Youth Transition and Facilitation Specialist (70480)

Family Support Services•Largo, FL

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Family Support Services (FSS) is seeking a Youth Transition and Facilitation Specialist to support its Independent Living team and help prepare youth in foster care for transition out of the system. The specialist collaborates with foster parents, group home providers, community-based foster care providers, and other community partners. The role ensures youth ages 13–17 receive life-skills assessments and training, connects youth with positive adult mentors, and serves as a contact for supporting mentoring relationships. The specialist schedules and facilitates transition staffings for youth ages 16 and 17, follows up on required tasks, and works with FSS contracted partners to ensure contractual requirements are met on time, particularly independent-living tasks required for the 17.5-year-old judicial review. The position helps eligible youth enroll in the Keys to Independence Program and obtain the documents, information, and connections needed for adulthood. It also connects youth with contracted providers to identify suitable post-18 programs and helps youth who do not qualify for Extended Foster Care (EFC), but wish to enter it, develop a plan to become eligible. The role includes coordinating life-skills programming and community enrichment opportunities, evaluating program effectiveness and resource needs, and developing relationships with local mentoring providers. The position is based at the Family Support Services CMO in Largo, Florida, and is full time.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree; the posting specifies a 4-year degree (BA or BS).
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.
Current Child Welfare/Case Management Certification.
Valid driver’s license.
Competency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Ability to work independently and creatively.
Ability to prepare communications, gather and summarize information, and report as needed.
Ability to make presentations to staff and community groups.
Strong verbal and written communication skills and attention to detail.
Ability to adapt to different environments and collaborate with various levels of management.
Ability to work nights and weekends as needed.
Positive outlook and ability to collaborate or work independently as department needs dictate.
Strong presentation skills, follow-through, time management, and ability to build long-term collaborative relationships internally and externally.
Ability to engage the community for volunteerism and donations; team mentality and affinity for serving vulnerable children in foster care.
Clear a Level II background screening using Live Scan fingerprints, a reference check, a local background check in the county of residence, a substance-abuse screen, and an E-Verify check.
Clear a Motor Vehicles Records check and be insurable under the company automobile policy; provide proof of automobile insurance and, if deemed a driving risk, maintain minimum personal auto liability coverage of $100,000/$300,000.
Provide copies of certifications and degrees before the first day of employment.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Coordinate with contracted providers to facilitate and implement the Statewide Life Skills Program, life-skills assessments, and informal life-skills training.
Assist community-based foster care providers with additional life-skills opportunities and completion of assessments; manage or complete tracking to ensure youth participation.
Coordinate with community partners to provide teen enrichment programs and evaluate program effectiveness, needs, budgets, and return on investment.
Secure volunteers for events when appropriate and needed.
Use FSFN data to identify teens who need transition staffings; schedule and facilitate staffings for youth ages 16 and 17.
Complete and upload the My Pathways to Success Plan into FSFN.
Follow up on outstanding tasks to comply with CFOP and other staffing requirements.
Prepare case information for teens transitioning to secondary case management with a contracted provider, including for 17.5-year-old staffings and Extended Foster Care preparation.
Vet and establish relationships with community mentoring providers and maintain a current list of providers.
Inform case-management partners about mentoring opportunities, facilitate use of mentoring programs, and assess program impact on teens in the system of care.
Connect people interested in mentoring with appropriate community partners.
Help ensure eligible youth are registered in the Keys to Independence Program and have the documents, information, and connections needed for turning 18.
Connect youth with contracted providers and help determine suitable post-18 programs.
Assist youth who wish to enter Extended Foster Care but do not qualify in developing a plan to become eligible.
Perform other duties as requested.