AT YOUTHCARE: YouthCare envisions a community where no young person experiences homelessness, all young people have the opportunity to thrive, and the systems that oppress them are dismantled. YouthCare serves young people of many racial and ethnic backgrounds, abilities, sexual orientations, gender identities, and religious beliefs, and we seek a workforce that reflects that diversity.

ABOUT YOUTHCARE: YouthCare works to end youth homelessness and to ensure that young people are valued for who they are and empowered to achieve their potential. Founded in 1974, YouthCare was one of the first programs to serve runaway and homeless youth on the West Coast. The goal was to help young people find safety today and build a future for tomorrow. Over four decades, we’ve defined best practices and developed programs that are a national standard for excellence. Using a youth-centered approach, we ensure that young people experiencing homelessness ages 12-24 have the hope, skills, and confidence to gain long-term stability.

COVID vaccinations are mandated at YouthCare. Employees will be required to submit proof of vaccination or have an approved request for medical or religious exemption and an approved accommodation at time of On-Boarding. Please note: Philosophical, political, scientific, or sociological objections to vaccination will not be considered for an exemption or accommodation.

NON-MANAGEMENT EMPLOYEES ARE REPRESENTED BY THE OFFICE AND PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES’ INTERNATIONAL UNION (OPEIU) Local 8.

ABOUT ADOLESCENT SHELTER:  This program is an emergency shelter serving young people ages 12-17, providing emergency services and a stable residential environment with supportive staff. Residents pursue educational goals and develop life skills that will help them transition to stability.

POSITION SUMMARY: Under the supervision of the Program Manager, the Case Manager is responsible for the day-to-day case management services for young people in the program. The Case Manager position requires good collaborative, organizational and documentation skills, and flexibility in responding to emergent needs of young people in crisis.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Screen and conduct an assessment that includes determination of young people’s legal status regarding residential placement.
• Collaborate and partner with relevant resources and systems to secure long term residential placement and other needed services for young people.
• Facilitate physical exam for any young person that has not been seen by a physician within one year prior to residence at the Hope Center and arrange chemical dependency and mental health services as appropriate.
• Arrange educational assessment to measure the young people’s competency level.
• Act as a professional representative of YouthCare and maintain a professional working environment (office, personal workspace, agency vehicle, etc.)
• Manage and maintain confidential client files as required in WAC, contracts, and quality assurance expectations. Comply with all case management plan development, documentation and record keeping requirements as enumerated in relevant service contracts (will vary among individual case management positions).
• Provide training and direction to staff in the implementation of the support plan.
• Work collaboratively with other YouthCare programs, families, school district professionals, DCYF/DLR personnel, staff from other agencies, etc. This position requires that you assist, support, and communicate with program staff in engaging young people in participating on developing and following individualize education, employment and life skill plans and activities.
• Actively participate in collaborative anti-trafficking work within YouthCare and other agencies providing similar services to coordinate services and referrals including immigration, juvenile detention, foster care, and DCYF.
• Provide on-site supervision of young people during scheduled shifts in the milieu, facilitating activities, preparing, and serving meals and help oversee the safety and cleanliness of the facility, including the restrooms, laundry room, and the community room.  Perform light janitorial work, including vacuuming carpets; taking out trash; sweeping/mopping floors; and similar tasks.
• Coordinate daily charting regarding progress of clients toward achievement of treatment goals.
• Conduct all intake and exit meetings with young people. Complete accurate and timely related paperwork including intake and exit paperwork, progress notes and attainments.  Submit client progress notes, attainments, and other required reports in a timely manner. Ensure all client-related data is both current and accurate in the YouthCare’s Case Management System (Case Worthy).
• Must maintain professional boundaries in providing crisis intervention and counseling to residents. Must learn and apply positive behavior modification techniques and model effective de-escalation and problem-solving skills.
• Develop and document Service Plans with participants that include linkages with family, other YouthCare programs or external providers as clinically appropriate.  Work with client and internal / external staff to ensure follow-through. Schedule and attend interim reviews with participants and appropriate Staff.
• Facilitate weekly reviews and develop exit plans for young people.
• Review of interventions with young people (e.g., de-escalation, physical intervention, consequences, and incident reports).
• Provide transportation and/or support for appointments (medical, counseling, etc.) as needed.
• Arrange/facilitate/attend/document necessary meetings with families, service providers, community members, and/or staff team.
• Provide client specific updates for each youth in during program staff meetings as well as staff client cases bimonthly or weekly as needed with outside consultant.
• Assist with providing orientation and training for new staff or on call staff.
• Complete monthly, quarterly, and annual reports.

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:    

• Bachelor’s Degree OR, Master’s degree in counseling, social work, or related field.
• At least 1 year of experience working with at-risk-young people or young adults in a crisis, during outreach efforts or in residential setting.
• Four years’ full-time work experience directly working with, managing, or overseeing vulnerable populations in a related field.
• 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:

• Prior case management experience.
• 2 or more years of experience successfully working with vulnerable young people or young adults in a crisis, during outreach efforts or in residential setting.
• Course work, experience, or training in child or human development, chemical dependency, mental illness, group dynamics, residential treatment, or related experience highly preferred.

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).
• DCYF Clearance must be maintained for entirety of employment when working with under-18 clients.
• Employees who drive YouthCare vehicles as a requirement for their position, must be at least 21 years 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 training as required by the contracting agency. Training such as CPR & First Aid (Adult/Child), Bloodborne Pathogens, CSEC and Behavior Management.
• Computer software skills including Windows, Microsoft outlook, Microsoft Word.
• Initiative, creativity, reliability, flexibility, thoroughness.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with good quality spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• High integrity when dealing with a broad array of cultures and restricted and/or confidential information.
• Ability to coordinate overall program functioning.
• 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 maintain stable performance under pressure or conflict and handle stress in a manner that maintains teamwork and respect for others and to the agency.
• Coachability and willingness to engage in candid two-way feedback as a means of professional growth.
• Ability to accurately maintain and produce files, records, logs, and reports.
• Ability to establish new partnerships and foster positive relationships with existing partners.
• 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. Ability to maintain stable performance under pressure or conflict and handle stress in a manner that maintains teamwork and respect for others and to the agency.

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.

BENEFITS: YouthCare provides a competitive benefits package to full time employees including medical, dental, vision, long-term disability, short-term disability, life insurance, 401(k), vacation, paid holidays, and sick leave after successful completion of the 90-day Introductory Period.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYMENT: YouthCare is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on merit and business needs and YouthCare is committed to recruiting, hiring, training, and promoting qualified people of all backgrounds, regardless of actual or perceived sex; race; color; religious creed; national origin; ancestry; age; marital status; pregnancy; nursing parent status; physical, mental or sensory disability; medical condition; genetic information; sexual orientation; gender (including gender identity or expression); military or veteran status; or any other basis protected by federal, state and/or local laws. People of Color and Members of the LGBTQ community are strongly encouraged to apply.