Field-Based Youth Wellness Advocate

Sycamores; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 29,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

Sycamores in Los Angeles, CA seeks a direct care professional to support diverse youth through behavioral interventions and community-based services.

The role involves frequent travel to client locations and in-home settings, with non-traditional hours to meet family needs. A valid California driver’s license, a reliable vehicle, and insurance are required, with background and health screenings part of the process.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or AA with one year of direct care experience; two years preferred, or a Bachelor's with one year direct care experience.
• Maintains all required licenses and certifications.
• Travel between client locations is regular; driving is essential.

Responsibilities

• Travel locally between client locations and in-home sites.
• Apply knowledge of behavioral interventions to youth with challenging behaviors.
• Work non-traditional hours including weekends, holidays, or evenings as needed.
• Prepare documentation with computer and typing skills.

Skills

Driver's license (California)

Reliable vehicle

Auto insurance

Education

High school diploma

AA degree

Bachelor's degree

Job description

JOB SUMMARY: Sycamores provides a spectrum of equitable mental health services through various programs to multicultural populations of all acuities. Although it serves a variety of consumers, the agency focuses primarily on providing care to low-income, high at- risk youth.

The role of the Community Wellness Specialist is to provide interventions that develop coping and problem solving skills to promote safety and attachment and teach transference of those skills into the home, school, and community. These interventions are provided to maintain youth at home or to transition youth to home and are developed within the child and family team process. Additionally, this is a position that is focused on wellness and building resilience through interventions, linkages, and referrals to appropriate community resources.

Starting Pay Range:

$21 - $25 per hour (starting pay will be based on previous work experience and educational background.)

JOB QUALIFICATIONS

• High school diploma or AA degree with one year of direct care experience required; two years of direct care experience preferred, OR Bachelor’s degree plus one year of direct care experience preferred.
• Maintains all required licenses and certifications.
• As this position requires regular and flexible travel between various client locations, driving is an essential function of this position. Candidate qualifications therefore include:

• Personal, reliable vehicle for travel to various locations.
• Valid California driver’s license.
• Acceptable driving record as determined Agency policy.
• Proof of auto insurance meeting minimum coverage requirements.

Additional Requirements:

• Travel occurs primarily locally during the hours when services need to be provided; some out-of-area and overnight travel may be required in order to meet the needs of the families being served.
• Be part of a team who is passionate about providing excellent and quality services, which consistently results in positive outcomes for the families and children we serve.
• An excellent candidate for this position would be an individual who has knowledge of behavioral interventions and has successfully implemented these interventions with youth who have had severe behaviors (e.g., physical aggression, verbal aggression, and defiance).
• Ability to work a non-traditional work schedule to meet family needs. May include weekends, holidays, early morning, and/or late evening hours.
• Ability to travel and work in the community and in the home environment.
• Have strong computer and typing skills to complete necessary documentation.
• Experience in a Residential Facility, Group Home or Probation is highly desired.
• Knowledge of resources in Service Area a plus.

All candidates who are presented with a conditional offer of employment must satisfy a pre-employment background check, drug, and health screen.

Sycamores is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.

Further, Sycamores is a Fair Chance employer and complies with California Government Code Section 12952, Employment Discrimination: Conviction History.