Youth Transition and Facilitation Specialist (70480)

Family Support Services•Largo, FL

About The Position

The Youth Transition and Facilitation Specialist supports the Independent Living team by working with foster parents, group home providers, foster care services providers (CMOs), and community partners to prepare youth for transition out of the system of care. The role ensures that youth ages 13–17 receive life skills assessments and training, connects youth with positive adults and mentoring relationships, and schedules and facilitates transition staffings for youth ages 16 and 17. The Specialist works with contracted partners to meet contractual requirements, with particular focus on independent living tasks required for the 17.5 Judicial Review. The position also ensures eligible youth are registered in the Keys to Independence Program and are prepared for turning 18, and connects youth with contracted providers to help identify appropriate post-18 programs. For youth who wish to enter Extended Foster Care (EFC) but do not yet qualify, the Specialist assists with developing a plan to become eligible. The position coordinates life skills programs, assessments, and training; organizes teen enrichment opportunities; evaluates program effectiveness, needs, budgets, and return on investment; and may secure volunteers for events. It uses FSFN data to identify youth needing transition staffings, completes and uploads My Pathways to Success Plans, follows up on required tasks, and prepares case information for youth transitioning to secondary case management. The Specialist also develops and maintains relationships with mentoring providers, informs case management partners about mentoring opportunities, supports use of mentoring programs, and connects prospective mentors with appropriate community partners.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
At least 3 years of experience in one or more of the following: community engagement, program management, volunteer management, event coordination, or youth/teen engagement.
Competency in MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Ability to work independently and creatively.
Ability to prepare a variety of communications.
Ability to gather, summarize, and report varied information.
Ability to make presentations to staff and community groups.
Exceptional verbal and written communication skills and attention to detail.
Adaptability to different environments and ability to collaborate with various levels of management.
Positive outlook and ability to alternate between collaboration and independent work as departmental needs dictate.
Strong presentation skills, follow-up, and follow-through.
Ability to build long-term collaborative relationships internally and externally.
Ability to engage the community for volunteerism and donations.
Strong time management.
Team mentality and affinity for the vulnerable children served in foster care.
Ability to work nights and weekends as needed.
Clear a Level II background screening (Live Scan), reference check, local county background check, substance abuse screen, and Motor Vehicles Records check; be insurable under the company’s automobile policy.
Provide a copy of automobile insurance and, if deemed to be a driving risk, maintain minimum personal auto liability insurance of $100,000/$300,000.
Provide copies of certifications and degrees before the first day of employment.
Clear an E-Verify check to substantiate authorization to work in the United States.
Valid driver’s license.
Current Child Welfare/Case Management Certification.

Nice To Haves

Child welfare adoption experience preferred.
Knowledge of community and/or nonprofit administration, mentor program relationships, and training/public speaking preferred.

Responsibilities

Coordinate with contracted providers to facilitate and implement the Statewide Life Skills Program, life skills assessments, and informal life skills training.
Assist CMOs with providing additional life skills opportunities and completing life skills assessments.
Manage or complete tracking of life skills assessments and training to ensure youth participation.
Coordinate with community partners to provide teen enrichment programs.
Evaluate teen enrichment programs for effectiveness, need, budgets, and return on investment; secure volunteers as appropriate and needed for events.
Use FSFN data to identify teens who need transition staffings and schedule and facilitate staffings for youth ages 16 and 17.
Complete and upload the My Pathways to Success Plan into FSFN.
Follow up on tasks needed to comply with CFOP and other requirements for all staffings.
Prepare case information for teens transitioning to secondary case management with a contracted provider, including preparation for 17.5-year-old staffings and Extended Foster Care.
Vet and establish relationships with mentoring providers in the community and maintain a current list of providers.
Ensure case management partners know about mentoring opportunities and facilitate use of mentoring programs.
Support assessment of mentoring program impacts on teens in the system of care.
Connect people interested in mentoring with the appropriate community partner.
Perform other duties as requested.