Senior Youth Advocate

Cambridge, MA Type: Exempt, Full time Supervisor: Director of Youth Program Pathways Location: 430 Rindge Avenue, Suite #202 Salary Range: $70,000 - $80,000 Position Purpose The Senior Case Manager is a critical student-facing member of the Youth Programs and YouthBuild Just A Start Teams. Working directly with opportunity youth and young adults (ages 16-24) from the Boston Metro North region, you will provide wrap-around supportive services and referrals, supporting participants as they work to attain their High School Equivalency credential, explore post-secondary education, and secure high quality, good paying jobs. The Senior Case Manager works with current trainees and alumni, is experienced in providing trauma-informed case management services, and is committed to supporting young people as they work to achieve their personal and professional goals. The Senior Case Manager also provides critical life skills workshops and leadership development training. The Senior Case Manager scope of work includes but is not limited to: (1) providing trauma-informed case management services to trainees and alumni, (2) leadership/administration of the case management component, and (3) maintain participant files, case notes and contribute to quarterly funder reports. The Senior Case Manager works closely with the Director of Youth Program Pathways to provide strength-based coaching to ensure trainees remain in good standing and successfully complete the program. Program Background Just A Start is a community development corporation dedicated to promoting equity by creating access to stable housing and building pathways to economic opportunity. We build and preserve affordable housing, offer education and workforce training, and provide housing resources and services to low-to moderate-income people in Cambridge and nearby communities. Founded in 1968 as a teen summer jobs program, Just A Start has a long history of serving young people in Cambridge. YouthBuild Just A Start is a full-time, comprehensive youth workforce development program for ages 16-24 in the Boston Metro North region. Our program is one of 11 independently operated YouthBuild programs and members of the Massachusetts YouthBuild Coalition. As a proud affiliated member of the global YouthBuild movement, we help young people reclaim their education, gain job skills, and become community leaders. We define students by their potential, not their challenges, offering mentorship, counseling, and support. Utilizing positive youth development and trauma-informed practices, we provide wrap-around services and academic and career training to out of school youth. Case Management and Supportive Services Oversee and assign student and alumni cases to case managers across the YouthBuild, Solar Start, and other young adult training programs. Lead case conferencing in team meetings ensuring youth confidentiality while supporting front line staff to understand youth needs and differentiated instruction. Carry an average student case load of 10-15 active students as well as alumni by providing 1:1 case management services across Youth Programs. Develop and administer the basic needs survey, contribute to Supportive Action Plans (SAPs), and Student Success, Placement, and Transition Plans. Coordinate progress reviews ensuring that trainees receive timely feedback on their progress across all program components. Develop and facilitate 1-2 Life Skills classes per week focused on socio-emotional wellbeing and small group work as needed. Maintain strong and productive relationships and communicate with trainees, family members, guardians, as well as other service providers (including other Just A Start programs) ensuring continuity of supportive services. Participate in Youth Programs Orientation and Case Management program application interviews to assess participant readiness and supportive service needs. Administer supportive service benefits and identify and advocate for internal and external partnership solutions for unmet needs. Advocate for trainees who are court-involved through coordination and communication with lawyers, court-room advocates and accompanying youth to court appearances as necessary. Support the effective placement and transition of eligible trainees in and out of Just A Start’s participant-designated transitional housing apartment units and coordinate as needed with JAS’ Resident Services and property management. Complete case notes, maintain participant records, and other required case management documentation in a timely, accurate, and strengths-based manner. Help students and alumni apply for unemployment, SNAP, housing, and other community resources. Work closely with Youth Programs’ LICSW clinical consultant to manage caseloads, case conferencing, and develop front line staff training with support from program leadership. Qualifications / Keys To Success Bachelor’s degree required in social work, human services or similar area of study, and/or an equivalent combination of experience and education. 5-7 years of related experience in case management and/or direct client service provision with young people (ages 16-24) dealing with significant barriers or obstacles to success is strongly preferred. Experience working with populations dealing with court-involvement, addiction, mental health, housing instability, and food insecurity. Familiarity with state and local community service providers and resources, preferably in Cambridge/Greater Boston. Passion for working with young people and ability to build positive relationships with an equity-centered mindset. Experience and/or comfort with group facilitation. Awareness of principles of Motivational Interviewing (MI), Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is preferred. Strong verbal and written communicator who is capable of managing up, down and across the department and organization to deliver quality and integrated services. Growth-mindset, patience, and understanding of the evergreen nature of youth needs and goals. Familiarity with Google Workspace, Box, Zoom, and Salesforce (or other CRM) preferred. Willingness to work flexible in-person/remote work hours outside of Monday – Friday 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM as needed in service to young people. Acceptable CORI/SORI is required. Salary And Benefits The starting annual salary for this role is $70,000 - $80,000. In addition to a competitive salary, Just A Start offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, Paid Time Off, Volunteer Time Off, 13 paid holidays, individual professional development budgets, and a 401(k) retirement plan with a 3% employer contribution. In addition, Just A Start has implemented a “Find Your Joy Fridays” benefit that allows staff to leave early on Fridays. Just A Start is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our staff represents a wide range of ages, races, interests, and backgrounds coming together in pursuit of common goals. We value diversity and work together to create an inclusive culture where people from all backgrounds can thrive and belong. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetics or any other characteristic protected by law. Physical Demands The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and to use standard office equipment, including a computer; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. Work Environment The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Normal office conditions and classrooms. The noise level in the work environment is moderate and can occasionally be loud. #J-18808-Ljbffr Just A Start