Youth Advocate

First Place for Youth•Los Angeles, CA

5h•$26 - $35

About The Position

The Youth Advocate provides case management, psychosocial assessment, and development and implementation of intervention strategies for foster youth transitioning to adulthood. The role provides clinical leadership to a multidisciplinary team and coaching to help youth achieve housing stability, sustainable employment, and educational achievement. The Youth Advocate develops and implements an individualized, strengths-based, culturally competent, youth-centered approach, motivating and mentoring young adults as they work toward their goals and independent adult lives. The position combines onsite and community-based work Monday through Friday. Responsibilities include direct youth support and intervention, case management and coordination, crisis response, collaboration with community providers and natural supporters, and documentation and administrative work. The role participates in rotating on-call coverage and may involve occasional evening and weekend work and travel as needed.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, counseling, or equivalent.
At least four years of experience working in a child welfare social service setting or with transition-age youth with complex presentations, including chronic trauma.
Strong dedication to cultural competency that creates conditions to remove barriers and increase a sense of belonging.
Comfort working in community settings.
Ability to work collaboratively and independently.
Ability to pass a Community Care Licensing background check.
A car, valid California driver’s license, and auto insurance.
Attention to detail and ability to produce polished, clear documentation and products and maintain an organized, up-to-date database.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Project, and Outlook, and experience with database systems.
Availability for occasional evening and weekend work and some travel as needed.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in social work, psychology, counseling, or equivalent.
Professional license.

Responsibilities

Provide individual counseling, crisis intervention, referrals, advocacy, and life skills training to youth.
Conduct mandatory in-residence visits as outlined in program guidelines.
Develop a partnership strategy with each youth.
Gather and analyze ongoing information to monitor youth safety, well-being, and progress.
Provide clinical leadership to multidisciplinary teams involving youth, family and natural supporters, county case managers, Employment and Education Specialists, Housing Specialists, and Intake Specialists.
Organize, schedule, and facilitate youth and team meetings.
Assess youth well-being on an ongoing basis and develop plans to ensure safety and de-escalate crises as needed.
Provide direct support, coaching, mentoring, and interventions to increase youth self-sufficiency and goal attainment.
Participate in rotating on-call coverage and provide crisis counseling as needed.
Collaborate with community providers, including county workers, courts, professionals, vocational and independent living skills programs, schools, family members, and significant others.
Keep key team members informed and work with them to identify and engage appropriate natural supporters.
Complete documentation, including care and services plans, needs assessments, and progress notes.
Ensure required paperwork and client consents are completed at entry.
Participate in agency committees as assigned.
Provide ongoing orientation and training to staff as assigned.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

15 days of vacation time in the first year
12 days of sick time
2 floating holidays
15 paid holidays
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
Healthcare and dependent care FSA plans
Principal basic life and voluntary life insurance coverage
Employee Assistance Program
401(k) retirement savings plan
Paid sabbatical