Youth Services Independent Living Advocate

Youth Services Independent Living Advocate
Fairbanks
Access Alaska, Inc.
We strongly encourage people who experience a disability to apply!
Essential Functions:
To assist youth to live independently within the community of their choice and to achieve physical, emotional, and economic independence with a focus on employment readiness skills and training. The individual in this role also plays a key role in preparation and facilitation of our Pre-Employment Youth Transition Services program. Engagement in five core services: Per Support, Individual and Systems Advocacy, Information and Referral, Independent Living Skills Training, and Nursing Facility or Youth Transition.
Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assesses the consumer's long- and short-term needs and goals during the initial contact alongside parents, legal guardians, or other applicable legal representatives.
• Establishes program eligibility or makes appropriate timely referrals with consistent follow-up.
• Assists all consumers in developing Independent Living Plans (ILP) that reflect their individual goals and needs; Youth Services Advocate, alongside the consumer, structures the ILP, completes appropriate documentation, and assists consumer in identifying and shaping individual goals.
• Assists consumers in identifying and resolving any access barriers while also assisting in acquisition of specialized skills or increased capacities needed to implement their own Independent Living plan.

Skills Training:

• Structures and provides consumer training based on individual goals or service requests. -Schedules or facilitates appropriate training, concentrating on home and community-based Independent Living skill development and individual responsibility.
• Helps youth access resources and information including multi-agency collaboration and education regarding their rights, how to self-advocate for their needs, and how to complete the administrative process and paperwork needed to secure those services.
• Provides vocational and employment skill building activities (i.e. resume writing, interview skills, professionalism, job search skills) to assist consumers to find and sustain consistent work.
• Provides youth transition services to prepare them for further education, employment, and Independent Living skills.

Service Coordination:

• Assists with locating peers, applicable professionals, and role models in the community.
• Contacts agencies and service providers to ensure integrated service delivery, multi-agency collaboration using professional and effective communication and outreach skills evidenced by timely results.
• Attends community events and meetings related to Independent Living issues and Youth Services as assigned by supervisory staff.
• Be familiar with all aspects of Independent Living Services: individualized goal plans, accessibility tools, adaptive equipment, individual grants, and applicable resources in the community.
• Responsible to work alongside Program Manager to coordinate and facilitate In-School Pre-ETS, Summer Work Program, Menu of Services options, and any future Pre-ETS or youth focused programs.
• Coordinates daily and weekly schedule with area schools, service providers, consumers, and other staff as applicable.
• Routinely reviews service plans with supervisor.
• Enters goals, services, all contacts, and demographic information in CIL Suite database in a thorough, accurate, and consistent manner. Also responsible for maintenance of consumer hard files and Access Alaska internal paperwork as well as State of Alaska/Division of Vocational Rehabilitation paperwork.
• Fiscal and programmatic components will be coordinated alongside Program Manager to maintain and develop existing programs and resources as well as to provide additional services to youth and transitioned aged youth.
• Responsible for recruitment for Independent Living Services, In School Pre-ETS, and Summer Work Program through collaboration and communication with referral partners to ensure program access to eligible and interested youth.
• Build upon and enhance existing Pre-ETS Curriculum, tailoring lessons and experiences to the needs and interests of each group or student(s)
• Provide hands on modeling, job coaching, student evaluations and educational lessons during Summer Work Program
• Provide Job Coaching through local DVR or with other work-based learning opportunities

Advocacy:

• Participates in efforts that empower youth with disabilities to create lasting systems changes.
• Conducts meetings/workshops to heighten awareness & provide information on disability rights.
• Networks with community resources to ensure an understanding of Access Alaska's services and the services available in the community for our consumers.
• Assist consumers with personal advocacy tasks.
• Engage with rural communities on the north slope and interior regions of Alaska to reach unserved or underserved populations and to provide information on Access Alaska services.
• Host and coordinate activities to promote community awareness, involvement, and assistance regarding issues of Independent Living services for older Alaskans who are blind or visually impaired.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Alongside department leadership, youth advocate is responsible for increasing capacity, community impact, and development of Access Alaska Youth Services. As a consumer directed agency, consumers will also be involved in all aspects of program development, implementation, and evaluation.
• Facilitation of peer support groups.
• Participate in trainings and professional development activities applicable to serving youth and individuals who experience a disability.
• Complete grant reporting activities related to both state and federal requirements.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education and Training Requirements
2 years of college or equivalent topic-specific training.
BS/BA in social services preferred.
Experience
3 yrs. in the health and human services field working with directly with clients or consumers. Experience as a vocational or employment specialist preferred.
Benefits: Accrued: Paid time off, 11 paid holidays, 3 days paid Bereavement, ICHRA Medical Plan, Vision, Dental, Life and AD&D insurance, Supplemental insurances available with Colonial.
Skills
Must be highly flexible, organized, creative and efficient. Must be able to relate to others and be comfortable with youth. Must be culturally responsive and aware of nuances of familial structure, disability, socioeconomic status, race, as they relate to employment etc. Excellent written, verbal, and computer skills necessary. Excellent public speaking skills. Must be able to make independent decisions with confidence, while ensuring compliance with all agency policies and confidentiality protocols Person-directed, trauma-informed and consumer-oriented service delivery.
Position is open until filled.
Access Alaska, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Access Alaska, Inc. makes every effort to ensure that in every phase of its recruitment and selection processes equal employment opportunity is provided to all individuals regardless of race, color, genetics, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, religion, marital status, change in marital status, pregnancy, parenthood, disability, national origin or citizenship, or veteran's status. Access Alaska, Inc. is an at-will employer.