YSIC Homeless Prevention Case Manager (PYET)

Job Summary

The Homeless Prevention Services Department consists of several programs developed to provide multi-disciplinary responses to youth who are currently experiencing or at imminent risk of homelessness. Prevention services are designed to intervene early with young people and their families to reduce the risk of homelessness and strengthen housing stability before a housing crisis occurs. Youth and families will collaboratively develop and regularly convene to identify risks, strengths, and concrete steps to prevent homelessness.

Program Specific

• Establish trauma-informed, person-centered relationships with young people experiencing various degrees of housing instability and family crisis.
• Connect youth to critical services and resources that resolve their immediate housing instability crisis and address social, emotional, and education needs.
• Respond to crises, conflicts, and emergencies using trauma-informed de-escalation techniques.
• Develop individualized, strengths-based, youth-driven service plans.
• Complete check requests and communicate with landlords.
• Understand contract/grant terms and conditions to ensure program outcome requirements are met and services rendered to young adults appropriately.
• Research best practices in field; create and maintain specialized resource library.
• Maintain clear, professional, timely participant contact notes, service plans, progress updates, outcomes, and other documentation in designated databases.
• Teach life skills, job readiness, or other subject matter individually and/or in groups, often experientially.
• Support participant success in key domains such as safe and stable housing, permanent connections to supportive adults, education and employment, health and well-being, and life skills.
• Conduct intakes, assessments, and program orientations for new participants.
• Aid participants with housing searches, housing applications, and connections to housing programs.
• Cook up referrals to community partners, healthcare providers, behavioral health services, and employment resources.
• Maintain a safe, welcoming, and respectful environment for all participants.
• Document participant interactions, incidents, service referrals, and case management activities accurately and timely.
• Team effectively and collaboratively with YMCA staff and/or community partners to plan and facilitate activities, including visits to related resources in the community.
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with funding liaisons, other service providers, businesses, and/or educational institutions as related to specialized services.
• Respond to mobile outreach needs at other community locations and sites throughout King County.

Agency Specific

• Act as a systems connector to support youth in achieving their goals and reducing barriers in education, employment/career development, safe and stable housing, permanent connections to supportive adults, health and well-being, mental health support, and life skills.
• Use critical thinking skills and provide solution-focused navigation for complex needs among youth in detention.
• Build strong relationships with Y program participants to effectively provide quality services.
• Understand contract/grant terms and conditions to ensure program outcome requirements are met and services rendered to young adults appropriately.
• Understand and use best practice philosophies in the field, including trauma-informed care, motivational interviewing, housing first, harm reduction, de-escalation, etc.
• Maintain clear, professional, timely participant contact notes, service plans, progress updates, outcomes, and other documentation in designated databases.
• Maintain strong sense of organization in fast-paced work environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree* in psychology, social work or related social services field or equivalent experience, Masters preferred.
• Experience working with teens or young adults in employment, foster care, group care, housing, education, juvenile justice, anti-poverty, vocational support, mental health, chemical dependency and/or homelessness fields.
• Ability to teach effective independence skills for a variety of learning styles and to plan supportive activities.
• Strong youth engagement and relationship-building skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Basic computer skills and working knowledge of Microsoft Office.
• Ability to transport self and client(s) in a safe and effective manner, and to meet clients at community locations; proof of adequate vehicle insurance coverage is required, or ability to travel to areas without public transportation.
• Current state-approved First Aid and CPR certification.
• **Current approved HIV blood borne pathogens training.
• Prefer knowledge of and previous experience with, diverse populations (language, culture, race, physical ability, sexual orientation, etc.). Ability to speak any language in addition to English may be helpful.
• Resides in King County.

Additional Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in social work, social services, or a closely related field.
• Other applicable education, training, and experience, which provide the knowledge, abilities, and skills necessary to perform effectively in the position will be considered.
• Life experience with poverty, child welfare, homelessness, behavioral health, or youth violence and a desire to use that experience to improve the lives of others.
• Ability to speak any language in addition to English.

Our Commitment

The Y actively promotes a culture free from bias and injustice. We are dedicated to removing institutional and systemic barriers that result in oppression and racism. We will be accountable to marginalized communities for creating equitable and sustainable environments where social justice is woven into every facet of our programs, and by caring for our communities in a culturally versatile and respectful manner.