Aftercare Case Manager - Youth Advocacy

Description

Mission: The Link works with youth and young families to overcome the impacts of poverty and social injustice. Our 23 programs provide supportive housing, intensive case management services, and skills development to youth at risk of or experiencing homelessness, sex trafficking and/or involvement in the juvenile justice system. The Link prides itself on its innovative, youth-centered, strengths-based programming for youth and families as well as programs that are co-designed, implemented and overseen by youth.

Position Specifics

• Hiring Salary Range: $23.13-$26.00/hour based on qualifications
• Job Type: Full-Time, Non-Exempt
• Location: North Minneapolis
• Hours/Days: Mon-Fri, 9:00-5:00
• Note: This position requires driving. To be able to drive on behalf of The Link, candidates must have a valid driver's license, be able to successfully clear a criminal and motor vehicle background check, and maintain personal insurance at the levels of $100,000 Bodily Injury/Per Person and $300,000 Bodily Injury/Per Accident. Job offer is contingent on having these requirements.

BASIC FUNCTION

This position is responsible for providing guidance, resources, and services to clients leaving programming at the Marshall Reed Youth Center The MRYC is a trauma informed case management and group program for boys 14-18 on probation in Hennepin County. The program’s goal is to appropriately address boy’s needs in the community to prevent further involvement in the juvenile justice system. The position is also responsible for assisting in the holistic case management support of youth and for developing, supporting and implementing youth programming that is culturally competent and grounded in youth development, harm reduction, and trauma-informed care.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Provide a high level of street outreach by locating and making contact with vulnerable and at-risk youth who are on the street (living between friends, family members and willing adults) to ensure they are receiving resources and services
• Initiate mobile case management to provide supportive services to connect street youth with The Link programming and other community-based services
• Coordinate and manage the transition of program clients living in our facility back into the community, involving liaising with the outside agencies for resources and services
• Visit former clients in the community addressing their concerns and assessing their needs
• Work with the Regional Navigator and Program staff to build relationships with law enforcement, child welfare, juvenile justice, runaway and homeless youth service providers and other stakeholders across the West Metro Region
• Enhance coordination and collaboration between systems (juvenile justice, health care, child welfare, etc.) and professionals serving, interacting and engaging with sexually exploited youth
• Develop expertise on current systems and planned changes for the various governmental systems which non-profits agencies, individual professional and victims must interact with sex trafficked youth
• Participate in all required meetings by The Link and the State Of MN and West Metro counties on sex trafficked youth, Safe Harbor/No Wrong Door Response
• Formalize the reporting requirements of MN Department of Health into the West Metro service region

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Preserve the integrity of the programs and agency
• Demonstrate commitment to The Link’s mission and vision, and values of equity, diversity and inclusion
• Support the overall growth of the agency
• Maintain positive and healthy relationship with co-workers and other related parties
• Assist where needed as a team player
• Create a safe, respectful, and healthy atmosphere and environment where everyone can grow and learn
• Participate in special projects as necessary
• Attend all meetings and trainings as required
• Maintain positive and professional interactions with clients, co-workers, and all parties involved
• All other duties as assigned

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Desire to continuously learn for personal and professional growth
• Ability to build positive relationships with youth
• High level of personal and professional integrity, including ability to protect and maintain confidentiality and data privacy
• Creative and able to engage a diverse range of needs and learning styles
• High level of attention to detail
• Ability to work collaboratively across many systems and stakeholders
• Ability to work effectively with and relate to diverse populations
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, especially for client advocacy
• Ability to work independently
• Demonstrated ability to efficiently organize, coordinate, track and complete multiple tasks as well as adjust to changing priorities
• Computer application proficiency, including Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and Powerpoint
• Knowledgeable about community resources
• Committed and persistent to engage with youth who may be resistant
• Sensitive to cultural differences
• Sensitive to nature of offense
• Utilize a trauma-informed care approach
• Ability to coach youth to establish individualized goals
• Ability to provide written reports outlining goals and progress
• Ability to balance accountability while developing a nurturing and supportive relationship
• Uses teachable moments to coach youth to learn to do things for themselves
• Ability to work collaboratively with systems and agencies
• Ability to allow for flexibility and non-traditional work hours
• Creative with solutions to individualize youth support
• Establishes healthy boundaries in working with youth
• Self-motivated
• Dependable
• Adaptable

QUALIFICATIONS

• Lived experience and/or other relevant education including social service or social work, human services or other related degree
• At least 2 year’s experience working with juvenile justice involved youth or BA in related field
• Experience in completing intake and assessments of client needs preferred
• Experience in creating goal/treatment plans preferred
• Experience in group facilitation preferred
• Knowledge of the community resources and legal system, particularly the juvenile justice system
• Ability to work effectively with and relate to diverse populations
• Experience with office equipment, such as photocopier, fax, scanner, etc
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
• Training in positive youth development, harm reduction, and/or trauma informed care
• Extensive knowledge of issues related to comprehensive programming, juvenile justice, and court systems
• Proven experience providing 1:1 and group supports and/or programming within a shelter or other youth setting
• Must demonstrate sensitivity and responsiveness to cultural differences and a commitment to the value of cultural competency.
• Current driver’s license, reliable vehicle (with current insurance at the levels required by the Link) and ability to pass a criminal and driving background check.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• The employee is regularly required to talk or hear
• The employee is frequently required to use manual dexterity for use of objects, tools or controls as well as visual acuity
• The employee is required to stand; walk; sit; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl
• The employee must lift and/or move up to 20 pounds
• Work environment for this position includes offices, common and residential space with a low to high noise level. This position also works in the community.
• Requires ability to drive
• Note: This position requires driving. To be able to drive on behalf of The Link, candidates must have a valid driver's license, be able to successfully clear a criminal and motor vehicle background check, and maintain personal insurance at the levels of $100,000 Bodily Injury/Per Person and $300,000 Bodily Injury/Per Accident. Job offer is contingent on having these requirements.

BENEFITS

The Link offers benefits to eligible employees such as medical, dental (The Link covers 100% of the premiums), vision, a generous 401k with employer match, over 2 weeks of PTO in your first year, birthday PTO, two days of volunteer PTO, 11 paid holidays/holiday pay, and more!

COMPENSATION PHILOSOPHY

As outlined in our

. The Link believes strongly in pay equity and transparency, and wages that lead our field for similar roles. To that end, The Link will ensure all new hires are offered the highest wage they are eligible to receive within the position's hiring range based on their years of relevant professional experience, lived experience, and relevant degrees and licensures. The Link has a “no negotiation policy,” which means candidates should not have to negotiate their way to a fair wage for their skills and experience and will automatically be given the highest wage they are eligible for based on their qualifications.

OTHER

The Link is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. The Link complies with laws relating to discrimination against qualified applicants and employees in hiring or in any decision affecting job status or pay, based on race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, marital status, disability, familial status, covered veteran status, public assistance status, membership in a local commission, sexual orientation, age, genetic information, or other applicable protected classes.