Community Connections YouThrive Specialist

Fosteradopt; Hutchinson (KS); On-site; USD 24,000 - 35,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off after 90 days

403(b) retirement plan with up to 6%

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

FosterAdoptConnect seeks a Community Connections YouThrive Specialist to provide community-based support for young adults aging out of foster care. You will guide goal setting and connect youths to resources, using a peer-to-peer, trauma-informed approach to promote independent adulthood.

The role requires flexibility for evenings and weekends, with travel to surrounding counties. Experience with marginalized communities and strong documentation skills are essential for success in this part-time

Qualifications

• Lived experience in foster care or related care.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Reliable transportation and ability to transport youth.
• Experience with marginalized communities.
• Adaptable, proactive multitasker with strong attention to detail.
• Collaborate within diverse, multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong writing and communication for varied audiences.
• Maintain confidentiality and ethical behavior.
• Flexible schedule including evenings/weekends.
• Travel within surrounding counties.

Responsibilities

• Receive and manage referrals, delivering timely support.
• Prioritize multiple cases with open communication to supervisor.
• Use trauma-informed practices to support youth for adulthood.
• Help youth build housing, education, transportation, employment, health, identity, finances.
• Connect youth with community resources for basic needs and scholarships.
• Bi-weekly meetings to monitor progress toward goals.
• Schedule visits, complete assessments and create Action Plans.
• Gather info from caregivers to expand support network.
• Document data in FAC client database.
• Provide transportation and driving lessons as needed.
• Develop partnerships with stakeholders and attend meetings.
• Participate in ongoing meetings and trainings.
• Contribute both independently and as a team.

Skills

Trauma-informed practices

Case management

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Documentation

Organization

Education

Bachelor's Degree in social work

High school diploma

Tools

FAC client database

Job description

COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS YOUTHRIVE SPECIALIST

Job Category: Children & Youth Programs

Job Status: Part-time, non-exempt

Reports to: Program Manager

Job Summary

The Community Connections YouThrive (CCYT) Specialist provides one-on-one services in the community to young adults, ages 17-26, who are currently or formerly in the foster care system. CCYT Specialist s assist young adults in determining goals for a successful transition from foster care to independent adulthood. Specialists then support young adults in reaching their goals via guidance and connections to community resources. CCYT is a peer-to-peer model and as such, staff must have personally experienced any of the following during their childhood/adolescence: foster care, kinship or relative care, homelessness, or mandated family-centered services. This lived expertise helps Specialists to build trust, credibility, and meaningful connections with the youth we serve.

Responsibilities

• Receive and managereferrals from leadership, deliveringtimelyassistant to support clientswithin program guidelines.
  
• Prioritize and manage multiple cases simultaneously while maintaining frequent, open communication with direct supervisor regarding services delivered, concerns or questions.
• Utilize trauma-informed practices to support and equip youth for adulthood.
• Assist youth in building competencies regarding critical life domains such as housing, education, transportation, employment, health, identity, social connections, and finances via a relational, strengths-based approach.
• Connect youth with community support services to improve their access to various resources includingbasic needs assistance, bill payment support, tutoring resources, recreational activities, scholarships, and other supportive programs.
• Consistently and proactively communicate with clients and conduct bi-weekly meetings in accordance with program guidelines to monitor progress toward goal completion.
• Schedule client visits,complete assessments, andcreate Action Plans, inpartnershipwith the youth while ensuring compliance with program guidelines.
• Collect information from caregivers and case managers to expand the client’s support system and family connections.
• Collect and record all datato complete and maintain up-to-date documentation of clientswithin program guidelines in FAC client database.
• Provide transportation as needed to assist client(s) in achieving identified goals.
• Provide driving lessons to client(s) as requested or needed.
• Develop and maintain relationships with keystakeholdersand community partners to create strong partnerships to enable a continual flow of regularly received referrals. Participate in outreach efforts as assigned. Attend community meetings as needed. Participate as an active team member with all agency departments and attend meetings as assigned.
• Participate inongoing meetings/professional memberships and trainings as required by the Program Manager.
  
• Activelycontribute both independently and as part of a team; participate in team meetings and collaborate with colleagues acrossdepartments.
  

Required Qualifications

• Personal lived experience during childhood or adolescence in any of the following: foster care, informal kinship care, homelessness, and/or mandatory family-centered systems of care services in the home.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Reliable transportation and ability to transport youth if needed.
• Experience working with marginalized communities with an understanding of the barriers that impact underserved communities. Quickly establish rapport and build trust.
• Adaptable and proactive self-starter who effectively multitasks while maintaining strong attention to detail and organization to meet all objectives and deadlines.
• Collaborate effectively within diverse, multidisciplinary teams and demonstrate strong interpersonal skills by adjusting communication approaches to effectively engage clients, families, and colleagues.
• Proven ability to write clearly, concisely, and effectively for a variety of audiences.
• Follow confidentiality guidelines and appropriate handling of sensitive information.
• Model ethical and professional behaviors at all times.
• Maintain flexibility in work schedule, including availability for evenings and weekends as needed.
• Travel required within surrounding counties with or without accommodation.

Preferred Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in social work or in a related human services field.
• Experience working directly with youth aging out of foster care.
• Experience working with marginalized communities with a nuanced understanding of systemic oppressions.
• Experience in completing detailed and timely case documentation and data entry.

Compensation & Benefits

• Hourly rate $21.50/hour; c compensation commensurate with experience.
• Comprehensive benefits package including:
• 403(b) retirement plan with up to a 6% employer match.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Paid time off after 90 days.

FosterAdoptConnect does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its programs or services. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors, and members.

Employee Name Printed: _______________________________

Employee Signature: _______________________________ __ Date: _______________________