Case Aide - Casa - Bilingual (Spanish & English) - $3,000 New Hire Bonus

WORK SCHEDULE:   This position is full time regular and non-exempt. Typical work schedule is Tuesday through Saturday.  Work hours will vary and requires the ability and willingness to work evenings, weekends, and holidays when needed.  Applicants who are fluent in Spanish will receive an additional $2.00 per hour language differential.

AT YOUTHCARE:  YouthCare envisions a community where no young person experiences homelessness, all young people have the opportunity to thrive, and the systems that oppress them are dismantled. YouthCare serves young people of many racial and ethnic backgrounds, abilities, sexual orientations, gender identities, and religious beliefs, and we seek a workforce that reflects that diversity.

ABOUT YOUTHCARE: YouthCare works to end youth homelessness and to ensure that young people are valued for who they are and empowered to achieve their potential. Founded in 1974, YouthCare was one of the first programs to serve runaway and homeless youth on the West Coast. The goal was to help young people find safety today and build a future for tomorrow. Over four decades, we’ve defined best practices and developed programs that are a national standard for excellence. Using a youth-centered approach, we ensure that young people experiencing homelessness ages 12-24 have the hope, skills, and confidence to gain long-term stability.

COVID vaccinations are mandated at YouthCare. Employees will be required to submit proof of vaccination or have an approved request for medical or religious exemption an an approved accommodation at time of On-Boarding. Please Note: Philosophical, political, scientific, or sociological objections to vaccination will not be considered for an exemption or accommodation. 

NON-MANAGEMENT EMPLOYEES ARE REPRESENTED BY THE OFFICE AND PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES’ INTERNATIONAL UNION (OPEIU) Local 8.

ABOUT CASA DE LOS AMIGOS:  This program has 2 locations and 20 beds, serving clients ages 12-17, who have been placed in the program by the Office of Refugee Resettlement Department of Unaccompanied Children's Services (ORR / DUCS).  All the clients are unaccompanied minors, primarily from Central America, who have recently migrated to the United States. The goal of the program is safe and timely reunification with family in the U.S.

POSITION SUMMARY:  Under the supervision of the Case Management Supervisor, the Bilingual Case Manager is responsible for the day-to-day case management and family reunification services for youth placed in the Casa Program under the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) and in accordance with all ORR policies and procedures. Duties include all intake and exit paperwork, case planning, crisis intervention, transportation, providing or obtaining translation services, ensuring clients meet all immigration related court appointments and requirements, and assisting in the safe and timely release of each client.  This position requires shift responsibilities, a high degree of flexibility in responding to emergent needs of young people in crisis, and good organizational and documentation skills.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Carry a small case load of up to 6 active clients (may be more during staffing shortages).
• Provide assistance to Case Management Supervisor, Case Manager, and two mental health therapists (filing and other administrative tasks).
• Provide assistance to medical coordinator for transportation to appointments and medical data-entry. 
• Track client entries and exits, and other client information in Excel and other applicable case management databases. 
• Review and close case files. Ensure quality in files and organization in file room. Coordinate and follow-up with team members for any missing documentation.
• Ensure current case files have all required case management documentation and assist in filing of paperwork.
• Remain up to date on ORR policy and procedures and implement case management changes within provided timeframe and as needed.
• Assess assigned client’s need for services and develop and document service plans that best meet the client request while respecting both ORR and DHS regulations and as clinically appropriate.
• Complete, maintain, and submit all documentation in a timely manner, including client intake and exit paperwork; assessments and service plans; child trafficking screenings and home study referrals; case notes; family reunification packet and sponsor background checks; changes of address.
• Maintain timely and accurate data entry in the UC Portal and YouthCare databases.
• Educate sponsors and clients on immigrant rights and restrictions, child welfare rights, ORR sponsor care agreement and ORR/DHS requirements and expectations post-release.
• Collaborate with community partners such as KIND and consulates to ensure services are provided in a timely manner.
• Review caseload weekly with Assistant Director, 3rd Party GDIT, Federal Field Specialist and Mental Health Therapist. Attend and participate in quarterly Stakeholder’s meetings.
• Escort clients of 12 and 13 years old to their reunification destinations as needed. Potential to stay overnight at agency expense if necessary due to flight schedules.
• Participate in regular staff training on updated ORR policies and procedures, program requirements, immigrant and refugee issues, as needed. Attend applicable staff meetings.
• Participate in file audits of all ORR young people in care quarterly to ensure proper documentation is being completed.
• Must be flexible and be able to cover the floor as needed. These duties include, but are not limited to, providing direct supervision of youth and associated tasks such as providing emotional support, cooking meals, facilitating transportation, participating in chores, and completing required documentation/data entry.
• Attend a minimum of 40 hours of in-service or equivalent trainings per year; including all YouthCare and ORR required trainings.

