service continuum and to community-based providers. Additionally, the Coordinator provides HIV/STI testing and prevention information and services, behavioral risk assessment, harm reduction interventions, and individual and group counseling to all youth.

It is essential that the Outreach Counselor creates safe and supportive relationships and motivates youth from diverse backgrounds (youth of color, LGBTQ+, substance use, disabilities) to consider alternatives to street life. The program functions from a client-centered model and utilizes Trauma Informed Care, and Restorative Practices framework.

This is a full-time position, eligible for full benefits.

Your responsibilities

Outreach and Drop-In/Engagement Centers

• Assists youth by working with other programs to ensure youth are moving through continuum of Larkin Street services and/or city services.
• Contribute towards the care and welfare of staff and youth, including non-violent crisis intervention and de-escalation.
• Practice life skills in training for youth through modeling, active counseling, and facilitation of groups.
• Conduct intakes and assessments, organize that information by entering data into paper-based and electronic-based data systems and obtain additional information by coordinating with other professional sources.
• Compose and distribute harm reduction kits including: first aid, hygiene, menstrual, safe injection, safe smoking, safe snorting, safer sex.
• Assist in the preparation of food, distribute clothing, harm reduction supplies and snacks.
• Assess clients on outreach and in the drop-in.
• Accompany youth to appointments and assist them with advocacy to services as needed clients to and from different appointments as needed.

HIV/STI Testing and Counseling

• Provide culturally responsive HIV/STI counseling, testing, outreach, and education to youth access program.
• Assist in the preparation and disclosure of test results.
• Provide individual risk reduction counseling.
• Outreach and disseminate information and resources regarding HIV awareness.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

• Assist in the cleaning of the drop-in/engagement spaces.
• Support with outreach popup events that foster engagement opportunities for new clients.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Other duties as assigned.

Who You Are

• You are passionate about the Larkin Street Youth Services mission to end youth homelessness.
• You embody our values and core strategies: "This Is How We Roll":
• Client-Centered
• Trauma Informed Care
• Restorative Practices
• Harm Reduction
• Non-Violent Crisis Intervention
• Motivational Interviewing
• You have some social services and/or direct-service experience.
• *BONUS* You have experience working in drop-in services, shelter, transitional, and/or permanent supportive housing programs.
• You are most excited to serve Transitional Aged Youth (TAY), aged 18 to 25 of diverse backgrounds.
• You are a self-starter and team player. Your colleagues describe you as compassionate, dependable, and patient.
• You work best in an on site, in person working environment. This role is 100% onsite/in person.
• You are willing to work holidays occasionally.

The Perks

• Hourly Rate of $23.50-$24.54
• +$1.50 for bilingual incentive pay. Must be fluent in Spanish and English.
• Choice of Kaiser and Sutter medical plans, plus dental and vision.
• Generous 3 weeks of vacation annually, plus 11 Paid Holidays and 3 Floating Holidays.
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching.
• Flexible spending accounts for Healthcare and Dependent Care expenses.
• Life Insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for counseling services.
• Health Advocate Service.
• Commuter Benefits Programs.
• Paid Sabbatical following 5 and 10 years of employment.

All City and County of San Francisco employees are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. For details on how it is applicable to your employment, please