Self Determination Messenger

# Who We Are | Careers## We are looking for you!

Check out our open roles and apply now to join our team of directly impacted **.
** We strongly encourage candidates who hold marginalized identities and nontraditional professional backgrounds to apply. YWFC does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, or genetic information.## Self Determination Messenger Los Angeles
· Full-time#### About The Position The Self-Determination Messenger role is grounded in YWFC’s approach to personal and structural transformation and is guided by the organization's guiding principles of Sisterhood/ Siblinghood, Self-Determination, Spirituality, and Social Justice. The Self-Determination Messenger works to ensure that participants of YWFC’s programs have the space, resources, access, and advocacy needed to support them in their healing journey, as well as accessing their own power and voice to navigate the systems and conditions that impact their lives.

The Self Determination Messenger works closely with all program staff and program participants, playing a critical role in supporting young cis and trans women and girls, trans men and boys and gender expansive youth  in finding their voice, building self-determination and using their expertise and experiences to advocate on behalf of themselves and others.

The role of the Self Determination Messenger is to ensure that youth at YWFC are provided support from a peer-based, restorative justice framework that is culturally grounded, and gender-specific. Additionally, the SD Messenger ensures that the organization has the proper resources, support, and partners in place to support this work. They are responsible for conducting initial intakes and assessments, working with youth to identify their needs and strengths, assisting them in developing personal and professional goals, and providing support in accessing community resources, such as housing, child care, educational programs, etc.

Additionally, this position is responsible for ensuring that all coaching approaches and methods are in line with the organization's mission, vision, values, theory of change, methodology, as well as ensuring that we  fulfill grant requirements, and YWFC annual goals and Site goals.
** General Duties:
*** Building rapport with youth on-site at YWFC and off-site at program locations including juvenile hall, jail, group homes, and county jail, to ensure folks receive the appropriate support through phone calls, snail mail, advocacy letter, and referrals appropriate services
* Conduct interviews, assessments, and develop Self-Determined Life Maps and provide resources for youth onsite at the Center and off-site at program locations including juvenile hall, jail, and group homes, and in the community
* Work as a part of the YWFC team, supporting youth connect to YWFC after detention through self-determination advocacy and leadership programs, and ensuring activities are cohesive and coordinated amongst program staff
* Provide orientation and training to new staff, interns and volunteers who will support leadership programming of YWFC’s guiding principles, methodology, and policy and procedures
* Plan, facilitate, and oversee Self-Determination Advocacy activities, including Culture and Healing Circles and Programs, youth-driven community projects, special events, and other outings
* Coordinate early career exploration and leadership development, including sharing job opportunities, scholarship information, college tours, financial aid workshops, career mentoring, and healing centered opportunities
* Engage participants as community experts and provide leadership based economic opportunities for participants to begin to engage in YWFC’s work as appropriate and as a part of a larger site based strategy
* Collaborate with other program staff on building organizing and advocacy capacity and skills for youth ready to step into leadership roles and engage in YWFC advocacy initiatives.
* Monitor referrals and maintain relationships with the staff of external stakeholders and system partners…