Current jobs related to Youth Partner - Yakima - Community Resources Group DBA Foster First

JOB OVERVIEW

Foster First is currently seeking a full-time Youth Partner to work in Yakima and will serve our youth in Foster Care in the Yakima, Klickitat, and Kittitas County.  The candidate must live in the Yakima County. The anticipated start date is "as soon as possible".  The Youth Partner will provide case time services up to 4-8 youth (caseload will vary), and will provide Afterhours and Crisis Response (on-call support) during the week and weekend.  The Youth Partner will ensure each youth's needs are met; will provide the youth with needed services and support for the foster family; work collaboratively with the case manager to ensure that each youth has the supports they need based on their supervision and safety plan and Individual Services Treatment Plan; educate, counsel, train, and support foster parents in meeting the youth's overall needs and address any issues that may arise; work collaboratively with other stakeholders to meet the youth's and family’s needs as well as represent quality foster care and reunification work in the community.

Must have the ability to work evenings and weekends as part of the afterhours and crisis response rotation.

Must have liable transportation, auto insurance, and a valid driver's license

What We Offer

• Medical Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D)
• 401K Plan with 50% Company Match Contribution
• Flexible schedule
  
• $50 Monthly Phone Stipend
• $100 Weekend (Saturday & Sunday) Stipend When Scheduled For After Hours and Crisis Response
  

QUALIFICATIONS:
Education and Experience

• At least twenty-one (21) years of age;
• High school diploma or equivalent credential; and
• One (1) year of documented experience working with children or youth in one of or a combination of the following settings (Two years of social services education may be substituted for the year experience):
  • State licensed in-home or facility-based daycare, or professional nanny;
  • School setting or early learning center;
  • Mental Health Hospital;
  • Juvenile Rehabilitation facility, detention center, law enforcement, or corrections;
  • A child placing agency, residential care program, or as a licensed foster parent;
  • Conducting supervised visits; and
  • Working as staff directly with children or families in a community service organization.
• Have the skill and ability to work successfully with the special needs of children in care.
• Have effective communication and problem solving skills.

Licensure/Certificates:

• WA State driver’s license
• Auto insurance
  
• Clean Driving Record
• Successfully pass background check with DCYF
• Become CPR/First Aid/BBP Certified within 3 months of employment
• Complete TB Test within 15 days of hire
  • Foster First does not cover the cost for CPR & First Aid training and TB Test

YOUTH PARTNER JOB PURPOSE

Youth Partner’s are responsible for facilitating case-related activities on behalf of their organization. The Youth Partner’s main responsibilities include developing strong relationships with clients, acting as a liaison for their agency and clients, and preparing case files and any other needed reports. Youth Partners report their progress to an assigned Case Manager and/or Program Manager. 

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Make periodic home visits to families to support and monitor follow through with case plan
• Provide documentation of all interactions with clients on paper and/or in computer databases
• Communicate verbally, and in writing when necessary, concerns and/or significant observations regarding clients
• Coach families in communication to foster positive family relations.
• Assist in maintaining a childcare routine and supervise clients to support daily family life for foster families.
• Provide support in developing helpful parenting skills, stress management and other types of training to family members, including role-modeling techniques and practices.
• Provide behavioral interventions on a weekly basis as directed by case manager.
• Transport and/or supervise visitations between the children placed in out of home care, their parents, siblings and/or significant others to promote a continued relationship.
• Provide transport for respite, doctor appointments, and emergencies requiring transport.
• Provide education for parents on how to access emergency assistance, supports, and community resources.
• Assists families with goal setting, planning, and other activities related to home management tasks.
• Provide childcare for children while parents/foster parents attend trainings, support groups, and other required appointments.
• Assist case managers with other administrative tasks, e.g., copying, filing, recruitment events, and other tasks as requested.
• Assist in keeping paper and computer file data current, accurate, and in compliance.
• Ensure visitation rooms are kept clean, organized, and toys are disinfected periodically.
• All employees are expected to participate in recruitment/retention activities in the community.
• Provides behavioral interventions on a weekly basis as directed by case manager.
• All employees are expected to have our youth engage in activities in the community.
• Serves in the on-call rotation for after hours and weekend coverage as a backup when needed.
• Performs special assignments, projects, and other duties as required.
• Maintain 30 hours of on-going education training per year.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

The Youth Partner should demonstrate competence in some or all of the following:

• Behave Ethically: Understand ethical behavior and business practices and ensure that own behavior and the behavior of others is consistent with these standards and aligns with the values of the organization.
• Build Relationships: Establish and maintain positive working relationships with others, both internally and externally, to achieve the goals of the organization.
• Communicate Effectively: Speak, listen and write in a clear, thorough and timely manner using appropriate and effective communication tools and techniques.
• Focus on Client Needs: Anticipate, understand, and respond to the needs of internal and external clients to meet or exceed their expectations within the organizational parameters.
• Foster Teamwork: Work cooperatively and effectively with others to set goals, resolve problems, and make decisions that enhance organizational effectiveness.
• Lead: Positively influence others to achieve results that are in the best interest of the organization.
• Make Decisions: Assess situations to determine the importance, urgency and risks, and make clear decisions which are timely and in the best interests of the organization.
• Organize: Set priorities, develop a work schedule, and monitor progress towards goals.

WORKING CONDITIONS & PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• The Youth Partner usually works in an office environment, but the mission of the organization may sometimes take them to non-standard workplaces.
• The Youth Partner does not work a standard work week and will be required to work some evenings and weekends to fulfill the contract objectives and expectations, and for on-call emergency duties.

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• This position normally requires the physical demands of standing, walking, bending, lifting or performing other work requiring physical exertion (occasionally must be able to maintain 100% weight advantage whenever applying physical intervention, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force continuously to move objects and/or people), talking, hearing and adequate vision on a regular basis to perform the job requirements.

About Foster First

Foster First is a non-profit Child Placing Agency (CPA) that offers CPA- and Behavior Rehabilitation Services (BRS)- level care.  BRS is a temporary, intensive, wraparound, support, and treatment for children and families.  Established in 2003 as Community Resource Group, we began providing services to the Yakima and Wenatchee area.  In June of 2019, we changed our name to Foster First, still continuing to serve children and families.  Foster First serves the Yakima, Kittitas, Chelan, Douglas, Franklin, Benton, Grant, and Klickitat counties. 

At Foster First, we are driven by our mission, "Empowering youth and families for life-long success", and we want to ensure that every child placed within our programs are provided the tools necessary to gain life-long skills that will benefit them throughout their life.

Foster First is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, creed, religion, age, marital or nursing mother status, pregnancy, national origin, citizenship, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other status or characteristic protected by applicable local, state, or federal law.