Missing and Anti-Trafficking Youth Specialist

If you are looking for a place where you can make a difference in the life of a child, Project Harmony is looking for you.  We are seeking an experienced and committed MATYS Specialist to join our dynamic and innovative organization.   This position focuses primarily on working with youth and young adults (up to 24 yrs.) who are at high risk of sexual exploitation/trafficking and their caregivers. It requires a victim-centered, trauma-informed approach that includes meeting clients in their home and/or other community locations. It is a unique position, requiring close collaboration with local, state and federal law enforcement and prosecutors, child protection, juvenile justice, mental health providers and other community organizations. This position will provide crisis intervention, safety planning, and other support services to this population of youth, young adults, and their families. It requires extensive engagement with client to build a solid, trusting relationship that can be maintained over a longer period of time due to complexity of trafficking and lengthy investigations and prosecution.

Who We Are

Project Harmony exists to provide effective, immediate and sensitive support to child abuse victims and their non-offending family members.  Project Harmony is committed to a vision with a focus on one goal: ending the cycle of child abuse and neglect.  Project Harmony is one of the largest Child Advocacy Centers in the nation.
 

At Project Harmony, we don’t just accept difference – we celebrate it, we support it and we thrive on it for the benefit of our employees, our clients and our community.  Project Harmony is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer.  We are committed to equal opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national original, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status.

 

Our Values 

Project Harmony and all employees are committed to creating a culture that is focused on:

Diversity and Inclusion:  Respect and embrace diversity and inclusion of all

Strategic Innovation:  Lead the field in response to the evolving needs of children and families

Quality Service:  Ensure consistent, high-quality service with impactful results, to our families, our partner agencies, the community, and each other 

Collaborative Relationships:  Build trusted relationships by leading with honesty, integrity, vulnerability, and humility

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Assist in reviewing all police reports from Omaha Police Department involving missing juveniles to determine program eligibility and acceptance
• Collect information on missing/trafficked youth from child welfare, criminal justice and Project Harmony sites in an effort to coordinate care with child protection, juvenile justice, law enforcement and other community providers serving this population
• Conduct comprehensive client assessments affecting these individuals and family functioning
• Provide comprehensive case management services to high-risk youth and/or youth survivors of human trafficking within their homes and other locations in community
• Provide education and advocacy to reduce barriers or challenges within employment, housing, mental health, physical health and other social service systems
• Collaborate with client to create safety plans, community reintegration plans, and reconnection to family or informal support plans
• Work closely with local, state and/or federal law enforcement agencies throughout trafficking investigation
• Assist clients with victim impact statements, protection orders, and other related legal matters
• Prepare youth to testify and attend court hearings to support them through criminal prosecution of their trafficker. Also, be prepared to provide testimony in criminal court regarding your role/services with the trafficking victim
• Complete all required documentation and follow-up in a timely manner to ensure an effective and coordinated service delivery response
• Collect statistics and implement quality improvement procedures aligned to best practices
• Maintain a comprehensive list of community treatment providers and resources for families. Coordinate referrals with other professionals, organizations and agencies within the community
• Actively participate in consultation, supervision, team meetings and collaboration with other agencies and service providers on behalf of clients
• Co-facilitate psychoeducational groups for high-risk youth and their caregivers
• Ensure culturally competent services are provided to all families we serve without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, socioeconomic status, disability, gender or sexual orientation
• Participate in community engagement and training opportunities in order to educate the community about the Missing and Trafficked Youth Program, dynamics and trends
• Other duties as assigned by the Director of Missing and Anti-Trafficking Youth Services

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree required in Social Work, Counseling, Criminal Justice or related field
• Master's degree preferred

Experience and Training

• Experience working with high-risk youth/young adults and/or youth/young adult survivors of labor and sex exploitation and/or trafficking preferred
• Experience working with the criminal justice and child welfare systems is preferred
• Training in working with children and families impacted by child abuse/neglect
• Training in crisis intervention, case management (both in-home and community-based) and trauma informed care

Knowledge/ Skills/Abilities

• Good working knowledge of community resources and judicial system
• Knowledge and understanding of family violence, sexual exploitation, human trafficking and the dynamics of child abuse and neglect
• Knowledge and understanding of the criminal justice system
• Demonstrate communications skills (written, verbal and active listening)
• Demonstrate understanding of and ability to work with persons of diverse cultural backgrounds
• Demonstrate strong organizational, time management and decision-making skills
• Demonstrate problem solving skills, critical thinking and ability to resolve conflicts
• Knowledge and use of Microsoft Office Products (Word, Outlook, etc.)
• Ability to be flexible, adjust to a quickly changing schedule and handle distractions, interruptions and stressful situations
• High level of professionalism
• Strong engagement skills and ability to maintain trust with clients over extended service delivery period
• Ability to set limits and appropriate boundaries with clients
• High level of initiative and energy
• Must be a self-starter and able to work independently as well as part of a team
• Exceptional work ethic
• Must respect and maintain confidentiality

Other

• Must be willing to work flexible hours and provide on-call coverage nights and weekends on a rotating basis
• Must submit to a thorough criminal history background check
• Must have access to a vehicle, possess a valid driver’s license and proof of insurance
• Position involves some travel, primarily within the state

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed by individuals assigned to this job. They are not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities associated with it.