A highly flexible practicum placement, open to supporting the needs of the right student. The Skagit Valley Family YMCA’s Social Impact division provides housing and supportive services for youth and young adults. The Oasis Teen Shelter is the only overnight shelter for youth ages 13-17 in Skagit County, providing stabilizing support and case management for up to 90 days. The Sedro-Woolley Rec Center, as part of the Skagit Y’s Outreach program, opened December 2022 and provides fun and food after school during the week. The response to this program has shown just how much need there is for supportive, safe, and affirming spaces for youth in the rural community of Sedro-Woolley and eastern Skagit County. Both programs disproportionately serve LGBTIQA+ youth and youth of color. The Skagit Y is also the lead organization for Skagit County’s Anchor Community Initiative (ACI), a community-wide effort focused on ending youth and young homelessness in our area. The Skagit ACI involves working closely with Skagit County’s Public Health Department to implement system improvement ideas for better serving unstably housed young people; data review and technical assistance; and coordination with the entire local homeless housing crisis system, including partners such as North Sound ACH, Northwest Youth Services, Volunteers of America of Western Washington, and more.  We will help create a meaningful and educational practicum experience for an MSW student, tailored based on their areas of interest. This placement is not clinical, oversight will be under regular supervision of an MSW who can support in whatever areas hold the most interest, with a separate on-site supervisor determined once a primary focus for the practicum is chosen. 

Opportunities to work directly with youth either in a drop-in center or shelter setting. These opportunities include supporting youth individually, feeding them, facilitating activities and programming or helping design programming, etc. Case management shadowing can be available, as well as resource gathering and community connection. May also include opportunities to work in facilitation and advocacy with the Youth Action Board, a group of approximately 10 young people ages 15-25 as part of the Skagit Anchor Community Initiative.

There are opportunities available within the mobile outreach, the drop-in center, and also working with our Anchor Community Initiative. Opportunities available to assist with policy and procedure writing, resource development, community and provider training, and community engagement, as well as to potentially shadow or help on grant applications. Students may have the opportunity to design and implement an appropriate project for one of our sites.

Not required, however if state and federal policies are of interest, the candidate could assist with legislative research and advocacy on issues related to youth and young adult homelessness, such as child welfare, housing, minor rights, incarceration, and more. The Skagit Y holds strong relationships with advocacy organizations such as Mockingbird Society and with legal/legal aid entities such as Skagit Legal Aid, Legal Counsel for Youth & Children (LCYC), and Skagit County Superior Court.

Travel stipend provided each academic quarter.

Full household membership to the Skagit Valley Family YMCA’s state-of-the-art wellness and aquatics facility and all nation-wide YMCA locations.

$50 worth of YMCA swag of student’s choice through Court Products.

If not already certified, free Adult and Pediatric CPR/FA/AED and Blood Borne Pathogens training is provided through the American Red Cross.

If not already certified, free Youth Mental Health First Aid and Question, Persuade & Refer (QPR) suicide prevention training is provided through United General District 304.

Must have previous experience working with youth under 18 in a work, internship, or other formal setting for a minimum of 6 months. Must be able to pass a state and federal background check through the Department of Children, Youth & Family (DCYF). Must be a strong communicator, manage time and tasks effectively, and be able to work both independently and within a team setting.

Bilingual Spanish preferred

Apply at the following link: https://forms.office.com/r/xRC1ZRdL32