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.

POSITION SUMMARY: Under the supervision of the Program Manager, the Independent Youth Housing Program (IYHP) Case Manager is responsible for intensive case management for young people, ages 18-24, who are referred to and participate in YouthCare’s IYHP program for former Washington State foster youth. Participants will be housed at across YouthCare’s full spectrum of housing services and in their own apartments or rental rooms throughout King County. The Case Manager will support young people, in addition to the full spectrum of YouthCare Services to ensure stability and progress to independence. This position requires a high degree of flexibility in responding to emergent needs of young people in crisis as well as good organizational and documentation skills.

The IYHP Case Manager will be based out of a YouthCare program site and will be expected to travel throughout King County to meet young people where they are. Additionally, the IYHP Case Manager will be required to attend meetings at other YouthCare programs/facilities to publicize the IYHP Program and to recruit potential new participants.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Maintain an active caseload of clients transitioning from shelter or transitional housing to scattered site housing locations. Engage participants through strengths-based and harm reduction approaches to provide a high quality of care that is flexible and responsive to each person’s unique needs and preferences.
• Provide at least 20 hours of direct client case management per week, including one-on-one case management and transportation/assistance to appropriate outside resources (such as DSHS, medical/dental appointments, etc.).
• Assess each participant’s need for services, and develop and document service plans with participants that include linkages with family, other YouthCare components or external providers as appropriate. Work with client and internal and external staff to ensure follow-through.  Link young people to opportunities that allow them to obtain housing, gain skills & income, and maintain housing.
• Assist households in identifying appropriate location of housing.
• Assist households in identifying housing unit needs.
• Assist households during housing application process.
• Help coordinate household move into unit.
• Communicate with landlords around move-in procedures for households.
• Ongoing communication with landlords while household is living in the unit.
• Help households understand rights and obligations as tenants.
• Collaborate in the development of career resources and job search assistance for participants in order to increase financial independence and sustainability.
• Provide crisis intervention and crisis counseling to program participants as needed.
• Work with Housing Connector and collaboratively with landlords to recruit new units, to troubleshoot issues with clients as they arise, and to sustain and grow partnerships.
• Complete and submit all documentation in a timely manner, including client intake and exit paperwork, housing stability plans, and service plans.
• Complete reports and maintain records as assigned. Ensure all client-related data is both current and accurate in client files, required reports, and YouthCare’s client management system.
• Attend the community CEA referral meetings weekly.

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:           

• 1 or more years of case management experience.
• 1 or more years working with young people experiencing homelessness.
• Experience working in crisis situations and de-escalation techniques.
• Understanding of issues affecting young people experiencing homelessness; knowledge of age-appropriate resources.
• High School Diploma or GED.
• 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:

• 2 or more years of case management experience.
• Experience placing and supporting young people in rental market permanent housing, liaising with landlords, developing landlords and housing resources.
• Bachelor’s degree in social work or related field and/or experience may be substituted for education on a year for year basis.
• Previous education or training in the areas of social work, youth development, anti-oppression, chemical dependency, and root causes of poverty and social justice issues.

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 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 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 a 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.