Childrens Youth Advocacy Program Community Care Advocate

Description

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Classification: Youth Advocacy Program (YAP) Community Care Advocate

The Youth Advocacy Program (YAP) Community Care Advocate is a community-based para-professional who will provide 10-20 hours per week of face-to-face contact to two (2) high-risk, juvenile court-involved youth and their families as assigned by the YAP Outreach Specialist.  Program goals will focus on reducing the number of court-involved youth who are currently in or at risk for out-of-home placements (incarceration/correctional and/or residential treatment) by providing strength-based and individualized service plan options within the targeted youth’s home community.  This para-professional will work closely with the YAP Outreach Specialist, other YAP Advocates and system-of-care partners and stakeholders that already exist in Jefferson County to ensure program goals are met.

PRIMARY JOB FUNCTIONS:

Provides wraparound support by brokering/linking youth and their families to a comprehensive mixture of individualized services for approximately 4-6 months.

Provides 10-20 hours of face-to-face contact on a weekly basis with each targeted juvenile court youth according to their individualized needs.  (Advocates will be assigned no more than 2 youths at any given time to allow for more intensive support through a higher frequency of contacts).

Able to develop and implement strength-based, individualized service plans with assigned youth and their families.

Provides accurate, timely documentation of face-to-face contacts to ensure program objectives are being met.  Collaborates closely with other YAP staff to provide progress updates/adjust service plans as needed.

Participates in 24/7 crisis intervention access and networks with other agency partners to ensure the provision of specialized support services according to the individualized service plan (in home/case management, tutoring, educational, medical, outreach and tracking, life skills and training, access to job placement programs).

Monitors the progress of targeted youth and their families on a daily and weekly basis and works closely with designated system-of-care partners to ensure timely collection and analysis of program data to evaluate outcomes.    

Performs other administrative duties as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

A person with a high school diploma or GED who resides in the targeted communities of the assigned high-risk youth and, who by education, training and/or experience, is qualified to perform advocacy and other means of formal/informal assistance with minimal supervisory oversight.  Prior experience working with the juvenile population through a community-based or clinical program is highly preferred.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

General knowledge of the special needs and challenges of juvenile court-involved youth and their families.  Willingness to be educated and trained to build knowledge in this area for maximum outcomes with high-risk youth.

Culturally aware and sensitive with the ability to communicate effectively with youth and families from a wide variety of socio-economic and cultural situations. Willingness to be educated and trained to build knowledge in this area for maximum outcomes with high-risk youth

Knowledge of the available community resources in Jefferson County and surrounding catchment areas.

Organized, reliable and able to plan and implement a set of tasks geared at helping others in need in a timely and efficient manner.

Ability to perform strength-based assessments and develop individualized service plans tailored to the unique needs of the targeted population and their families (through training and direct supervision from YAP staff).

Ability to identify service needs and match with available resources in a timely manner.

Ability to make critical and sound decisions in crisis situations that promote healthy outcomes.

Ability to communicate and work effectively with other YAP staff members as well as a multi-disciplinary team of community stakeholders (including the YAP oversight committee).

Available to advocate/work a flexible schedule (Ex: at night and on weekends) due to the special needs of the juvenile court-involved child and family.

Qualifications