Community Wellness Specialist - Community

Sycamores•Pasadena, CA

About The Position

Sycamores provides equitable mental health services to multicultural populations across a range of needs, with a primary focus on low-income, high-risk youth. The Community Wellness Specialist provides interventions that build coping and problem-solving skills, promote safety and attachment, and help young people apply those skills at home, school, and in the community. Services support youth in remaining at home or transitioning home and are developed through the child and family team process. The position also promotes wellness and resilience through interventions, linkages, and referrals to appropriate community resources. The primary assignment is the Intensive Case Management Services (ICMS) program, serving young adults experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The specialist is also a floater, cross-trained to support other Housing and Homeless Services programs as needed. Duties may include housing navigation and search assistance; landlord and property management coordination; help with housing applications, vouchers, and lease-up; housing stabilization and retention; coordination with public agencies and community partners; and support with benefits, employment, education, and independent living goals. Services are field-based and include home visits and community meetings, with required documentation in systems such as CHAMP or HIMIS. The role requires flexible local travel between client locations using a personal, reliable vehicle, with some out-of-area and overnight travel potentially required. Work may take place in homes and community settings, and the schedule may include weekends, holidays, early mornings, or late evenings to meet family needs. Candidates must satisfy pre-employment background, drug, and health screening requirements following a conditional offer. Sycamores is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Fair Chance employer.

Requirements

High school diploma or associate degree and one year of direct care experience; alternatively, a bachelor's degree plus one year of direct care experience is preferred.
Maintain all required licenses and certifications.
Have a personal, reliable vehicle for travel to client locations.
Hold a valid California driver's license and have an acceptable driving record under Agency policy.
Provide proof of auto insurance meeting minimum coverage requirements.
Be able to work a non-traditional schedule that may include weekends, holidays, early mornings, and/or late evenings.
Be able to travel and work in community and home environments.
Have strong computer and typing skills for required documentation.
Successfully complete required pre-employment background, drug, and health screening after a conditional offer.

Nice To Haves

Two years of direct care experience.
Experience with Intensive Case Management Services (ICMS), housing navigation, homeless services, Housing First programs, transitional age youth (TAY), foster youth services, permanent supportive housing, rapid rehousing, voucher programs, landlord engagement, housing stabilization, or field-based case management.
Experience in a residential facility, group home, or probation setting.
Knowledge of resources in the service area.
Knowledge of behavioral interventions and experience implementing them with youth who have severe behaviors, such as physical aggression, verbal aggression, and defiance.

Responsibilities

Provide interventions that develop coping and problem-solving skills, promote safety and attachment, and help youth apply skills at home, school, and in the community.
Support youth in remaining at home or transitioning home, with interventions developed through the child and family team process.
Promote wellness and resilience through interventions, linkages, and referrals to community resources.
Provide Intensive Case Management Services to young adults experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
Cross-train and provide floater support to other Housing and Homeless Services programs as needed.
Provide housing navigation and housing search assistance.
Engage landlords and coordinate with property management companies.
Assist with housing applications, voucher programs, and lease-up activities.
Provide housing stabilization and retention services to participants in permanent housing.
Coordinate with county agencies, housing authorities, service providers, and community partners.
Support benefits acquisition, employment resources, education navigation, and independent living goals.
Conduct field-based services, including home visits and community-based meetings.
Complete documentation and data entry in required systems, including electronic health records such as CHAMP or HIMIS.