DCFS and Probation System Liaison | SPA 5

Military, Veterans and Diverse Job Seekers; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

LAHSA seeks a DCFS and Probation System Liaison to support youth exiting foster care and probation camps in securing safe housing. You will use active listening and motivational interviewing to identify housing supports and coordinate with DCFS regional staff and probation officers.

Responsibilities include discharge planning, mediating housing crises, documenting services in HMIS, budgeting with participants, and providing handoffs to ongoing case management.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in sociology or relevant experience in lieu of a degree.
• 1-2 years of experience as a case manager and services to the homeless population.
• 13 years experience working with youth experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
• Knowledge of motivational interviewing, trauma-informed care, and housing first principles.

Responsibilities

• Utilize active listening and MI to identify housing supports for system-involved youth.
• Liaise with DCFS regional staff and CSWs for exited youth.
• Coordinate with Probation Camp staff and deputy officers on housing transitions.
• Participate in discharge/transition planning meetings for youth exiting Foster Care or Probation.
• Deliver field- and place-based supportive services to participants.

Skills

Active listening

Motivational interviewing

Case management

Trauma-informed care

Education

Bachelors in Sociology

Job description

DCFS and Probation System Liaison | SPA 5

About the job DCFS and Probation System Liaison | SPA 5

WHAT YOULL DO:

• Utilize culturally-relevant active listening and motivational interviewing skills with system-involved youth to identify possible supports in their network that can assist them with temporary or permanent housing outside of the YCES.
• Liaise with and provide technical assistance to DCFS regional office staff including childrens social workers (CSW) for youth exiting or exited from DCFS.
• Liaise with, and provide technical assistance to, Probation Camp staff and field deputy probation officers for youth exiting or exited from DCFS.
• Participate in Discharge/Transition planning meetings and related services for youth and young adults exiting Foster Care and/or Probation Camps.
• Identify safety or health issues that may need to be considered during identification of housing.
• Provide mediation between households and property owners/family/friends to assist in resolving housing crisis.
• Deliver both field- and place-based supportive services, as appropriate, to participants
• Acquire resources and make successful referrals, including follow-up to ensure the participant successfully accesses and initially retains housing.
• Ensure services are documented (e.g. face to face, phone and collateral contacts) in the LA CoC homeless management information system (HMIS) in a timely and thorough manner.
• Assist in budgeting with participants, and determine what level of minimal assistance is necessary to be successfully housed or have the housing crisis resolved.
• Facilitate access to YCES for participants, as appropriate, including the completion of the Initial Triage and Initial Assessment phases of system access and assessment.
• For participants gaining entry into YCES, provide a warm handoff to sustained case management services where possible, or provide initial case management for up to 60 days upon the participant gaining YCES access.
• Deliver services based on participant strengths.
• Attend trainings and participate in regular technical assistance such as learning collaboratives.
• Adhere to LAHSA Interim Guidance as pertaining to job responsibilities
• Additional ad-hoc tasks as required
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned to support the mission of the program and organization.

Requirements:

WHAT YOULL NEED:

• Bachelor's degree in sociology or relevant experience in lieu of a degree.
• Minimum of 1-2 years of experience as a case manager and providing services to the homeless populations
• 13 years experience working with youth experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
• Strong commitment to social justice and practice actualizing these values in a working environment.
• Knowledge and experience working with co-occurring populations (chronic health conditions, mental health and substance use).
• Knowledge and experience with motivational interviewing, evidence-based practices, and trauma-informed care, housing first principles and harm reduction.
• Strong understanding of homeless services including CES and HMIS database.
• Strong understanding of LA County foster care and juvenile justice systems, including foster care placement options, participant rights and eligibility, and discharge planning processes.
• Strong belief in growth mindset, self-determination, and psychological resilience
• Compliance with information and security policy and procedures
• Bilingual in Spanish is a plus
• Must have valid CA Drivers License and a clean driving record

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Changes in the environment, such as the office or outdoors.
• Physical effort/lifting, such as sedentary- up to 15-20 pounds at times.