YSIC Homeless Prevention Case Manager (SRI) (No AD)

Our Commitment to Equity
The Y actively promotes a culture free from bias and injustice. We are dedicated to removing institutional and systemic barriers that result in oppression and racism. We will be accountable to marginalized communities for creating equitable and sustainable environments where social justice is woven into every facet of our programs and by caring for our communities in a culturally versatile and respectful manner.

Job Summary

The Homeless Prevention Services Department consists of several programs developed to provide multi-disciplinary responses to youth who are currently experiencing or at imminent risk of homelessness. Prevention services are designed to intervene early with young people and their families to reduce the risk of homelessness and strengthen housing stability before a housing crisis occurs. Youth and families will collaboratively develop and regularly convene to identify risks strengths and concrete steps to prevent homelessness.

This Homeless Prevention Case Manager position can provide support across prevention programs but will focus on The Stability and Reintegration Initiative (SRI). SRI is a collaborative prevention program developed through a partnership between the King County Juvenile Court the YMCA of Greater Seattle (YSIC) and Building Changes funded by the Washington Youth & Families Fund. This program aims to prevent homelessness among young people exiting detention facilities by supporting their transition into safe and stable housing and providing opportunity pathways. This position focuses on supporting the discharge planning and transition of transition-age youth (16 to 21 years old) particularly BIPOC and LGBTQ2 individuals. It emphasizes a diversion-like approach to identify temporary or permanent housing options within 90 days of release. These efforts aim to enhance the transition to safe housing and provide ongoing support for young people as they reintegrate into their communities.

This position is with the Y Social Impact Center the social services division of the YMCA of Greater Seattle (YGS) serving around 5000 youth young adults and families every year in communities across King County Pierce County and various counties across WA. Through our programs we aim to strengthen young peoples ability to develop to their fullest potential through four strategies: reducing risk factors; navigating systems towards successful life transition; establishing stability safety and wellness in times of crisis; and building competencies and social capital. The Social Impact Centers programs include homelessness prevention housing behavioral health crisis response foster care licensing violence prevention and employment. Since many of the young people we serve have been involved in the foster care criminal justice behavioral health and/or homelessness systems we truly value relatable lived experience of our staff and those applying for our positions as an asset.

What You Will Get From Working at The Y

• Membership to the YMCA of Greater Seattle for you and your household
• Medical Dental Vision and Life insurance
• Retirement with generous employer contributions
• Free access to mental health resources
• Rapidly-accruing paid time off (PTO)
• Discounts on qualifying YMCA of Greater Seattle childcare and day camp programs

Hiring Range: $24.50 $27.50/hour
Schedule: This is a full-time role with an anticipated schedule of Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm with 1-2 weekends a month required.

Program Specific

• Collaborate with detention staff to establish a referral relationship ensuring a multi-disciplinary approach that minimizes the duplication of services and streamlines support for young people facing imminent housing instability upon exit.
• Be present at the detention center 3-5 days a week.
• Apply a diversion-like creative problem-solving approach to support young people in identifying permanent or temporary housing options within 90 days of their exit.
• Create and facilitate a course that focuses on building life skills enhancing social-emotional skills and securing and/or maintaining housing once released.
• Establish trauma-informed person-centered relationships with young people in detention through regular check-ins.
• Track and support the exit planning and discharge processes overseen by the detention facility of young people on the caseload and collaborate with individual young people to build safety and stability plans upon exit.
• Develop and apply an approach toward modeling and coaching key social-emotional skills and integrate the approach into transition planning and case management.
• Ensure non-disruption of academic progress of young people on the caseload through connections to local community reengagement/Open Doors schools or other post-secondary opportunities.

Agency Specific

• Acts as a systems connector to support youth in achieving their goals and reducing barriers in education employment/career development safe and stable housing permanent connections to supportive adults health and well-being mental health support and life skills.
• Use critical thinking skills and provide solution-focused navigation for complex needs among youth in detention.
• Build strong relationships with Y program participants to effectively provide quality services.
• Understands contract/grant terms and conditions to ensure program outcome requirements are met and services rendered to young adults appropriately.
• Understands and uses best practice philosophies in the field including trauma-informed care motivational interviewing housing first harm reduction de-escalation etc.
• Maintains clear professional timely participant contact notes service plans progress updates outcomes and other documentation in designated databases.
• Maintain strong sense of organization in fast paced work environment.

 *Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

Code of Conduct for Applicants

All employees and volunteers are responsible for adhering to abuse prevention policies maintaining appropriate boundaries completing required training reporting suspicious or inappropriate behavior and complying with mandated reporting requirements.

Responsible for ensuring staff are properly screened trained supervised and held accountable to the organizations abuse risk management standards.

• Bachelors degree* in psychology social work or related social services field or equivalent experience Masters preferred. Other applicable education training and experience which provide the knowledge abilities and skills necessary to perform effectively in the position will be considered.
• Experience working with teens or young adults in employment foster care group care housing education juvenile justice anti-poverty vocational support mental health chemical dependency and/or homelessness fields.
• Ability to teach effective independence skills for a variety of learning styles and to plan supportive activities.
• Strong youth engagement and relationship-building skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Basic computer skills and working knowledge of Microsoft Office.
• Ability to transport self and client(s) in a safe and effective manner and to meet clients at community locations; proof of adequate vehicle insurance coverage is required or ability to travel to areas without public transportation.
• Current state approved First Aid and CPR certification.**
• Current approved HIV blood borne pathogens training.**
• Prefer knowledge of and previous experience with diverse populations (language culture race physical ability sexual orientation etc.). Ability to speak any language in addition to English may be helpful.

* Some Case Manager positions required Bachelors degree or higher.

** Within 30 days of employment or first available training.

Additional Preferred Qualifications

• Masters degree in social work social services or a closely related field. Other applicable education training and experience which provide the knowledge abilities and skills necessary to perform effectively in the position will be considered.
• Life experience with poverty child welfare homelessness behavioral health or youth violence and a desire to use that experience to improve the lives of others.
• Ability to speak any language in addition to English.

Youll be a great fit for the Seattle Y if you:
Thrive on working in a collaborative environment.
Are very adaptable.
Have high ownership and strong work ethic.
Are a great problem solver who can think on your feet.
Truly enjoy being of service to people.
Like being part of a team that cares about one another as people and enjoy working together.
Want to know that the work you do contributes to building a better stronger community for all.

Our Commitment

YGS is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating a diverse and equitable work environment. Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to their race color religion sex sexual orientation gender identity national origin disability status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by local state or federal law.

We are a drug & alcohol-free workplace; all job offers are contingent on the results of a background check. We participate in the Federal E-Verify system.

If you need assistance of any kind with the application process reach out to

MISSION STATEMENT:

Building a community where all people especially the young are encouraged to develop their fullest potential in spirit mind and body.

OUR VALUES:

• Respect
• Responsibility
• Honesty
• Caring
• Passion for Excellence