Youth Advocate

RIVER OAK CENTER FOR CHILDREN INC•Elk Grove, CA

5d•$27 - $28•Onsite

About The Position

We are looking for an individual who is eager to serve within their community as a Certified Peer Support Coordinator for our Flexible Integrated Treatment (FIT) program. This role is for an advocate for families and youth in foster care, who has personal, lived experience navigating different systems of care such as the foster care system, mental health services, special education, juvenile justice system or CPS. The ideal candidate will use their adverse childhood experiences to help other youth facing similar challenges. Candidates should be between the ages of 21-28 years old and eager to connect with youth to advocate for their needs. At River Oak, equity, diversity, and inclusion are part of our people strategy, reflecting our vision of building an organization that attracts and leverages diversity in our staff and strives for respect and inclusion throughout our workplace and in the communities we serve. The FIT program serves infants, children and youth (ages 0-21) with a team approach to treatment planning, allowing clinicians the flexibility to assess the level and type of services needed. Services are tailored to fit without interruption, and can be provided in the home, school, River Oak clinical sites, or community settings. A wide array of treatment interventions, including multiple evidence-based programs, are used to include individual, family, and group therapy.

Requirements

Must have successfully completed twelfth grade (or the equivalent of completing twelfth grade) PLUS at least one (1) year of responsible work experience.
Must have lived experience or received services from foster care or child welfare services. (Work, professional, or volunteer experience does not qualify as personal, lived experience).
Must have strong communication, networking, and organizational skills.
Proficient with Outlook, Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
Maintain a variety of online recordkeeping and documentation processes and systems, ensuring all relevant confidentiality and privacy requirements are met.

Nice To Haves

Ages 21-28 years old
Personal, lived experience navigating different systems of care such as the foster care system, mental health services, special education, juvenile justice system or CPS.
Culturally diverse and/or bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

Advocate for clients, parents, and family; attend meetings both within and outside the Agency with youth to provide support and inform the youth of their rights and options; explain the applicable systems obligations and empower youth to present their desires and needs in treatment.
Perform home and school visits to build relationships and trust with the youth, empower the youth and family to meet goals and objectives, explain assigned program activities, and review current outcomes and efforts; identify the strengths of the youth and support the youth in identifying focus areas.
Assist in the identification of clients and families’ natural resources, strengths, and needs; assist youth and team in locating and utilizing community, Agency, and other resources; make phone calls, network and research, assist families in determining logistics, scheduling appointments, arranging transportation, and providing other necessary support.
Meet established client service accountability goals; track productivity levels on a consistent basis; self-manage to achieve established client service accountability goals and modify behaviors accordingly.
Attend a variety of meetings, trainings, and seminars, which may include staff and departmental meetings, clinical case meetings, county training sessions and Agency training programs; network with other service providers.
Work effectively and positively in a team environment; establish and maintain effective work relationships with those contacted in the performance of required duties.
Knowledge of pertinent laws, codes, regulations, and guidelines related to the operation and delivery of a variety of client services to individuals and families with particular emphasis on child welfare system, juvenile justice system, IDEA, special education, and child protection services applicable reporting laws and protocols.
Learn and understand Agency's organization, policies, operations and program services.
Learn and apply the terminology, billing system, philosophy and documentation requirements of the Agency and of referring sources.