Youth Connections Advocate - NV
About The Position
The Youth Connections Advocate works to find permanent homes for youth in the foster care system, particularly youth who are hardest to place. The role involves learning about assigned youth by reviewing their histories and listening to their needs, then using problem-solving and advocacy to identify past and current connections that can provide stability and support. The advocate builds a network of supportive connections with the ultimate goal of helping children and youth achieve legal permanency. The position implements the Dave Thomas Foundation's Wendy's Wonderful Kids child-focused recruitment model, an evidence-based approach to helping youth achieve permanency. The advocate works closely with community leaders, CASA employees, case workers, attorneys, therapists, youth, judges, and other stakeholders. This is a hybrid position based in Las Vegas. Applicants must live in Las Vegas at the time of employment and be within 45 miles of the Las Vegas office. The role requires up to 50% travel, primarily in-state and occasionally out of state, with most travel by car. Evening flexibility and occasional weekend work are required.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in social work or a related field.
- At least one year of experience working with older youth; qualifications further specify 1–3 years of experience in child welfare or related settings.
- General computer literacy.
- Reliable transportation and eligibility for driver insurance.
- Ability and willingness to travel, with flexibility to work evenings and occasional weekends.
- Demonstrated ability to organize and manage multiple projects.
- Demonstrated ability to cultivate strong working relationships with diverse populations, including public agency staff.
- Willingness to engage in cold calling.
- Excellent customer service skills.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Must reside in Las Vegas at the time of employment and be within 45 miles of the Las Vegas office.
- Submit a cover letter as a serious candidate.
Nice To Haves
- Master's degree in social work or a related field, with preference for child welfare or foster care adoption experience.
- A bachelor's degree in social work or a related human services field and at least two years of adoption experience may substitute for a master's degree.
- Master's degree in social work.
- Bilingual in English and Spanish.
- Previous experience in adoption or child welfare.
- Expertise in providing family support services.
- Knowledge of the impacts of trauma and trauma-informed practices.
- Microsoft Office Suite experience and experience working with databases or data mining.
Responsibilities
- Review the history and needs of youth on an assigned caseload.
- Advocate for youth and use problem-solving to identify past and current connections.
- Build a network of supportive connections to help youth achieve legal permanency.
- Implement the Wendy's Wonderful Kids child-focused recruitment model.
- Cultivate working relationships with diverse populations and public agency staff.
- Organize and manage multiple projects.
- Travel for work, primarily within the state and occasionally out of state.
Benefits
- Four weeks of paid time off.
- 10 or more paid holidays per year.
- Health insurance.
- Dental and vision insurance.
- 100% paid life, long-term disability, and short-term disability insurance.
- Flexible Spending Accounts for healthcare and childcare.
- Health Savings Accounts.
- 401(k) with matching contributions and immediate vesting.
- Flexible work arrangements on a case-by-case basis.
- Employee Assistance Program.
- Discount programs.
- Paid parental leave.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
