Youth Support Specialist
Youth Support Specialist
Providing rapid re-housing & case management for youth. www.fosterforward.net for details. Cover letter/resume due by 5/17 to Caitlin.divver@fosterforward.net
The Your Way Home Rapid Rehousing Program at Foster Forward serves youth ages 18-24 who were in foster care on or after their 14th birthday, and are currently experiencing homelessness. Rapid re-housing provides short-term rental assistance and services with the goal of helping people obtain housing quickly, increase self- sufficiency, and stay housed. The Your Way Home Youth Support Specialist provides direct youth-centered and strengths-based case management to youth in the program. The Youth Support Specialist encourages engagement of youth, supports youth to accomplish their goals around achieving housing stability, and gains a deep understanding of available local and regional resources to reduce and remove barriers to employment and housing. The Youth Support Specialist provides services both at the Foster Forward office and in the community. Foster Forward is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Building authentic, caring, and affirming relationships with Your Way Home youth.
- Providing a trauma informed approach to youth, colleagues, and self that reflects the values of Foster Forward.
- Developing self-care practices.
- Building and maintaining strong working relationships with other providers.
- Completing intakes and assessments with youth.
- Develop a housing plan with each youth and provide housing search support to locate appropriate housing rentals.
- Assist participants in completing landlord and property management housing applications.
- Provide hands-on assistance to enable participants to find suitable housing, including accompanying participants to apartment viewings.
- Advocate on behalf of the participant with landlords and property managers to overcome any issues or challenges to securing and maintaining suitable housing.
- Providing youth flexible, responsive case management that addresses their variety of needs including accessing safe and affordable housing; obtaining identification; enrolling in high school, GED program, and college; navigating financial aid; accessing public benefits; connecting to health, mental health, and substance abuse care; accessing childcare; connecting to employment and permanent housing; and other supports.
- Checking in with youth regularly about progress on their goals and how Foster Forward and other partners can support them.
- Seek and pick up furniture for newly housed youth.
- Following up with youth by phone/email/Facebook.
- Entering youth data into the Homelessness Management Information System and Foster Forward’s Efforts to Outcomes database.
Other:
- Seek out and attend (as possible) relevant trainings and events that enhance skills, bodies, of knowledge, and which will improve Foster Forward’s Your Way Home program.
- Participate in relevant community initiatives, such as the Family & TAY Placement Meeting and Continuum of Care meetings.
- Advocate with youth, staff, and community partners for equity and opportunity in matters of housing, employment, education, etc. for youth/young adults experiencing homelessness.
- Other duties as assigned.
Requirements:
- BCI and CANTS Clearances
- Regular access to a car for community-based case management services (i.e. home visits).
- A bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.
- At least two years of case management (or equivalent) experience.
- Desire to support homeless youth and young adults in a fast-paced environment.
- Experience working with youth and/or people experiencing homelessness.
- Welcoming demeanor and strong oral and written communication skills.
- Familiarity with the housing market and related resources.
- Must be a self-initiator and be able to problem solve various life issues.
- Position reports to Director of Evaluation and Quality Improvement.
We are an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, veteran status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status or disability (in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act) with respect to employment opportunities.