PAL Specialist

Depelchin-Children; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Texans Together in the Houston region seeks a PAL Specialist to support youth preparing for adulthood. You will deliver hope-centered life-skills development and transition planning, partnering with youth, caregivers, schools, employers, housing providers, and community partners to promote self-sufficiency and well-being.

The role emphasizes trauma-informed, youth-centered practice, with responsibilities including coaching, documentation, and coordinating PAL activities across multiple regions.

Qualifications

• 2+ years’ experience working with youth or young adults in human services.
• 2+ years’ experience in child welfare, foster care, kinship care, or related fields.

Responsibilities

• Provide PAL services to eligible youth and young adults.
• Engage youth in identifying goals related to education, career, housing, and wellbeing.
• Deliver life-skills training, coaching, and individualized support.
• Assist youth in developing transition plans with resources and action steps.
• Coordinate youth conferences, workshops, and PAL activities.
• Maintain timely documentation of services, progress, and outcomes.

Skills

Youth engagement

Coaching/mentoring

Communication

Documentation

Team collaboration

Tools

IMPACT

Microsoft Office

Electronic documentation systems

Job description

Position: PAL Specialist

Comparable DFPS Position: PAL Specialist

Classification: Full-time, Non-exempt

Reports to: PAL Supervisor

Company: Texans Together

Location: Regions 6a and/or 6b (Specific work locations will be assigned and communicated as staffing plans are finalized)

The Preparation for Adult Living (PAL) Specialist provides hope-centered services, life-skills development, and transition support to youth and young adults preparing for adulthood and independent living. The PAL Specialist partners with youth to identify strengths, establish meaningful goals, build practical pathways to success, and strengthen the confidence and skills necessary to thrive beyond foster care. Utilizing a youth-centered, trauma-informed, and strengths-based approach, the PAL Specialist assists youth and young adults in developing the knowledge, resources, relationships, and life skills necessary to achieve self-sufficiency and long-term well-being. The position collaborates with caregivers, TTG staff, providers, educational institutions, employers, housing resources, and community partners to connect youth to opportunities that promote successful adulthood and lifelong supportive connections.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Provides PAL services to eligible youth and young adults in accordance with program requirements and established timelines.
• Engages youth and young adults in identifying personal strengths, goals, interests, and aspirations related to education, career development, housing, financial stability, health, and supportive relationships.
• Delivers life-skills training, coaching, and individualized support that promotes independence, self-advocacy, decision-making, and personal responsibility.
• Assists youth in developing transition plans that identify goals, resources, support systems, and action steps necessary for successful adulthood.
• Promotes youth voice, choice, and active participation in service planning and decision-making.
• Provides information and guidance regarding post-secondary education, workforce development, vocational training, scholarships, financial aid, employment opportunities, and career readiness.
• Assists youth in developing essential life skills, including budgeting, financial literacy, housing readiness, transportation planning, healthcare management, communication, and conflict resolution.
• Connects youth and young adults to available PAL resources, community programs, benefits, housing assistance, mentoring opportunities, and supportive services.
• Builds relationships with employers, educational institutions, housing providers, community organizations, and other stakeholders to increase opportunities for youth and young adults.
• Coordinates and facilitates youth conferences, workshops, experiential learning opportunities, and other PAL activities that promote growth, connection, leadership, and independence.
• Encourages the development of healthy relationships, lifelong connections, and supportive adult networks that foster belonging and resilience.
• Collaborates with caseworkers, caregivers, providers, educators, and community partners to support youth goals and address barriers impacting successful transitions to adulthood.
• Helps youth identify and overcome barriers related to education, employment, housing, transportation, financial stability, and access to resources.
• Maintains timely, accurate, and complete documentation of services, contacts, assessments, referrals, progress, and outcomes.
• Tracks youth participation, progress, and service outcomes to support program effectiveness and continuous improvement.

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum two (2) years’ experience working with youth, young adults, child welfare, foster care, independent living services, education, workforce development, case management, or a related human services field.
• Minimum two (2) years’ experience in child welfare, foster care, kinship care, family preservation, family support services, case management, or a related human services field.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience providing life-skills training, youth engagement, mentoring, or transition services.
• Experience working with adolescents and young adults from diverse backgrounds.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of adolescent development, positive youth development, and transition-age youth services.
• Knowledge of Preparation for Adult Living (PAL) services, independent living principles, and youth transition planning.
• Knowledge of educational, vocational, housing, employment, financial, healthcare, and community resources available to youth and young adults.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed, culturally responsive, youth-centered, and hope-centered practices.
• Willingness to learn the Science of Hope and its application to youth development and independent living services.
• Skill in engaging, motivating, mentoring, and coaching youth and young adults.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Skill in facilitating life-skills training, workshops, and group activities.
• Skill in problem-solving, resource coordination, and relationship building.
• Ability to help youth identify goals, develop realistic pathways, and strengthen confidence in their ability to achieve success.
• Ability to advocate for youth needs and connect youth to resources and opportunities.
• Ability to work effectively with youth, caregivers, providers, employers, educators, and community stakeholders.
• Ability to maintain accurate documentation, organize work effectively, and meet established deadlines.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound professional judgment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, IMPACT, and electronic documentation systems.

Work Conditions:

• Environment: Office-based
• Conditions: Frequent interaction with children, families, stakeholders, providers, and governmental agencies. Work may involve emotionally challenging, crisis-oriented, or high-stress situations.
• Schedule: Mon – Fri, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Occasional evening, weekend, and after-hours responsibilities may be necessary to meet operational needs.
• Travel: Frequent – Travel across Harris County and the 12- county service region. Reliable transportation required.

DePelchin is Proud to be an Equal Opportunity Workplace.

DePelchin is committed to selecting and employing the best and most qualified person available for each job opening without unlawful discrimination of any kind. Additionally, DePelchin is committed to providing a work environment free of discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation and gender identity), marital or parental status, veteran status, religion, national origin, age, disability, family medical history, genetic information, or political affiliation.