Associate Family Support Specialist – Youth Programs & Case Management

Associate Family Support Specialist – Youth Programs & Case Management

General Position Summary

Position Summary

The Carying Place’s (TCP) Associate Family Support Specialist will provide care, support, instruction, and coaching to families related to the outcomes of each assigned adult/caregiver and youth.

Essential Functions

Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following tasks, knowledge, skills and other characteristics. This list of tasks is illustrative ONLY and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and tasks performed by positions in this class. It does not imply that all positions within the class perform all the duties listed, nor does it necessarily list all possible duties that may be assigned.

Key Responsibilities

Community Resource Linkage

• Identify and connect families with local community resources such as healthcare, education, and social services.
• Maintain a database of community resources and ensure families have access to necessary support. Conducts orientation with youth in Transitional Housing (TH), completes the initial assessment, home visits and other settings.
• Monitors all assigned volunteers working with youth.
• Follows assigned youth through TCP’s entire Journey Home program; meets regularly with each youth and their family.
• Coordinates care work with the case management system and data processing services, making phone calls, and using other communication tools and applications.

Financial Literacy and Life Skills Education

• Facilitate workshops and classes focused on financial literacy, including budgeting, and saving.
• Teach essential life skills such as communication, problem-solving, and decision-making.

Family Support

• Provide one-on-one support to families, helping them navigate challenges and access resources.
• Collaborate with other staff members to ensure a holistic approach to family support.
• Guides individual youth and their family through the appropriate Resource Referral system. Each Specialist helps create and maintain the Family Resource Referral system.
• Educates family members on the use of youth resources available coordinating care with other family support specialists, staff, volunteers, partners, and affiliating resource agencies.
• Advocates for youth and their family for needed services and other areas as needed.
• Produces and manages case management/plan of care files for each assigned youth and family.

Administrative Duties

• Maintain accurate records of program activities and participant progress.
• Prepare reports and evaluations to assess program effectiveness and identify areas for improvement.
• Responsible for maintaining a complete, accurate, and standardized electronic case management file on each youth and their family.
• Plans for and attends weekly in person meetings (Wednesday, Thursday).
• Monitor each youth and their family’s compliance with the TCP contract signed at intake.
• Work with school age youth (High School of younger) on developing life skills and understanding financial preparedness
• Conducts timely reviews of each youth’s progress in concert with other staff assigned to the family.
• Creates individualized plan of care (IPC) for youth in TH and graduate program using individualized SMART goals.
• Supports youth in TH and graduate program.
• Helps coordinate transfer of youth and families from TH and Graduate Program to other external agencies.
• Intervenes in youth crises and provides personal support and coordinates care.

Coordination and Communication

• Discusses individual youth and family concerns with the Director of Programs and other Family Support Specialists to seek solutions.
• Assist in coordinates and communications with program entry and exit
• Prepares reports as requested by collecting, analyzing, and summarizing case management care, results, and trends.
• Assists in compiling statistics on outcomes and impacts for agency leadership.
• Communicates youth and families progress by conducting interdisciplinary case review meetings and evaluations.
• Contributes to creative, innovative discussions on how best to meet the needs of program participants, TCP programming, and helping support homeless youth within Wake County.

Program Planning and Implementation

• Works under the direction of the Director of Programs and in partnership with other Family Support Specialists and Graduate Manager.
• Works with the Director of Programs and other Family Support Specialists to determine which assessment indicators becomes part of the case management system.
• In partnership with the Director of Programs, determines continuation or dismissal of assigned families throughout the program.
• Works with and regularly updates Director of Programs and other staff on youth progress and challenges; provides data on youth program successes/challenges.
• Continuously improves the portion of the program they are responsible for by studying, evaluating, and re-designing areas as needed; suggests policy and procedure updates as needed.
• Monitors youth attendance at required functions. Follows up with members absent to determine reasons.
• Develop and execute programs and activities that are engaging and educational for youth and families.
• Organize workshops, events, and recreational activities that promote learning and development.

Non-Essential Functions – Other duties as assigned

These are tasks that are not critical to the primary responsibilities of the job. While they may be part of the role, they are not the main focus. For example, non-essential functions might include attending team-building activities, assisting other departments with tasks, helping with office organization and administrative tasks, engaging potential special projects, covering for colleague absences and handling new tasks that come up due to organizational structure.

Qualifications

Qualifications are a combination of education, related experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities. The judgment of an acceptable equivalent combination of qualifications is the responsibility of management.

Education Level or Area of Study

Bachelor’s or Associate degree in Education, Human Services, Social Work, or Family Financial Planning/Consumer Economics, OR 2+ years’ experience as a Case Manager; Human Services Case Management Certification.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Previous experience working with youth and families in a community setting.
• Ability to work in a team to develop and implement a program or Prior work with homeless or fragilely housed working families is a plus.
• Experience in training other staff, volunteers, and the ability to train and coach youth and families.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in working in a multidisciplinary environment.
• Proven ability to communicate with youth/adults from a variety of economic and cultural backgrounds.
• Detail-oriented, excellent oral and written communication.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively and positively with others under deadline.
• Patient in listening to others, building rapport, and treating colleagues, clients, volunteers, and partners with respect, justly, fairly, and with dignity.
• Ability to encourage and motivate others to positive action.
• Uses effective time management.
• Provides clear, purposeful, and sufficient family information.
• Able to self-assess performance and be responsible for their own professional development.
• Commitment to TCP’s mission and desired outcomes.
• Proficient computer use with Office 365, Zoom, and other data management applications.  Willingness and ability to learn technology such as Google Drive/Docs, TCP program management software applications, and electronic case file management applications.
• Ability to make decisions independently and collaboratively and resolve conflicts peacefully and effectively.
• Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills. Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Personal Attributes

• Empathetic: Understanding and supportive of the challenges faced by youth and families.
• Adaptable: Flexible and able to adjust programs and approaches based on the needs of participants.
• Passionate: Committed to making a positive impact in the community and empowering individuals through education.

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions

This position requires normal periods of sitting, standing, and occasionally lifting and/or pushing objects up to 20 lbs. Work is performed inside an office building and out in the community as needed. This position regularly requires some evening and weekend work. Some travel is required.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” relationship.

Please contact Michael Pearson, Program Director if interested: michael.pearson@thecaryingplace.org