Case Management - Outreach
Position Description
The Youth Connection
Pay Range $19 to $24.00 P/T to F/T
Overall purpose of organization:
Pursuing, engaging, and identifying homeless and at-risk youth ages 12-24 to establish rapport and build relationships with them with the intention of connecting them to Case Management services and programs within the Youth Connection to end and prevent homelessness.
Purpose of the Position:
This position will focus on Case Management of clients once connected to The Youth Connection. All employees assist with outreach efforts to identify and engage youth and young adults within the drop-in center as well as in outreach activities as needed. The overall purpose is to end homelessness in youth and young adults by helping them attain positive and stable housing situations. These include but are not limited to; diversion strategies, housing programs, foster care placement, extended foster care, and social service coordination. Once the client is engaged, as case manager, the person will provide individualized client support by helping each client develop individual goals to address their barriers as well as health and wellbeing concerns. In addition to helping clients identify their strengths and natural support. This position reports to Shelton Youth Connection Program Manager.
Case Manager Responsibilities - Primary
- Conduct Coordinated Entry screenings with the Washington BoS Youth Prioritization Tool to determine the most appropriate client driven housing solution.
- Conduct intake and individualized needs assessment to establish which program best fits the client’s needs. Understand each grant available to client’s individual needs and complete paperwork for each program client is eligible to be enrolled. Within 24 hours turn the intake packet into Program Manager for approval to enter HMIS.
- Contact clients weekly to Coordinate and provide client supportive activities and services. Outline specific activities within goals include but not limited to assisting clients with securing necessary documentation, resource referrals, legal support, and identifying appropriate stable housing solutions.
- Provide information, referrals, linkages, and advocacy to assist clients in accessing services and resources. When needed go with clients to complete the process.
- Transport clients to appropriate services and required meetings maintain accurate mileage log.
- Advocate on behalf of clients and support them to advocate for themselves, role model the behavior for success.
- Work with Clients to connect with landlords and apply for permanent housing.
- Complete and maintain records of participants’ activity/progress with case notes on Client Management within Teams and complete HMIS entries. Ensure entries are accurate and timely.
- Prepare and submit reports to supervisor in a timely manner.
- Continue Case management for up to 6 months after successfully housing clients.
- Establish and maintain collaborative working relationships with homeless shelters and community resources. Attend community resource meetings, trainings, and workshops as required.
- Maintain daily production logs and turn in time sheets
- other duties as assigned.
Outreach Responsibilities - Secondary:
- Engage with youth and young people at The Youth Connection Drop-In Center on assigned days.
- Perform outreach activities to include locating, engaging, and developing rapport with at risk and homeless youth and young adults targeting areas of youth concentration such as, but not limited to parks, transit centers, stores, food banks, etc. within Mason County.
- Maintain daily log of outreach activities when completing outreach, to include but not limited to young people identified, businesses, partnerships with systems.
- Provide information about The Youth Connection to identify young people and direct them to other available services.
Qualifications
To carry out this job successfully, an individual must be able to engage each responsibility listed above satisfactorily. The qualifications listed below are reflective of the knowledge, skill, and ability required to perform this job.
General Required Qualifications
- 21 years of age and older and Washington Driver’s License and vehicle insurance required at time of hire.
- Reliable vehicle
- Required to carry a cell phone during all work hours. Reimbursed according to company policy.
- Flexibility and adaptability with work schedule, which includes some evenings and weekends.
- CPR / First Aid training is desirable but not required.
- Able to pass background check.
Education & Experience
- Experienced and demonstrated ability working with youth and communicating to youth culture.
- Able to pass background check to volunteer in the public schools.
- Professionalism to connect with schools and other public and community organizations.
- BA in psychology or related field education (preferred) or Associate degree with two years’ experience working with at-risk and/or homeless youth and young adults OR.
- Any combination of education, experience, and measurable performance to demonstrate the capability to perform the duties of this position.
- Personal experience with and understanding of street culture and/or homelessness required.
- Experience in assessments and strong crisis intervention skills.
- Experience and/or knowledge of housing services as well as knowledge of rapid re-housing practices desirable
- Training in the following is desirable but not required: trauma informed care, LGBTQ cultural competency, racial equity and anti-racist institutions, domestic violence, commercial and sexual exploitation of children (CSEC), and vicarious trauma.
Qualities, Skills, and Abilities
- Passion for the mission and vision of the The Youth Connection.
- Integrity to handle sensitive information in a confidential manner.
- Ability to interact with people from various social, cultural economic, and educational backgrounds.
- A clear understanding of, and the ability to demonstrate, professional ethics, boundaries, and judgment.
- Ability to communicate and set firm, clear boundaries with youth.
- Demonstrated ability to appropriately intervene and lead in crisis situations.
- Professionalism, punctuality, flexibility, and reliability are imperative.
- Strong problem-solving skills.
- High degree of emotional maturity and cultural competence, particularly as it relates to working with LGBTQ populations and at-risk youth and young adults.
- Ability to work as part of a team and adapt to changing needs, priorities, and timelines.
- Ability to organize and prioritize multiple tasks.
- Provision of services in an inclusive and non-judgmental manner.
- Strong problem-solving skills.
- Computer literacy required. Working knowledge of the Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Word, and Excel programs.
Physical Demands
The performance of this job will require spending considerable time walking, driving, lifting, bending, stooping, and kneeling.
Competencies:
- Accountability: Ability to operate with integrity and manage tasks and relationships in a manner that meets job requirements and program outcomes. Commitment to maintaining required reporting and tracking systems in a timely, thorough, and accurate manner.
- Collaboration: Ability to participate as an active member of the staff team and develop strong relationships with partner organizations.
- Communication: Strong written and oral communication skills, including openness to feedback, and ability to present information concisely and effectively, both verbally and in writing.
- Flexibility: Ability to adapt to changing needs, priorities, and timelines. Willingness to accommodate a flexible schedule and to adjust schedule for evenings and weekends events.
- Organization: A self-starting and energetic person with the ability to gracefully manage deadlines, priorities, and multiple projects and work independently. Requires time management skills, systems thinking and implementation and ability to set priorities.
- Professional Development: A person who continuously seeks to expand skills and competencies and who holds a commitment to improving effectiveness by giving and receiving feedback about professional growth areas.
- Self-care / Trauma Stewardship: A person who operates with a high degree of emotional maturity and implements practices of self-care while caring for others to mitigate the impact of secondary trauma.
- Social-Political Awareness: Holds a strong social, racial, gender, sexual orientation, and economic justice analysis and framework with demonstrated cultural responsiveness and is committed to recognizing and working on individual areas of privilege, oppression, and self-care.
How to Apply:
Email a cover letter, your resume, and three professional references to:
susan@youthconnectionwa.org In your cover letter, please address the following questions:
- Why do you believe homelessness exists, particularly for youth and young adults?
- If you were selected for this role, what would you bring to the role that few other candidates could bring?