Youth Advocate

HopeWell Inc.•Boston, MA

148d•$58,000 - $73,000•Hybrid

About The Position

HopeWell supports transition age youth with child welfare involvement in a variety of community-based environments as they work towards their goals around healthy living, housing stability, sustainable employment, and educational achievement. HopeWell offers a continuum of transition age youth services that offer community-based case management and individualized education and employment support. Through My First Place™, youth ages 18 and older receive these services while residing in stable, safe and affordable housing provided by HopeWell. My Next Step is for youth ages 16 and older who are typically living in foster care, with extended family, or independently in the community. And for youth who have exited the child welfare system and obtained an FYI voucher through their local Public Housing Authority, we also help them find housing that will accept their voucher.

Requirements

Master’s degree in social work, mental health counseling, or related field preferred.
Experience working with transition age youth with complex presentations, including chronic trauma, preferred.
Must be comfortable working in community settings.
High level of personal accountability for the quality and impact of work and demonstrated ability to effectively organize, plan, and prioritize work.
Effective risk management and sound judgement in the face of complex challenges, including seeking assistance when necessary.
Strong reading and writing skills and a high degree of effective oral and written communications skills.
A high level of professionalism in work and interpersonal interactions with both internal and external contacts.
Demonstrated understanding of and competence in serving BIPOC and LGBTQ+ identifying youth.
Demonstrated flexibility and collaborative spirit; thoughtful, curious, and open-minded approach to learning, growth, and change.
Computer skills sufficient to perform essential functions.
This role involves some home-based and community-based work, some office-based work, and some remote opportunities. During home and community visits there are possible environmental exposures, including pets.
Daily access to an automobile is required.
Driving is required in and out of the catchment area and includes some transporting of youth.
A valid MA State Driver’s License.
Clearing of background checks as required by state and federal law.
Remain current in all required training.

Nice To Haves

We strongly encourage candidates with lived experience with the foster care system to apply.

Responsibilities

Develop a partnership strategy with each youth. Provide direct support, coaching, mentoring, and intervention to increase youth self-sufficiency and goal attainment.
Provide youth with individual counseling, crisis intervention, referrals, advocacy and life skills training, as well as crisis counseling as needed.
Provide on-going assessment of youth well-being and develop plans to ensure safety and de-escalate crisis as needed.
Provide clinical leadership to multi-disciplinary teams consisting of youth, family and other natural supporters, social workers, Employment and Education Specialists, and Housing Specialists to ensure seamless and effective service delivery. Ensure continuous information sharing and communication.
Collaborate with community providers including but not limited to social workers, courts, professionals, vocational and independent living skills programs, schools, universities, family members and significant others.
Complete documentation including but not limited to intake paperwork and consents, Care and Services plans, needs assessments, and progress notes.
Participate on a rotating basis to provide on-call coverage.
Actively participate in program and agency internal (e.g. collaborating with colleagues, staff meetings, town halls) and external meetings (e.g. collaborating with other providers, DCF) both in person and virtually as assigned.
Other duties as assigned. HopeWell's service continuum is evolving, and as such, the roles and responsibilities of various team members will likely adapt and change over time to most comprehensively and effectively meet youth needs.

Benefits

Generous Hiring Bonus
Generous bilingual bonus to new hires who speak a second language that meet the needs of our families (other than English) – up to $3,500
Access to our excellent BCBS medical benefits
Retirement benefits including 401K match up to 6%
Generous paid time off up; up to 5 weeks off; 2 floating holidays, 2 personal days, 14 paid holidays, up to 15 sick days
Professional development opportunities such as tuition reimbursement up to $3,000 per year and discounted tuition rates to select partnership colleges and universities!
Additional funds for training and development.
Reimbursement is available for employees to cover the registration costs and annual fees for any professional license required for work! As well as bonuses for licensure attainment
Wellness benefits including access to employee resource groups, discounted gym memberships, and an Employee Assistance Program.
Student Loan Pay-Down Program
Licensure supervision