Youth Advocate, IMP

St. Charles Inc•West Allis, WI

About The Position

The Youth Advocate works with a designated caseload of youth on court orders to help them successfully complete their court stipulations and build skills to avoid future involvement with the juvenile justice system. Youth advocates will focus on building therapeutic relationships with youth and families on their caseload and layer in supports needed for success. Provides individual case management, supervision, and supportive services in the community, to a caseload of youth and families, in the Intensive Monitoring Program (IMP). Records all interactions in appropriate system(s) and work youth and their family to ensure compliance with youths’ supervision agreement.

Requirements

High School Diploma. Associate or Bachelor degree preferred.
One to two years’ experience with programs that serve a delinquent or at-risk youth population.
Must have valid Wisconsin driver’s license, liability insurance, and meet company’s driving policy and expectations.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Ability to display cultural competence and sensitivity to the populations we service by responding respectfully and effectively to people of all cultures, socioeconomic characteristics, languages, classes, races, ethnic backgrounds, religions, and other diversity factors.
Knowledge base of adolescent and family issues and dynamics.
Appreciation for cultural and socioeconomic dynamics.
Ability to accurately perform record keeping and documentation entries.
Ability to perform computer tasks using MS Windows applications, agency data base systems, etc.

Nice To Haves

Associate or Bachelor degree

Responsibilities

Complete daily in-person check-ins and document in appropriate system(s) per contract requirements.
Visit client schools daily to check on progress/attendance.
Interact with school staff to monitor daily school attendance, address school behavior and the performance of each youth to improve the youth’s functioning and behavior.
Complete weekly and family session(s) and provide support to assigned youth and their family; make referrals to other County Programs as needed.
Travel (Milwaukee County) 80% of time with flexible non-routine tracks to ensure youth’s full compliance with the court’s orders and curfews.
Commit to work with any youth and family that is referred for the duration of their involvement in the program; acknowledge and emphasize the youth and family’s strengths, culture, and community.
Collaboratively create client schedule and communicate schedule with entire team
Support the family decision-making process to empower the youth and the family to avoid further law violations or continued involvement in the Juvenile Justice System.
Prepare all documentation according to the program’s designated time frames.
Present required reports to contracting entities including court officials.
Coordinate and complete assigned tracking/documentation per program expectations and requirements, as well as ensuring mandatory counseling hours and recreation are provided to each youth on caseload.
Ability to facilitate, counsel and supervise youth and family group sessions.
Adheres to St. Charles Youth & Family Services Policies and Procedures
Other duties as assigned.