Youth Partner, Family Support Liaison Program

Position Title: Youth Partner, Family Support Liaison Program (FSLP)

Organization: Jewish Family Service of San Diego

Department: Outreach & Family Support Services

Position Type: Half-Time (up to 18.75 hours/week), Non-Exempt

Work Setting: Onsite

Reports To: FSLP Program Manager

Pay Rate: $21.50 - $23.00/hour

Total Compensation: 

In addition to standard pay, compensation for this position includes:

• Comprehensive, low-cost healthcare coverage for employees
• Generous employer 401(k) contributions
• Employer-covered life insurance

Time Away from Work:

Being able to take time away from work is critical in bringing your best self to work.

If you work 18.5 or fewer hours per week, time off benefits for this position include:

• Sick Pay – 1 hour for every 30 hours
• 2 Wellness Days to be taken any time during the year to support employees’ mental wellness

If you work 18.75 hours/week, time off benefits for this position include:

• Generous paid vacation time and sick leave
• 17 paid holidays, including Federal and Jewish holidays (as long as the holiday lands on a normal scheduled work day), and floating holidays
• 2 Wellness Days to be taken any time during the year to support employees’ mental wellness

Position Overview:

In collaboration with San Diego County Child Welfare System’s commitment to reducing the disproportionality of African American/Black and immigrant/refugee families who are CWS involved, the Family Support Liaison Program (FSLP) aims to support parents and caregivers as they navigate the Child Welfare System (CWS).  To reunify with their child/ren, as well as to reduce future CWS involvement of families enrolled in the program.

The Youth Partner will play a critical role supporting families who are involved in Child Welfare Services (CWS or CPS). This position will work with CWS-involved families, who identify as African American/Black.  

The Youth Partner is a staff member who has experienced the child welfare services system as a child and can provide support to youth and their families receiving child welfare services. The Youth Partner will work primarily with the youth enrolled in the program and will provide mentoring, guidance, and advocacy. Youth Partners will help by assisting the youth in connecting with supportive services; aid them in achieving time management, communication, and financial management skills; and provide referrals to and care coordination with community supports. The Youth Partner will build trust and engagement with the youth and their family, help youth develop supportive relationships, enhance their ability to draw on their own strengths and available resources, as well as assist the family with identifying their support network through formal and informal supports.  The Youth Partner enhances the work they do by sharing their own perspectives and real-life experiences as appropriate.

This position may meet with clients in their homes, at a neutral location in the field, or at JFS or CWS offices. The Youth Partner will provide care that is client-centered, trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, outcome-oriented, and time specific.  

Face-to-face work with clients is required. Please note that all reasonable safety precautions will be taken. 

Responsibilities:

• Promote an individualized, family-driven, community-based, culturally competent, and trauma-informed system of care 
•  Mentor youth currently involved in the child welfare system. It is expected that Youth Partners will attend Child and Family Team meetings and work collaboratively with other staff to support families
•  Act as the “youth voice” as participants on various committees offering input that represents youths’ perspectives and interests
•  Provide advocacy, support, and referral service during 1:1 contact. Youth Partners will meet with youth on an as-needed basis
•  Assess the youth and determine the youth’s needs. Youth Partners will serve as a knowledgeable source of community resources
• Conduct formal and informal assessments of youth; and identify family strengths and areas of need 
• Foster and maintain ongoing relationships with family members, PSWs and CWS staff, other providers, and community resources to coordinate services and advocate for youth and their families
• Work with the youth and their families to develop plans and strategies to ensure the family’s culture, beliefs, experience, voice, and choice are heard by the Protective Social Worker and are incorporated into the case plan. Attend other important meetings with the youth and family, such as CFTs (Child & Family Team Meetings), court hearings, school meetings, etc
• Participate in fidelity and quality improvement efforts, including wraparound coaching, ongoing training, and supervisions 
• Maintain accurate, timely, and complete case records in client file and in software system with integrity and in line with the quality standard set by supervisor

Skills/Abilities That Are a Must-Have:

• Personal experience and knowledge of the African American/Black community required
• Recent (in the past 5 years) personal life experience as a youth who has been involved in the Child Welfare system
• Fluency in English required 
• Excellent verbal and interpersonal communication skills, including ability to collaborate with other FSLP staff, CWS staff, and community providers
• Experience setting limits when working with stressed clients, often in some level of urgency 
• Comfort in an environment that supports intersecting identities and working closely as a team 
• Ability to maintain confidentiality with sensitive information 
• Ability to work flexible hours, including some evenings and weekends 

Skills/Abilities We’d Like You to Have:

• Experience working with youth preferred  
• Previous training in Wraparound preferred   
• Knowledge of local programs, organizations, and resources, including how to access them preferred  

Additional information required Upon Hire:

• High School Diploma or Equivalency preferred 
• Pre-employment background check is conducted  
• Valid CA driver’s license, a reliable automobile, insurance, and willingness to drive off-site/travel throughout San Diego County. Client transport may be necessary. (Please note that mileage is reimbursed) 

Important Notice: 

Incomplete submissions will not be considered. Please, no phone calls. Please, principals only. Please, local candidates only (relocation is not provided). 

About Jewish Family Service of San Diego
Jewish Family Service of San Diego is a client-centered, impact-driven organization working to build a stronger, more resilient community.  For over 100 years, Jewish Family Service has been a trusted resource for the entire community, offering an array of services that are always life-changing, and often lifesaving.  At Jewish Family Service, we believe our employees are the backbone of our Agency.  We strive to ensure that each employee is treated with dignity and respect.  Our goal is your success.  Come work at JFS and be our partner in Moving Forward Together.  To learn more about JFS, please visit jfssd.org. 

*Jewish Family Service is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.