Family & Youth Success Specialist

Position Summary:
The Family & Youth Success Specialist provides direct, hands-on support to youth, parents, and caregivers to promote stability, permanency, and independence. This position bridges the gap between case management and direct family and or youth engagement; offering Independent Living (IL) services, facilitating Ice Breakers, completing Missing Child protocols, and helping families and youth connect to community supports that preserve placements and prevent disruptions. The Specialist ensures all activities comply with Florida Statutes, CFOP Transition to Adulthood), CFOP Normalcy), and agency policies. The role supports older youth in care, assists families working toward reunification or permanency, and collaborates with case managers and partners to achieve positive outcomes.
Essential Job Functions:

• Provide Independent Living (IL) services to youth ages 13 and older, including education, employment readiness, housing preparation, budgeting, and daily living skills.
• Assist youth in developing and maintaining Pathways to Success and Transition to Adulthood plans that reflect their individual goals and strengths.
• Support participation in programs such as Keys to Independence, vocational training, and post-secondary exploration.
• Promote normalcy by encouraging youth involvement in social, recreational, and extracurricular opportunities.
• Conduct Ice Breakers between parents, caregivers, and case managers to support placement stability and improved communication, especially for older youth.
• Assist families in identifying and connecting to services that help preserve placements and address barriers to reunification or permanency.
• Support families participating in the Guardianship Assistance Program (GAP), including completing required home studies, home visits, and related documentation.
• Partner with case managers and community providers to coordinate supports that strengthen family functioning and youth stability.
• Initiate and complete Missing Child Protocols in accordance with DCF and agency requirements.
• Report missing children immediately, complete the Missing Child Reporting Form, and submit Incident Reports as required.
• Conduct and document Efforts to Locate, including collaboration with law enforcement, caregivers, and stakeholders.
• Participate in missing child recoveries and ensure follow-up services and debriefings occur upon the youth's return.
• Maintain accurate FSFN entries reflecting all missing child activities and communications.
  
  Enter timely and thorough documentation in FSFN for all contacts, services, and case activities.
• Ensure compliance with all state, DCF, and agency standards for data accuracy, confidentiality, and timeliness.
• Track youth progress, service participation, and outcomes for reporting and quality assurance.
  
  Work closely with the Youth Success Manager, Case Management Supervisors, and IL team to coordinate services and ensure continuity of care.
• Participate in staffings, case reviews, trainings, and community meetings as assigned.
  
  Maintain effective communication with youth, families, and partners while modeling professionalism and respect.
• Conduct home studies and home visits when required for Independent Living, GAP, or family preservation purposes.
• Provide transportation assistance for youth and families when necessary.
• Work overtime and participate in the on-call rotation as directed by the supervisor to respond to urgent or after-hours needs, including Missing Child incidents and placement disruptions.

Essential Qualifications:

Certifications/Licensures:

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Human Services, Education, Public Administration, or a related field (Master's preferred).
• Must hold (preferred) or obtain Florida Certification Board (FCB) Child Welfare Certification with one year of employment.
• Experience working with youth or families involved in the juvenile justice, child welfare, or with system-impacted or vulnerable populations.
• Child Welfare Professional Certification by the Florida Certification Board
• Demonstrated experience preparing individuals for employment and housing stability, including work with marginalized groups such as youth aging out of care, families in crisis, or individuals returning from incarceration, institutions or treatment center.
• Strong team leadership and collaboration skills, with the ability to work across systems and disciplines.
• Excellent communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities.
• Deep commitment to elevating youth voice, promoting normalcy, and supporting families on their path to stability.

Experience and Competencies:

• Bilingual is preferred.
• Physical required prior to hire; paid by agency
• Expertise with the Florida Child Welfare Practice Model and knowledgeable in Child Welfare electronic system of record (FSFN or CCWIS).
• Possess strong leadership, communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.

• Availability to work a flexible schedule as required by the department, including nights and weekends.

• Possess a current Background Clearance Screening Letter as required by DCF.

