Runaway and Homeless Caseworker

Youth-Service-Bureau-of-Illinois-Valle; Ottawa (IL); On-site; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Youth Service Bureau of Illinois Valley seeks a dedicated outreach professional to carry a caseload of youth ages 11-17 and their families, delivering direct service under prescribed guidelines and developing collaborative service plans.

This role emphasizes advocacy, counseling, crisis response, coordination with community resources, and diligent documentation to support positive outcomes and permanency goals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in behavioral or social sciences.
• Demonstrated interest and ability to understand the general problems and needs of youth ages 11-17 and their families.
• Sensitivity and responsiveness to the cultural differences of individuals and families in groups outside one's own culture.

Responsibilities

• Accepts clients from Director of Outreach Services and begins services within prescribed guidelines.
• Completes an assessment on clients assigned by the Director of Outreach Services.
• Develops a service plan outlining services with the client and family.
• Insures all necessary documentation is properly signed and in the client file.
• Maintains regular contact with youth and families to provide advocacy/counseling/shelter care services.
• Obtains proper releases and consents, and safeguards the confidentiality of all records.
• Participates in all inter-agency staffings of clients.
• Refers to other community resources and specialized services as appropriate.
• Coordinates cases with other community resources and specialized services.
• Handles day time crisis cases which can not be handled by the crisis intervention worker.
• Provides support and assistance to foster parents when youth are placed in emergency shelter care.
• Meets or exceeds agency standards of consistent contact with youth and parent/family (2 or more contacts per month with youth; 2 or more contacts per month with parent/family), with each contact being a minimum of 30 minutes.
• Ensures 70% of clients met functioning goal, 90% of clients met permanency goal, and 90% of clients met safety goal.
• Provides 125 hours of direct service a month.
• Provides 25 hours of parent/family counseling a month.

Skills

Understanding

Flexible

Cultural sensitivity

Approachable

Organized

Self-starter

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in behavioral or social sciences

Job description

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in behavioral or social sciences.
• Demonstrated interest and ability to understand the general problems and needs of youth ages 11-17 and their families.
• Sensitivity and responsiveness to the cultural differences of individuals and families in groups outside one's own culture.

Reports To

Director of Outreach Services

Summary

Carries a caseload of clients and provides direct service. Follows a service plan.

Direct Service Duties to Youth and Families

• Accepts clients from Director of Outreach Services and begins services within prescribed guidelines.
• Completes an assessment on clients assigned by the Director of Outreach Services.
• Develops a service plan outlining services with the client and family.
• Insures all necessary documentation is properly signed and in the client file.
• Maintains regular contact with youth and families to provide advocacy/counseling/shelter care services.
• Obtains proper releases and consents, and safeguards the confidentiality of all records.
• Participates in all inter-agency staffings of clients.
• Refers to other community resources and specialized services as appropriate.
• Coordinates cases with other community resources and specialized services.
• Handles day time crisis cases which can not be handled by the crisis intervention worker.
• Provides support and assistance to foster parents when youth are placed in emergency shelter care.
• Meets or exceeds agency standards of consistent contact with youth and parent/family (2 or more contacts per month with youth; 2 or more contacts per month with parent/family), with each contact being a minimum of 30 minutes.
• Ensures 70% of clients met functioning goal, 90% of clients met permanency goal, and 90% of clients met safety goal.
• Provides 125 hours of direct service a month.
• Provides 25 hours of parent/family counseling a month.

Support Services

• Develops a working knowledge of, and establishes and cultivates cooperative professional relationships with, community resources, allied agencies, and referral sources.
• Participates in all YSB staffings and team meetings.
• Maintains on-going case file for each youth which is up to date and documents all contacts.

Other Duties

• Reports itinerary on a daily basis.
• Completes day (time) sheets on a weekly basis.
• Attends all staff meetings and training sessions.
• Participates in annual evaluation.
• Represents the YSB at local community events as directed.
• Completes case notes in files, as well as monthly, court, and other reports as required.
• Actively participates in YSBIV's continuous Quality Improvement program.
• Participates in client focus groups quarterly.

Core Competencies

• Understanding
• Flexible
• Sensitivity to all cultures
• Approachable
• Organized
• Self starter
• Communication

Youth Service Bureau of Illinois Valley believes that all people deserve inclusivity, fairness, and justice. We believe that both the success of our team and the wellness of our community is strongest by recognizing the qualities that make each person unique, including race, gender, age, sexuality, ability, religion, national origin, gender identity and other identities. The YSB team values and respects each other and our community as we proudly serve.