Youth Advocate

RIVER OAK CENTER FOR CHILDREN INC•Elk Grove, CA

3d•$26 - $27•Onsite

About The Position

We are looking for an individual who is eager to help serve within their community as a Youth Advocate for our Wraparound (WRAP) program located in Elk Grove. This role is for individuals who are interested in being an advocate for a foster child and want to make a difference. The ideal candidate may have personal, lived experience navigating different systems of care such as the foster care system, mental health services, special education, juvenile justice system or CPS, and is between the ages of 21-28 years old and eager to connect with youth to ADVOCATE for their needs. River Oak's High-Fidelity Wraparound (WRAP) program offers a unique, non-traditional team approach to community-based mental health treatment while partnering with youth (ages 0-21) and their families with complex behavioral needs. The Wraparound Care Coordinator will be working as part of a treatment team, providing empathetic, non-judgmental and creative clinical coordination of care to individual youth and their families that are consistent with the mission and values of the Wraparound Process. Wraparound offers a wide array of treatment interventions, including multiple evidence-based programs (DBT, TFCBT, etc.) for individuals, family and groups. Services are offered in home, school, River Oak clinical sites or community settings. WRAP is an intensive child-focused and family-centered approach driven by individualized needs to wrap services around a child, aged 3-18 years, at risk of losing their current placement or in order to return a child or youth from residential care to a family setting. WRAP uses a collaborative team approach to bring a wide array of natural community supports and professional services to allow a family to build on their strengths. The team develops, facilitates and continually evaluates a comprehensive plan of services and resources. Children or youth placed out of county or out of state are successfully reintegrated into a welcoming Sacramento home.

Requirements

Must be 21-28 years of age.
Must have successfully completed twelfth grade (or the equivalent of completing twelfth grade) PLUS at least one (1) year of responsible work experience.
PLUS 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

Eager to help serve within their community.
Interested in being an advocate for a foster child.
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.