YSIC Homeless Prevention Case Manager (PYET)

YMCA Of Greater Seattle•Seattle, 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 can provide support across homeless prevention programs but will focus on the Prevention Youth Engagement (P-YET). P-YET targets youth who are 11-17 years old and who are experiencing various degrees of instability, such as housing status changes and family crisis situations. The three disciplines leveraged within PYET’s model are: Youth Case Management – Connecting youth to critical services and resources that resolve their immediate housing instability crisis and address social, emotional, and education needs; Legal Advocacy – Helping youth help understand their legal options for safety and access emergency shelter, education, and medical care; and Mental Health Counseling – Providing short-term, mental health counseling and strengths based therapeutic engagement for youth and families. Together, this team uses a trauma-informed and youth-centered approach to assess individual instability factors and provide the resources, support, and advocacy needed to help young people live their healthiest lives and reach their fullest potential in mind, body, and spirit. 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 or related social services 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.
Experience working with teens or young adults in employment, 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.
Basic computer skills and working knowledge of Microsoft Office.
Ability to transport self and client(s) in a safe and effective manner, and to meet clients at community locations; proof of adequate vehicle insurance coverage is required, or ability to travel to areas without public transportation.
Current state approved First Aid and CPR certification.
Current approved HIV blood borne pathogens 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.
Resides in King County.

Responsibilities

Establish trauma-informed, person-centered relationships with young people experiencing various degrees of housing instability and family crisis.
Connect youth to critical services and resources that resolve their immediate housing instability crisis and address social, emotional, and education needs.
Respond to crises, conflicts, and emergencies using trauma-informed de-escalation techniques.
Develop individualized, strengths-based, youth-driven service plans.
Complete check requests and communication with landlords.
Understand contract/grant terms and conditions to ensure program outcome requirements are met and services rendered to young adults appropriately.
Research best practices in field; creates and maintains specialized resource library.
Maintain clear, professional, timely participant contact notes, service plans, progress updates, outcomes, and other documentation in designated databases.
Teach life skills, job readiness, or other subject matter individually and/or in groups, often experientially.
Support participant success in key domains such as safe and stable housing, permanent connections to supportive adults, education and employment, health and well-being, and life skills.
Conduct intakes, assessments, and program orientations for new participants.
Assist participants with housing searches, housing applications, and connections to housing programs.
Coordinate referrals to community partners, healthcare providers, behavioral health services, and employment resources.
Maintain a safe, welcoming, and respectful environment for all participants.
Document participant interactions, incidents, service referrals, and case management activities accurately and timely.
Team effectively and collaboratively with YMCA staff and/or community partners to plan and facilitate activities, including visits to related resources in the community.
Build and maintain collaborative relationships with funding liaisons, other service providers, businesses and/or educational institutions as related to specialized services.
Respond to mobile outreach needs at other community locations and sites throughout King County.
Act 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.
Understand and use best practice philosophies in the field, including trauma-informed care, motivational interviewing, housing first, harm reduction, de-escalation, etc.
Maintain a strong sense of organization in a fast-paced work environment.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Responsible for adhering to abuse prevention policies, maintaining appropriate boundaries, completing required training, reporting suspicious or inappropriate behavior, and complying with mandated reporting requirements.
Responsible for ensuring staff are properly screened, trained, supervised and held accountable to the organization’s abuse risk management standards.