YWCA Seattle

Why work with YWCA Seattle King Snohomish?

YWCA SKS is the region’s largest non-profit organization with a 120+ year legacy, focused on the needs of women, with programs serving 7,000 people each year. When you work with YWCA, you make a difference.

We’re women and BIPOC-led, family-centered, and supportive of employees. As a full-time YWCA employee (30+ hours), you’ll enjoy a benefits package including medical insurance, generous vacation, holiday, sick leave plans, and an outstanding retirement plan. Put your passion for racial equity and social justice to work – apply today!

What You'll Do

The primary responsibility of the Student & Family Life Coach is to assist families experiencing housing instability in achieving long-term stability and independence. This position focuses on Black/African-American families with students that attend Seattle Public School in maintaining current housing or obtaining permanent housing. Services provided include, but are not limited to support with finding emergency shelter, employment, housing search, landlord liaison activities, financial coaching, and housing counseling.

Your Impact: you’ll work closely with their manager to implement new housing and employment strategies aimed at linking housing case management and employment services with the goal of making progress toward living-wage employment and housing stability.

This position support the YWCA’s Social Justice Initiative by understanding how racism, sexism, classism and other oppressions play out in institutions and systems. Knowing the core principles of antiracism work and grounding those principles in everyday social service practices are required job skills and core values of the YWCA.

As an equal opportunity employer, we highly encourage people of color to apply.

Expectations of your role:

• Systems Navigation/Assessments
• Conduct a thorough family assessment using screening, intake and placement of emergency housing families as assigned by their manager
• Work with families to set goals and objectives around obtaining and maintaining employment encouraging self-reliance and self-determination, leading to stabilization in permanent housing
• Work with co-workers and/or your supervisor to implement an action plan for families who are in need of innovative solutions 
• Develop and maintain knowledge of community resources and provide appropriate referrals to address barriers to stable housing and employment (e.g. medical, mental health, chemical dependency, domestic violence)
• Record keeping and Compliance
• Maintain complete and accurate auditable file for each family
• Keep case notes updated and complete daily after each meeting and/or interaction with families. Document service provided and track families progress
• Actively participate in regular supervisory and team or unit meetings
• Assist in collecting and compiling families data to complete funders program reports
• Race and Gender Equity
• Analyzes and understands population and agency data to strengthen Race and Social Justice Work Plan
• Implements all work using YWCA’s Social Justice Initiative
• Understands institutional and systemic intersectional racism as well as internalized oppression
• Has 3-5 recent community based race and gender equity work projects/experiences within the last 5 years
• Has experience working in multicultural and multiethnic communities, specifically African- American/Black communities
• Exhibits a mature level in their racial identity development and a desire for continued learning

Must have's to be successful:

• At least (2) years of direct social service experience, including (1) year working with low-income and/or homeless families and/or victims of domestic violence OR a Bachelor’s Degree with at least (1) year of direct social service experience working with low income and/or homeless families
• Must be able to travel independently from site to site within King County
• Demonstrated knowledge and skills of basic computer competencies such as emailing, calendaring, entry-level data entry and familiarity with Microsoft Office products 
• Ability and willingness to work independently and as a part of a team
• Knowledge of mental health, drug and alcohol issues preferred
• Experience working with communities of color and people from different cultures than your own
• Demonstrated understanding of the intersection of racism and poverty

Hours, Rate, and Benefits

• Hourly Rate: $25.00, DOE
• Hours: 40 hours per week
• FLSA Classification: Non-Exempt
• Excellent benefits package including medical insurance, retirement plan, plus generous vacation, holiday, and sick leave plans
• At the time of hire, employees may enroll voluntarily in the Fidelity 403b Plan
• After two years of employment, employees are eligible to participate in the YWCA Retirement Fund

Physical Requirements

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an individual to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. In performing this position, the employee: 
• All positions at YWCA Seattle | King | Snohomish are exposed to clients who have experienced or are experiencing trauma in various forms including but not limited to domestic violence, sexual violence, homelessness, unemployment, financial hardship, etc. As a result, staff are at risk of secondary trauma. Employees are encouraged to seek external support and maintain self-care when working indirectly or directly with clients 
• Continuously exchanges information through listening and talking with families, agency staff, volunteers and individuals in the community
• Frequently stands, walks, sits and climbs in performing duties and in traveling to off-site meetings
• Frequently reaches and grasps in using telephones, computers, and in general operations
• Frequently lifts and carries up to 5 lbs. of paperwork, files and materials
• Frequently to occasionally performs close work while updating files, reading program information and using computer
• Continuously requires this activity or exposure over 80% of the time, frequently: 20%-80%, occasionally: under 20%.

#LI-Onsite

YWCA encourages applicants with a variety of experiences to apply!

At YWCA, we recognize that lived expertise is a powerful asset. This refers to the insights, knowledge, and skills developed by those who have navigated systems and experienced inequity.

Valuing lived expertise helps build trust with program participants, develop culturally responsive programs, and break down barriers to equity. It enriches our collective understanding and enhances our ability to serve communities that are furthest from opportunity.

Vaccination Requirement

All new hires must be vaccinated in accordance with CDC guidelines before their first day of employment.

Mental Health Considerations

All employees of the YWCA interact with clients who have experienced or are experiencing trauma in various forms, including but not limited to, racial trauma, domestic violence, sexual violence, homelessness, unemployment, and financial hardship. As a result, employees are at risk of secondary trauma. We encourage employees to seek support inside and outside the workplace and maintain self-care routines.

Equal Opportunity Employment

YWCA Seattle King Snohomish is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To read more about this, view the EEO is the Law Poster and this EEO is the Law Poster Supplement.

For more information

Contact us at careers@ywcaworks.org with any questions or if you need accommodation for your application.