Youth Progress is seeking an experienced, collaborative, and culturally-responsive Youth Advocate (also called Case Manager) to join our team. Youth Advocates build trust and develop strong rapport with young people while providing “Behavior Rehabilitation Services” to youth in Youth Progress’ Proctor Foster Homes. Youth Advocates balance time between goal setting, providing direct services, coordinating support, and accessing community resources and documentation. The Youth Advocate will assist in developing young person treatment plans, Behavior Rehabilitation Services, and 30-day support contracts for the young adults in the College and Career Attainment Program.
The College and Career Attainment Program is a proctor day treatment program designed to help young adults in the Juvenile Justice and Foster Care systems transition successfully into adulthood. The Youth Advocate will work with other Youth Progress Association program staff, Probation/Parole Officers, and community-based programs as well as in the general community.
This position will also have the opportunity to provide case management to young people placed in our Learning Center and Community Collective programs, which work with young people in the foster care system. This includes working collaboratively with other Youth Advocates to provide“Behavior Rehabilitation Services” to youth in Youth Progress’ Proctor Foster Homes.
I) Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Case Management:
- Ensure consistent, well-coordinated care for young people by communicating clearly and routinely with internal and external personnel involved in the young person’s support team, including foster parents, caseworkers, and/or parole and/or probation officers.
- Monitor the full spectrum of a young person’s treatment to ensure that the young person’s physical, mental, and educational needs are being met.
- Collaborating with the youth to support the young person’s schedules, activities, appointments, etc
- Invest in a young person’s ongoing success by documenting young person needs, behaviors, and support plans. Help ensure that our documentation is on time and meets state requirements.
Young Person Support:
- Create strong relationships with young people on caseload and throughout the program.
- Provide weekly one to one intervention and support with young people and foster parents on your caseload and crisis support as needed.
- Be actively involved in efforts to improve the quality of our treatment approach and implement best practices.
- Model and support young people’s development of social and emotional skills.
- Create strong and trusting relationships with staff and young persons. Set aside time to build rapport with the young people.
- Be a cultural leader by maintaining a calm, positive, and professional presence. Role-model problem-solving and conflict resolution throughout your work.
- Help young people regulate their emotions proactively and identify when to provide additional support. Ensure the safety of each young person by providing supervision both on site and in the community as required.
Staff Guidance & Support:
- Proactively support staff and foster parents by providing effective input on young person behavior management.
- Offer insights and guidance on young person dynamics and interactions in the home and in the community.
- Care coordination with internal and external teams to ensure young people are supported effectively.
Documentation:
- Develop and revise service plans tailored to the young persons on your caseload.
- Ensure that all treatment plans and clinical documentation meet program and state requirements.
- Complete required documentation & communication in an efficient manner.
- Communicate clearly and professionally.
Assessment and Advocacy:
- Conducting monthly in-person home visits to explore the youth’s comfort and needs within the home, documenting and reporting findings to the young person’s internal and external teams.
- Engage in mentoring activities and assess the young person's progress related to the fulfillment of identified goals and objectives ongoing and present in weekly meetings.
- Engage in crisis support as needed.
- Develop resources for young people with case-specific needs.
Compliance:
- Assisting in developing a treatment review meeting at least every 45 days for all assigned young people based on information gathered from the young person’s internal and external team to support the Master Service Plan.
- Responsible for ensuring that young person files are up to date and in proper order, including but not limited to BRS hours, disciplinary issues, employment information, home visits, medication schedules, tracking sheets, etc.
- Complete and monitor BRS progress notes for each young person in the program for a minimum of 11 hours weekly. BRS progress notes will involve significant interactions with staff, peers, employers, school personnel, special appointments, family/PO meetings, etc.
- Complete and monitor your needed BRS notes for each young person in the program in a timely and efficient manner specifically related to BRS hours, special appointments, and family/PO meetings being headed by this role.
II) Position Requirements
- Experience providing services to youth involved in the juvenile justice and foster care systems required.
- Experience in planning, managing and evaluating the delivery of services within a social service organization.
- Commitment to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion at the individual, organizational, and systems level.
Applicant Qualifications:
Required:
- Must meet Social Service Staff Designation which includes either:
- A master’s degree from an accredited college or university with major study in social work or a closely allied field and one year of experience in the care and treatment of children; or
- A bachelor’s degree with major study in social work, psychology, sociology or a closely allied field, and two years of experience in the care and rehabilitation of children.
Preferred:
- Integrity, positive attitude, self-directed, and dedicated to Youth Progress’ mission and commitment to working collaboratively with a team of staff, foster parents, ODHS, OYA and community partners
- Ability to work both independently and contribute as part of a team player, and communicate effectively with peers, young people, foster parent, and other associates within a collegial, yet demanding, work environment
- Ability to handle a variety of constituencies, manage multiple tasks simultaneously and thrive in a complex environment with multiple priorities.
- 2 years prior experience working with Proctor or Foster Parents
- Strong network and community connections
- Experience in direct services, case management, counseling, family support etc.
Position & Environment Details:
- Full Time: Yes
- Houly: Yes
- On-call: No
- Hours: Typically 8-5, M-F. Some evenings and weekends as needed.
- Day to day: No two days are exactly alike and there is a great opportunity to build upon our current systems and processes to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in the role. The job is office-based, sometimes ad-hoc, and also includes daily interactions, services, and support to young people in foster care and the juvenile justice system. It also includes some travel throughout our community. If you think critically and creatively, and you like having full & varied days, this position could be a great fit.
Who we are
Hope.
Optimism.
Belief.
It’s what you’ll find at Youth Progress, an emerging leader in providing culturally responsive services for young people in the juvenile justice and child welfare systems who have the same goals and aspirations as everyone else.
Our approach is simple - we see every young person that comes through our doors as our community’s next leader, scholar, athlete, artist or entrepreneur.
Our Mission
At Youth Progress we believe that young people in the juvenile justice and foster care systems are leaders, scholars, artists, athletes and entrepreneurs.
Together, we are a diverse and inclusive community of staff and foster parents who provide young people with safe and stable housing and opportunities to grow, learn, and succeed.
At Youth Progress
1. We believe youth in the juvenile justice and foster care systems are leaders, scholars, artists, athletes, and entrepreneurs
2. We believe in the power of relationships and working tirelessly to earn the trust and respect of youth in our programs
3. We believe in treating youth with unconditional positive regard
4. We believe in creating caring environments that inspire change in the hearts and minds of youth
5. We believe staff and youth are on a transformational journey together
6. We believe in advancing racial equity, and working to improve outcomes within these systems
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