Practice Development Specialist

First Place for Youth•Los Angeles, CA

About The Position

About First Place for Youth, we’re a leading non-profit organization dedicated to supporting foster youth in their transition to adulthood, with a focus on education, employment, and housing. We believe that all young people deserve the opportunity to thrive and lead successful, independent lives. Our comprehensive programs empower foster youth to overcome the unique challenges they face and build the skills, confidence, and connections they need to succeed. POSITION OVERVIEW: Practice Development Specialist plays a vital role in strengthening the skills and knowledge of program staff through comprehensive training, coaching, and support. This position is responsible for managing First Place’s Learning Management Systems, collaborating on the development and implementation of training calendars, and delivering evidence-based training across the organization. Leveraging proven frameworks and strategies, the Practice Development Specialist (Training and Coaching) supports the implementation of evidence-informed practices and policies aimed at improving outcomes for transition-age youth. A key focus of this role is fostering a thriving coaching culture and building a strong sense of community within First Place for Youth. The Practice Development Specialist (Training and Coaching) ensures that all programs, practices, documentation, and implementation align with First Place’s mission and vision, reflecting the strengths, values, and needs of both the staff delivering services and the youth served. This position involves close collaboration with youth, direct service staff, program leadership, and other key stakeholders, including national sites. By equipping staff with the tools and skills needed to deliver high-quality, impactful services, the Training and Practice Development Specialist enhances the overall effectiveness of First Place’s programs and empowers teams to make a lasting difference in the lives of the young people we serve.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Psychology, or any other practice-related field;
A minimum of 4-7 years of pertinent experience in training and coaching is required. This experience should reflect a solid ability to design and implement effective training programs, as well as to provide guidance and support to individuals or teams in their professional development.
A strong dedication to cultural competency that creates conditions that remove barriers
Strong communication skills are required for this position, both in written and verbal form. Communication skills will also be a necessity in enabling efficient and effective cross-functional/collaborative communication and the proper execution of training programs in departments across the organization and among Affiliate partners.
Proficient in the use of MS Word, MS Excel, and PowerPoint, necessary for the creation of visually and verbally engaging training materials and reports. Experience using Learning Management Systems is strongly preferred.
Two (2) years of experience working with vulnerable populations, preferably transition age youth. Understanding social service systems, with particular emphasis on the foster care system and services for young adults and young parents. Experience with current or former foster youth or with education, employment, or housing programs preferred. At least one year of direct service, residential, or wraparound experience preferred.
Concentrates efforts on training and development priorities, monthly documentation deadlines, co-learning space cadences, and practice review in support of ongoing practice improvement, skill development, and excellent service delivery.
Candidate for this position must have the ability to be flexible and welcoming to change, have the ability to work independently with minimal supervision, and be self-motivated. They must be a prompt decision maker, a strategic and creative thinker, and have excellent problem-solving skills. They should be approachable with a collaborative mindset, as well as capable of building trust quickly across a variety of stakeholders.
Availability for occasional evening and weekend work and some travel as needed.

Responsibilities

Manage and maintain the Learning Management System (LMS) to ensure a seamless learning experience for all users, including maintaining curriculum updates, and tracking attendance, progress, and performance metrics.
Investigate and resolve any issues related to accessing the LMS. This may involve checking user credentials, verifying internet connectivity, and ensuring that all system requirements are met. Additionally, consider reviewing any error messages that may appear and consult with technical support if necessary.
Coordinate logistics for training events, including scheduling, venue selection, and participant communication, in collaboration with external trainers.
Onboard and train all new hires on the My First Place Model, ensuring that every staff member completes their training, including field shadowing, before taking on their caseload.
Create Monthly New Hire Reports for Program Leadership to ensure fidelity to the training Guidelines for First Place for Youth.
Facilitate and deliver evidence-based training sessions across the agency, to equip staff with the knowledge and skills needed to advance our mission.
Assist the Director in managing the Internal Trainers Program by providing resources, guidance, and coaching to enhance the skills and effectiveness of internal trainers.
Ensure that external programs have full access to the First Place Youth Training Calendar, which details upcoming training sessions, workshops, and events. Additionally, facilitate and encourage external staff participation by providing the resources and guidance for effective engagement.
Collaborate with the Director of Practice Development to develop and implement the Required Community Care Licensing Annual Training Calendar, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and addressing all training needs.
Identify and support the integration of evidence-based practices to enhance the skills of direct care staff, empowering them to support transition age youth to achieve self-sufficiency.
Implement effective coaching practices such as peer learning (Community of Practice), modeling, observation, and constructive feedback to foster a thriving coaching culture.
Build strength-based, trust-driven relationships with direct service staff to create a supportive and collaborative work environment.
Contribute to national expansion efforts by supporting external partners' participation in First Place for Youth training offerings, and community practice spaces.
Support the Director of Practice Development with the Title-IV-E invoicing process, ensuring timely and accurate submissions to support funding aligned with training initiatives.
Oversee and Maintain Practice Development Help Tickets efficiently, addressing inquiries and support needs related to training and development.
Other duties may be assigned.

Benefits

15 days of vacation time in the first year
12 days of sick time
2 floating holidays
15 paid holidays
Employee’s choice of Kaiser or UCH HMO/PPO with up to 90% of the premium covered by First Place on certain plans
Principal dental and vision coverage with up to 90% of the premium covered by First Place
Paid baby bonding leave
Healthcare and Dependent care FSA plans
Principal basic life and voluntary life insurance coverage
Employee Assistance Program
401(k) retirement savings plan
Paid sabbatical
Paid maternity and paternity leave