• Valid Florida driver's license and ability to obtain and maintain WestCare's vehicle insurance is required;
• The ability to identify and evaluate an individual's strengths, barriers, problems, and needs for the development of a Wellness and Recovery Plan
• The ability to write assessments, progress notes, discharge summaries, and other consumer related data
• Knowledge of the inter-relationship among substance use, mental health, and primary care disorders
• Knowledge and application of developmental theories
• The ability to evaluate the impact of substance use and mental health problems on the consumer's functioning in major life area
• The ability to coordinate and integrate multiple services, as well as interface and communicate with internal and external providers
• The ability to provide information to individuals and families concerning alcohol or other drug abuse, mental health problems, and the available services and resources
• The ability to identify the needs of a consumer that cannot be met by the counselor or agency and to assist the consumer/family to utilize the support systems and community resources available
• The ability to identify crises when they surface; mitigate or resolve the immediate problem; and de-escalate the situation, including the ability to develop Safety Plans, as needed
• The ability to assess the individual's growth and development relative to normative development for his/her chronological age, including physical, emotional, cognitive, educational, and social development
• Understanding of the relationship among mental health, substance use, physical health, and medication use on daily functioning
• Understanding and application of federal, state, local and agency confidentiality rules and professional standards of conduct
• Understanding of family dynamics, family roles, and family structure
• Understanding of professional ethics, consumer rights, and professional responsibilities
• Ability to communicate appropriately and effectively with members of a multidisciplinary team
• Ability to organize, interpret, and communicate data in a comprehensive and effective manner
• Ability to handle multiple tasks and effectively prioritize
• Ability to network with internal and external departments and agencies
• Understanding of issues related to prevention, intervention and treatment.
• Understands different perceptions of health
• Understands persons perceive family and its importance differently
• Ability to use informed care principles including ensuring consumer safety, preventing/avoiding re-traumatization, maximizing trustworthiness, enhancing consumer choice, maximizing collaboration, and emphasizing empowerment
• Ability to identify and describe key signs, symptoms, impact and manifestations of trauma
• Understands the bidirectional relationships among substance use and mental disorders and trauma
• Understands the differences among various kinds of abuse and trauma.
• Knowledge of WestCare Mission, goals and values
• Knowledge of Incident Reporting
• Knowledge of HIPAA, Professional Ethics, Consumer Rights and Confidentiality
• Familiarity with WestCare services and programs
• Demonstrates a high degree of dependability.
• Maintains a good attendance record.
• Observes working hours
• Shows flexibility and is responsive to requests from supervisor
• Works independently with minimal supervision
• Exhibits characteristics of good workmanship, and integrity on the job
• Work time is always productive
• Demonstrates ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with consumers, co-workers, external partners, and regulatory agencies
• Is courteous to consumers, staff, and all others.
• Demonstrates tact at the appropriate time.
• Cooperates with others both within and outside WestCare.
• Works well with supervisor; accepts direction and supervision
• Maintains a positive attitude toward work
• Ensures and maintains a safe working environment.
• Work area is clean and orderly.
• Verbalizes, understands and adheres to agency safety procedures.
• Demonstrates appropriate use of Unusual Incident Reports, in accordance with the Center's reporting procedures
• Presents a positive personal image
• Dresses and maintains a professional demeanor
• CPR Certification, First Aid Certification and an annual Tuberculosis test.
• Ability utilize Microsoft Office Software Suite
• Ability to provide an Affidavit of Good Moral Character
• Clearance in Pre-Employment Drug Testing and Criminal Records Checks, as required.
• Strong leadership and team management abilities.
• Extensive knowledge of child welfare systems, case management, and regulatory compliance.
• Experience in program development, quality assurance, and staff supervision.
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to develop and maintain collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong organizational and project management skills

Working Conditions:

• Work is primarily performed in an office or outpatient treatment setting.
• Some outdoor activities may be required.

Essential Physical and Mental Demands of the Job:

The employee must be able to perform the following essential duties and activities with or without accommodation:

Physical Demands:

• Requires mobility and physical activity: Having an adequate range of body motion and mobility to work in an office, residential, or outdoor environment including standing and walking (even and uneven surfaces), sitting for extended periods of time, bending, twisting, reaching, balancing, occasional lifting and carrying of up to 50 pounds. Use of computer and telephone systems is required which includes coordination of eye and hand, and fine manipulation by the hands (typing, writing, and working with files). Requires the ability to defend oneself and clients in physically abusive situations through the use of approved physical de-escalation techniques.
• Requires talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Talking is required to impart oral information to employees, clients, patients, and the public,
• and in those activities in which the employee is required to convey detailed or important spoken instructions to others accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Requires hearing: Hearing is required to receive and communicate detailed information through oral communication.
• Requires seeing: Clarity of vision at 20 inches or less and at distance. This factor is required to complete paperwork for many of the employee's essential job functions and to observe client behavior and activities in and out of the facility.
• The normal work routine involves no exposure to human blood, body fluids or tissues. However, exposure or potential exposure may be required as a condition of employment. Appropriate personal protective equipment will be readily available to every employee.

Mental Demands:

• Requires the ability to collect and analyze complex numerical and written data and verbal information to reach logical conclusions.
• Requires the ability to work and cooperate with clients, co-workers, managers, the public and employees at all levels in order to exchange ideas, information, instructions and opinions.
• Requires the ability to work under stress and in emotionally charged settings.
• The ability to defend oneself and clients in mentally/verbally abusive situations through the use of approved mental/verbal de-escalation techniques.

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