This job description is not intended to cover every aspect of your job at YouthCare. We are a team that works together to meet the needs of our clients and every member of the team is expected to pitch in and help even beyond the specific responsibilities listed in this description.

QUALIFICATIONS –

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• High proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing in both Spanish and English languages.
• Have one year of experience working directly with children. Two years of social services education may be substituted for the required experience.
• Understanding of issues affecting young people experiencing homelessness and population resources.
• High School Diploma or GED.
• Experience and credentials must comply with program contractual requirements, including but not limited to the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) background clearance process and must be at least 21 years of age.  DCYF Clearance must be maintained for entirety of employment when working with under-18 clients

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS:

• 1 or more years of experience working with young people experiencing homelessness at risk or immigrant young people highly preferred.
• BA in Psychology, Social Service or related field and one year experience, or three years comparable experience. 

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: 

• Must be able to provide I-9 supporting documentation for employment.
• Ability to provide a negative TB Test (results must be within one-year of hire date).
• DCYF Clearance must be maintained for entirety of employment when working with under-18 clients.
• Employees who drive YouthCare vehicles as a requirement for their position, must be at least 21 years of old, possess a valid Washington State Driver’s License, meet minimum safe driver criteria established by the agency and our insurance company which includes completion of Defensive Driving and 15-passenger Van trainings. Drivers under the age of 25 must have been licensed for at least 3-years and those operating vehicles with a capacity of 15 or more passengers must be at least 25 years old.
• Ability to obtain a current Food Handler’s Card
• Successful completion of pre-service trainings as required by contracting agencies.  Trainings such as CPR & First Aid (Adult/Child), Bloodborne Pathogens, and Behavior Management.
• Computer software skills including Windows, Microsoft outlook, Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Ability to adhere to the program’s Code of Conduct for the Prevention of Sexual Abuse, Ethics, and Boundaries. 
• Initiative, creativity, reliability, flexibility, thoroughness.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with good quality spelling, grammar and punctuation in both English and Spanish.
• High integrity when dealing with a broad array of cultures and restricted and/or confidential information.
• Ability to deal therapeutically with behavioral and emotional problems presented by young people and understanding of emotionally, physically and sexually abused young people.
• Ability to coordinate overall program functioning.
• Ability to accurately maintain and produce files, records, logs and reports.
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries with clients while building trust and respect.
• Ability and willingness to stay awake and alert during overnight shifts.
• Ability to verbally and physically respond to an aggressive person in ways that de-escalate, establish and maintain staff and young peoples’ safety.
• May be required to assume responsibilities or duties within the agency not specifically delineated in this job description for short periods of time or on an infrequent basis.
• Commitment to YouthCare’s initiative to build cultural proficiency across the agency. Acceptance of a variety of lifestyles, behaviors, and cultural and spiritual practices.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to perform range of physical motions, exerting up to 50 pounds. Lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds; standing, walking, sitting for long periods of time, kneeling, squatting, and stooping; running for brief periods of time; and go up and down stairs.

BENEFITS: YouthCare provides a competitive benefits package to full time employees including medical, dental, vision, long-term disability, short-term disability, life insurance, 401(k), vacation, paid holidays, and sick leave after successful completion of the 90-day Introductory Period.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYMENT: YouthCare is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on merit and business needs and YouthCare is committed to recruiting, hiring, training, and promoting qualified people of all backgrounds, regardless of actual or perceived sex; race; color; religious creed; national origin; ancestry; age; marital status; pregnancy; nursing parent status; physical, mental or sensory disability; medical condition; genetic information; sexual orientation; gender (including gender identity or expression); military or veteran status; or any other basis protected by federal, state and/or local laws. People of Color and Members of the LGBTQ community are strongly encouraged to apply.