WORK SCHEDULE: This position is full-time regular and non-exempt. Typical work schedule is Sunday through Wednesday or Wednesday through Sunday. Work hours will vary and require the ability and willingness to work evenings, weekends, and holidays when needed. Applicants who are fluent in Spanish will receive an additional $2.00 per hour language differential.

ABOUT CASA DE LOS AMIGOS:  This program serves female clients ages 12-17 who have been placed in the program by the Office of Refugee Resettlement Department of Unaccompanied Children’s Services (ORR / DUCS). The clients are unaccompanied minors, primarily from Central America, and the program’s goal is safe and timely reunification with family in the United States. This housing program is open 24/7, 365 days a year.

POSITION SUMMARY:  Under the supervision of the Case Management Supervisor, the Bilingual Case Aider is responsible for the day-to-day case management and family reunification services for youth placed in the Casa Program under the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) and in accordance with all ORR policies and procedures. Duties include all intake and exit paperwork, case planning, crisis intervention, transportation, providing or obtaining translation services, ensuring clients meet all immigration related court appointments and requirements, and assisting in the safe and timely release of each client.  This position requires shift responsibilities, a high degree of flexibility in responding to emergent needs of young people in crisis, and good organizational and documentation skills.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Carry a small caseload of up to 4 active clients (maybe more during staffing shortages).
• Provide assistance to Case Management Supervisor and case managers with filing and other administrative tasks needed to maintain client files.
• Track client entries and exits, and other client information internally and in other applicable case management databases.
• Review and close case files, ensuring quality of files and organization in the file room; This may require coordination and follow-up with other team members for any missing documentation.
• Remain up to date on ORR policy and procedures and implement case management changes within the provided timeframe and as needed.
• Assess assigned client’s need for services and develop and document service plans that best meet the client request while respecting both ORR and DHS regulations and as clinically appropriate.
• Complete, maintain, and submit all documentation in a timely manner, including client intake and exit paperwork; assessments and service plans; child trafficking screenings and home study referrals; case notes; family reunification packet and sponsor background checks; changes of address, and all other required documents of the client case file.
• Educate sponsors and clients on immigrant rights and restrictions, child welfare rights, ORR sponsor care agreement and ORR/DHS requirements and expectations post-release.
• Collaborate with community partners such as KIND and consulates to ensure services are provided in a timely manner.
• Review caseload weekly with Program Director, 3^rd Party GDIT, Federal Field Specialist and Mental Health Therapist.
• Attend and participate in quarterly Stakeholder’s meetings and other related trainings (i.e. ORR policies and procedures, program requirements, immigrant, and refugee issues,) as needed.
• Facilitate the transportation of clients exiting the program or transferring to other ORR network programs.
• Participate in file audits and contribute to Performance and Quality Improvement (PQI) efforts.
• Must be flexible and willing to provide sight and sound supervision to youth in accordance with state and federal standards, as needed.
• Reliably attend and participate in training and development as needed for your role and the needs of our Agency as a whole such as program requirements, DEI&J, supervision and others as identified.
• Contribute to our DEI&J culture by creating at least one SMART Goal related to DEI&J within your control to deliver.

This job description is not intended to cover every aspect of your job at YouthCare. We are a team that works together to meet the needs of our clients and every member of the team is expected to pitch in and help even beyond the specific responsibilities listed in this description.

QUALIFICATIONS –

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• High School Diploma or GED.
• High proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing in both Spanish and English languages.
• Have one year of experience working directly with children. Two years of social services education may be substituted for the required experience.
• Understanding of issues affecting young people experiencing homelessness and population resources.
• Experience and credentials must comply with program contractual requirements, including but not limited to the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) background clearance process and must be at least 21 years of age.  DCYF Clearance must be maintained for entirety of employment when working with under-18 clients.

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS:

• 1 or more years of experience working with young people experiencing homelessness at risk or immigrant young people highly preferred.
• BA in Psychology, Social Service or related field and one year experience, or three years comparable experience.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: 

• Must be able to provide I-9 supporting documentation for employment.
• Ability to provide a negative TB Test (results must be within one-year of hire date).
• Employees who drive YouthCare vehicles as a requirement for their position, must be at least 21 years of old, possess a valid Washington State Driver’s License, meet minimum safe driver criteria established by the agency and our insurance company which includes completion of Defensive Driving and 15-passenger Van trainings. Drivers under the age of 25 must have been licensed for at least 3-years and those operating vehicles with a capacity of 15 or more passengers must be at least 25 years old.
• Ability to obtain a current Food Handler’s Card
• Successful completion of pre-service trainings as required by contracting agencies.  Trainings such as CPR & First Aid (Adult/Child), Bloodborne Pathogens, and Behavior Management.
• Computer software skills including Windows, Microsoft outlook, Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Ability to adhere to the program’s Code of Conduct for the Prevention of Sexual Abuse, Ethics, and Boundaries.
• Initiative, creativity, reliability, flexibility, thoroughness.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with good quality spelling, grammar and punctuation in both English and Spanish.
• High integrity when dealing with a broad array of cultures and restricted and/or confidential information.
• Ability to deal therapeutically with behavioral and emotional problems presented by young people and understanding of emotionally, physically and sexually abused young people.
• Ability to coordinate overall program functioning.
• Ability to accurately maintain and produce files, records, logs and reports.
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries with clients while building trust and respect.
• Ability and willingness to stay awake and alert during overnight shifts.
• Ability to verbally and physically respond to an aggressive person in ways that de-escalate, establish and maintain staff and young peoples’ safety.
• May be required to assume responsibilities or duties within the agency not specifically delineated in this job description for short periods of time or on an infrequent basis.
• Commitment to YouthCare’s initiative to build cultural proficiency across the agency. Acceptance of a variety of lifestyles, behaviors, and cultural and spiritual practices.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to perform range of physical motions, exerting up to 50 pounds. Lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds; standing, walking, sitting for long periods of time, kneeling, squatting, and stooping; running for brief periods of time; and go up and down stairs.