Family Support Specialist

Position Information

Title: Family Support Specialist

FLSA Status: Hourly, Full-Time, Non-Exempt

Location: Youth Emergency Shelter

Reports to: Emergency Shelter Program Manager

Job Description

The Family Support Specialist at the Youth Emergency Shelter in Yakima prioritizes working within the relationships between youth and their families, as a way to utilize natural support systems to positively and permanently exit young people out of homelessness and into safe and stable housing. The role helps support a wide spectrum of needs for the youth (ages 13-17) experiencing homelessness who are enrolled in shelter. The role firmly understands that the success of the youth emergency shelter hinges on the complete immersion of each youth in the process, ensuring their active involvement in decision-making and goal setting, specifically the reunification of youth and family

Duties and Responsibilities

• Duties and Responsibilities Support to Youth & Community Support Teams

• Support every youth (ages 13-17) staying at the youth emergency shelter

• Primarily focus on prioritizing family reunification whenever safe and possible, but also review alternative options such as shared housing, transitional housing, and independent living

• Collaborate with Peer Support Navigator to ensure youth staying at shelter will have access to their own, individualized community support team (CST)

• Encourage complete immersion of each youth and identified caretaker in the process, ensuring their active involvement in decision-making and goal setting

• Ensure youth's voice will be central in all decision-making, and that their preferences and needs guide the team's actions and develop their individualized transition plans, sharing insights about their aspirations, strengths, and challenges

• Assist youth in proactively selecting supportive individuals from various industries, including their peers, family members, licensed shelter staff, case managers, legal professionals, behavioral health providers, mentors, and community members

• Utilize technological tools and platforms to facilitate real-time communication and updates among team members, fostering a collaborative and responsive environment

• Ensure anyone identified by youth to be a part of their individualized CST, is equipped to actively engage (e.g. transportation and remote access support for those identified)

• Build and maintain relationships, both informal and formal, with current partners, such as the local domestic violence shelter, housing programs, supports for youth with developmental, cognitive, or intellectual disabilities, worksite training programs, SUD treatment, clean and sober housing, youth-based legal services, transportation opportunities, prominent parenting services for youth who are expecting or already have children, medical clinics, and local advocacy groups

• Support youth in facilitating their CST

• Give youth regular forums to ensure continuous dialogue allows for the expression of concerns, adjustments to plans, and that the evolving needs of the individual are met

• Mediate potential disagreements quickly and effectively to ensure progress continues within CST

• Collaborate with youth, Peer Support Navigator, and Case Manager on exit strategies to be personalized, considering the achievement of predefined goals and the youth's comfort level with transitioning to independence or family reunification

• Create a flexible exit timeline, allowing for adjustments based on individual circumstances

• Frequently review goals with youth, identified care takers, Peer Support Navigator, and Case Manager in order to track progress, make necessary adjustments, and accommodate evolving needs. Support to Families

• Build rapport with youth’s families through intentional and authentic methods of relationship modeling and healthy boundary setting

• Collaborate with onsite Behavioral Health Specialist and Peer Support Navigator to provide basic therapeutic services in order to engage families

• Guide youth and their families through available resources, directly providing resources when said services are available Aftercare Services

• Work with youth’ and their identified care takers/placement site who have exited our licensed shelter for another 6 months, at minimum

• Support identified care takers and the supports within youth exit destination to ensure safe and stable housing is maintained

• Support identified care takers and provides resources to support youth in pursuing educational decisions, being actively involved in re-enrollment of chosen institutions; if desired

• Give identified care-takers regular forums to ensure continuous dialogue allows for the expression of concerns, adjustments to plans, and that the evolving needs of the youth are met

• Collaborate with identified care takers and youth to coordinate educational supports, employment opportunities, mentorship programs, and behavioral health services to play a vital role in fostering a sense of belonging

• Maintain regular meetings with identified care takers to frequently review youth goals in order to track progress, make necessary adjustments, and accommodate evolving needs

• Other Responsibilities

• Update Coordinated Entry housing assessments for each youth to ensure they are active in HMIS

• Maintain accurate and quality documentation in Rod’s House databases

• Create performance reports, as needed

• Facilitate and participate in program, department, and agency meetings

• Facilitate and participate in relevant trainings

• Facilitate and participate in local and state interagency work groups, as needed

• Complete all duties as assigned and other duties as required.

Education and/or Experience

• One of the following (required):

  • A master’s degree in social services or a closely related field from an accredited school and one year of experience working with youth or young adults OR

  • A bachelor’s degree in social services or a closely related field from an accredited school and tw0 years of experience working with children or youth OR

  • A high school diploma or equivalent and five years of successful full-time experience in a relevant field working with children or youth; and supervisory abilities that promote effective staff performance; and relevant experience, training, and demonstrated skills in each area that they will be managing or supervising.

  • Previous experience working with families and/or young people and their support systems

  • Lived experience in homelessness Required

Salary/Compensation and Benefits

• Starting wage of $20.00 an hour

• Medical, dental, and vision

• Vacation time

• Sick time

• 401K

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Must be at least 21 years of age Required

• Valid driver’s license and auto insurance Required

• Experience working with individuals who have experienced trauma, specifically severe mental illnesses and substance use disorders Preferred

• Knowledge in human services, social work, education, or a related field Preferred

Work Conditions and Physical Requirements

Shifts could include evening, early mornings, or weekends, including holidays. This position requires interactions with young people experiencing homelessness and with community members, social service providers, and other organizations. Physical requirements for the position include frequent walking, hearing, seeing, speaking, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, grasping, climbing, and repetitive motions. This position could require exerting up to 50 pounds of force to lift, carry, pull, or move objects. Ability to safely drive company cars and vans are strongly preferred.