Youth Advocate

Job Description

Job Description

About the Program

HopeWell supports transition age youth with child welfare involvement in a variety of community-based environments as they work towards their goals around healthy living, housing stability, sustainable employment, and educational achievement. HopeWell offers a continuum of transition age youth services that offer community-based case management and individualized education and employment support.

Through My First Place™, youth ages 18 and older receive these services while residing in stable, safe and affordable housing provided by HopeWell. My Next Step is for youth ages 16 and older who are typically living in foster care, with extended family, or independently in the community. And for youth who have exited the child welfare system and obtained an FYI voucher through their local Public Housing Authority, we also help them find housing that will accept their voucher.

Who We Are Looking For

The Youth Advocate is a dynamic, collaborative, and results-oriented service provider who is passionate about a future where the disparities between foster care-involved youth and their non-foster peers have been eliminated. HopeWell offers a unique approach in a highly collaborative environment, delivering services by a team of staff including a Youth Advocate, an Education and Employment Specialist, and a Housing Specialist. The Youth Advocate will be excited about the ways that delivering services as a unified team can best meet youth needs.

We are seeking someone who will bring a strength-based, youth-centered approach to partnering with and coaching youth on their path to independence. The Youth Advocate will take an individualized, therapeutic approach to case management, psychosocial assessment, and development and implementation of intervention strategies, and will be comfortable working independently and directly with youth in the program, able to assess danger and risk, and make sound decisions in partnership with youth and program leadership. 

The Impact You'll Create 

Youth often face uncertainty as they enter adulthood — and this is especially true for those with child welfare involvement. To help them reach their full potential at a pivotal time in their lives, HopeWell’s continuum of services for transition age youth provide support that prepares them for independence as they launch into adulthood. HopeWell’s transition age youth services are steadily expanding, and this is an exciting opportunity to join a growing and engaged team to support youth comprehensively.

Your Impact Will Include (Job Responsibilities)

• Develop a partnership strategy with each youth. Provide direct support, coaching,mentoring,and intervention to increase youth self-sufficiency and goal attainment.
• Provide youth with individual counseling, crisis intervention, referrals,advocacyand life skills training, as well as crisis counseling as needed.
• Provideon-going assessment of youth well-being and develop plans to ensure safety and de-escalate crisis as needed.
• Provide clinical leadership to multi-disciplinary teams consisting of youth, family and other natural supporters, social workers, Employment and Education Specialists, and Housing Specialists to ensure seamless and effective service delivery. Ensure continuous information sharing and communication.
• Collaborate with community providers including but not limited to social workers, courts, professionals, vocational and independent living skills programs, schools, universities, familymembersandsignificant others.
• Complete documentation including but not limited tointakepaperwork and consents, Care and Services plans, needs assessments, and progress notes.
• Participate on a rotating basis to provide on-call coverage.
• Activelyparticipatein program and agency internal (e.g.collaborating with colleagues, staff meetings, town halls) and external meetings (e.g.collaborating with other providers,DCF) both in person andvirtually asassigned.
• Other duties as assigned.HopeWell’sservice continuum is evolving, and as such, the roles and responsibilities of various team members willlikely adaptand changeover time tomost comprehensively and effectively meet youth needs.

The Expertise We Can't Do Without (Qualifications)

This is a comprehensive list of qualifications that we believe will lead to success in the role. We strongly encourage candidates with lived experience with the foster care system to apply.

• Master’s degree in social work, mental health counseling, or related fieldpreferred.
• Experience working with transition age youth with complex presentations,including chronic trauma,preferred.
• Must be comfortable working in community settings.
• High levelof personal accountability for the quality and impact of work anddemonstratedability to effectively organize, plan, and prioritize work.
• Effective risk management and sound judgementin the face of complex challenges, includingseekingassistancewhen necessary.
• Strong reading and writing skills and a high degree of effective oral and writtencommunicationsskills.
• A high levelof professionalism in work and interpersonal interactions with both internal and external contacts.
• Demonstrated understanding of and competence in serving BIPOCand LGBTQ+identifyingyouth.
• Demonstrated flexibility andcollaborativespirit ; thoughtful, curious, and open-minded approach to learning, growth, and change.
• Computer skillssufficientto perform essential functions.

Other Essential Requirements

• This role involves some home-based and community-based work, some office-based work, and some remote opportunities. During home and community visits there are possible environmentalexposures,including pets.
• Daily access to an automobile isrequired.
• Driving isrequiredin and out of the catchmentarea andincludes sometransportingofyouth.
• A valid MA State Driver’s License.
• Clearing ofbackground checks as required by state and federal law.
• Remain current in all requiredtraining.
• Other duties as assignedtosupport quality care.

The HopeWell Difference – Benefits Beyond the Paycheck 

• Generous Hiring Bonus
• We offer a generous bilingual bonus to new hires who speak a second languagethat meet the needs of our families (other than English)– up to $3,500
• Access to our excellent BCBS medical benefits
• Retirement benefits including 401K match up to 6%
• Generous paid time off up; up to 5 weeks off; 2 floating holidays, 2 personal days, 14 paid holidays, up to 15 sick days 
• Professional development opportunities such as tuition reimbursement up to $3,000 per year and discounted tuition rates to select partnership colleges and universities!Additionalfunds for training and development.
• Reimbursement is available for employees to cover the registration costs and annual fees for any professional licenserequiredfor work! As well as bonuses for licensure attainment
• Wellnessbenefitsincludingaccess to employee resource groups, discounted gym memberships, and an Employee Assistance Program.
• Student Loan Pay-Down Program – Let us help you pay down your student loans!
• Licensure supervision
• And more…Click this link to find out more about our benefits beyond the paycheck!