Homeless Prevention Case Manager Lead (SRI)

YMCA Of Greater Seattle•Auburn, WA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Homeless Prevention Services Department consists of several programs developed to provide multi-disciplinary responses to youth who are currently experiencing or at imminent risk of homelessness. Prevention services are designed to intervene early with young people and their families to reduce the risk of homelessness and strengthen housing stability before a housing crisis occurs. Youth and families will collaboratively develop and regularly convene to identify risks, strengths, and concrete steps to prevent homelessness. This Homeless Prevention Case Manager Leadership position can provide support across prevention programs but will focus on The Stability and Reintegration Initiative (SRI). SRI is a collaborative prevention program developed through a partnership between the King County Juvenile Court, the YMCA of Greater Seattle (YSIC), and Building Changes, funded by the Washington Youth & Families Fund. This program aims to prevent homelessness among young people exiting detention facilities by supporting their transition into safe and stable housing and providing opportunity pathways. This position focuses on supporting the discharge planning and transition of transition-age youth (16 to 21 years old), particularly BIPOC and LGBTQ2+ individuals. It emphasizes a diversion-like approach to identify temporary or permanent housing options within 90 days of release. These efforts aim to enhance the transition to safe housing and provide ongoing support for young people as they reintegrate into their communities. This position is at the Social Impact Center Y, the social services branch of YMCA of Greater Seattle (YGS). The mission of the Social Impact Center Y is to accelerate young people’s ability to build safe, successful, and happy lives. Every year, we serve 5,000 children, youth, young adults, and families across King County with programs that aim to strengthen young people’s ability to develop to their fullest potential through four strategies: reducing risk factors; navigating systems towards successful life transition; ensuring stability, safety and wellness in times of crisis; and building competencies and social capital. The Social Impact Center Y’s programs include housing, behavioral health, foster care licensing, violence prevention, education, and employment. Many of the young people we serve have had involvement in the foster care, criminal justice system, and/or homelessness systems.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work, administration or related field or equivalent experience, Masters preferred. Other applicable education, training, and experience, which provide the knowledge, abilities, and skills necessary to perform effectively in the position will be considered.
Minimum three years of experience working with teens or young adults in foster care, group care, housing, education, juvenile justice, anti-poverty, vocational support, mental health, chemical dependency and/or homelessness fields.
Ability to teach effective independence skills for a variety of learning styles and to plan supportive activities.
Strong youth engagement and relationship-building skills.
Strong verbal and written communication skills, including skills in coaching and giving/receiving feedback.
Strong organizational skills.
Basic computer skills and working knowledge of Microsoft Office.
Current state approved First Aid and CPR certification.
Current approved HIV blood borne pathogens training.
Some Case Manager positions required Bachelor's degree or higher.
Within 30 days of employment or first available training.

Nice To Haves

Prefer knowledge of and previous experience with, diverse populations (language, culture, race, physical ability, sexual orientation, etc.). Ability to speak any language in addition to English may be helpful.
Master’s degree in social work, social services, or a closely related field. Other applicable education, training, and experience, which provide the knowledge, abilities, and skills necessary to perform effectively in the position will be considered.
Life experience with poverty, child welfare, homelessness, behavioral health, or youth violence and a desire to use that experience to improve the lives of others.
Ability to speak any language in addition to English.
Minimum one year of experience supervising employees or full-time interns, volunteers or national service members (AmeriCorps, etc.).

Responsibilities

Provides program coordination to one or more program areas, ensuring staff coverage, support for staff and participants and other operational activities as assigned.
Program development and implementation with King County Juvenile Court.
Coaches staff in program areas to ensure highest level of service.
Supports program director(s) in ensuring high-quality service delivery, contract compliance, and outcome achievement; must understand contract/grant terms and conditions.
Participate in King County or Auburn On Call Rotation once every 4-6 weeks.
Supervision of year-round employees and volunteers.
Collaborate with detention staff to establish a referral relationship, ensuring a multi-disciplinary approach that minimizes the duplication of services and streamlines support for young people facing imminent housing instability upon exit.
Be present at the detention center 3-5 days a week.
Apply a diversion-like, creative problem-solving approach to support young people in identifying permanent or temporary housing options within 90 days of their exit.
Create and facilitate a course that focuses on building life skills, enhancing social-emotional skills, and securing and/or maintaining housing once released.
Establish trauma-informed, person-centered relationships with young people in detention through regular check-ins.
Track and support the exit planning and discharge processes overseen by the detention facility of young people on the caseload, and collaborate with individual young people to build safety and stability plans upon exit.
Develop and apply an approach toward modeling and coaching key social-emotional skills, and integrate the approach into transition planning and case management.
Ensure non-disruption of academic progress of young people on the caseload through connections to local community reengagement/Open Doors schools or other post-secondary opportunities.
Acts as a systems connector to support youth in achieving their goals and reducing barriers in education, employment/career development, safe and stable housing, permanent connections to supportive adults, health and well-being, mental health support, and life skills.
Use critical thinking skills and provide solution-focused navigation for complex needs among youth in detention.
Build strong relationships with Y program participants to effectively provide quality services.
Understands contract/grant terms and conditions to ensure program outcome requirements are met and services rendered to young adults appropriately.
Understands and uses best practice philosophies in the field, including trauma-informed care, motivational interviewing, housing first, harm reduction, de-escalation, etc.
Maintains clear, professional, timely participant contact notes, service plans, progress updates, outcomes, and other documentation in designated databases.
Maintain strong sense of organization in fast paced work environment.
Responsible for ensuring staff are properly screened, trained, supervised and held accountable to the organization’s abuse risk management standards.