CARE Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

CARE Specialist

SALARY: $4,903.00/month

CLOSING: Open Until Filled

DEPARTMENT: Health and Human Services

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF POSITION

The CARE Specialist provides high-level intervention support across Umatilla County, serving as a dedicated bridge between vulnerable, multi-issue youth, their families, and essential community resources. Operating under a strategic "no wrong door" model, this position primarily focuses on receiving and acting on referrals from local school districts and funding partners. By addressing key social determinants of health-such as housing stability, basic needs, behavioral health, and resource access-the CARE Specialist works directly to remove non-academic barriers to learning, with a primary focus on improving school attendance and ultimately driving student graduation.

Moving beyond entry-level execution, this position requires more than simply making referrals; it demands advanced systems navigation to teach and empower youth and families to independently find and access support networks. By proactively educating both school personnel and families on the evolving landscape of available resources, the CARE Specialist builds long-term resilience and community capacity.

Ultimately, this role requires an elevated level of professional maturity to navigate youth development and complex family dynamics with a calm, compassionate demeanor. It calls for an agile problem-solver who can maintain firm professional boundaries, leverage local resource networks, and fluidly balance direct client support with the program's administrative and operational needs.

SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIPS

Works under the direct supervision of the CARE Coordinator and the general direction of the Human Services Director.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES OF THE POSITION

1. Direct Client Support & System Navigation (40%)

• Intensive Family & Youth Support: Provide case coordination and navigation for highly mobile, housing-unstable, and/or crisis- and trauma-impacted youth and families.
• Family Action Plans: Facilitate structured client consultations to identify core needs, uncover systemic barriers, and align appropriate services, utilizing a "teach and train" framework that empowers families to prioritize goals and achieve sustainable self-sufficiency.
• Essential Resource Connection: Coordinate immediate access to stabilization resources, including housing options, medical insurance, food stability, basic needs, and behavioral health/substance use disorder (SUD) services.
• Transportation & Resource Access: Transport clients to critical appointments, community services, or program meetings to ensure access to support networks when transportation barriers exist.

1. School & Community Collaboration (30%)

• CARE Team Coordination: Develop, schedule, and lead CARE Team meetings across county schools and collaborative partner agencies.
• Partner Relationships & Referrals: Act as a universal referral point, building robust professional relationships with school counselors, community partners, and external social service providers.
• Community Awareness & Outreach: Share program information, advocate for service equity, and publicize CARE service descriptions to community partners and stakeholders.
• Inclusive & Accessible Services: Deliver culturally and linguistically competent services to diverse populations to ensure available resources are accessible to all who may qualify.

1. Record-Keeping, Privacy & Resource Tracking (20%)

• Timely Documentation & Data Entry: Complete accurate client notes and program data promptly in the program database to maintain up-to-date tracking and comply with grant reporting timelines.
• Confidentiality & Information Privacy: Keep all client information strictly secure-including written records, digital files, and spoken conversations-in full compliance with HIPAA, PHI, and PII privacy requirements.
• Responsible Resource Use: Act as a responsible steward of county resources when evaluating financial assistance requests (such as rent or utilities) by confirming immediate need, encouraging family sustainability plans, and using county funds as a last resort.

1. Professional Practice & Team Support (10%)

• Knowledge Sharing & Team Collaboration: Participate in peer learning sessions, share insights on resource navigation, and actively identify workflow improvements in the workplace.
• Professional Boundaries & Problem-Solving: Model exemplary professional boundaries, critical thinking, and a solution-focused mindset during challenging workplace transitions or difficult client interactions.

OTHER DUTIES OF POSITION

Other duties as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS FOR POSITION

Education & Experience

• Associate's Degree or higher from an accredited institution in Social Services, Human Services, or a closely related field preferred. OR
• An Associate's Degree in any field and at least two years working directly with youth and families in a direct service capacity. OR
• A minimum of five years working within the education, social services, non-profit, or other setting whose primary customers consisted of individuals who need assistance or services related to any of the social determinants of health, and at minimum two (2) of those years being dedicated experience working with children and families.

Skills & Competencies

• Communication & Professional Etiquette: Possess excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, with a strong grasp of professional etiquette across all communication channels (in-person, phone, email, and text).
• Trauma-Informed Approach: Ability to apply trauma-informed principles in daily interactions, recognizing how historical, systemic, and situational trauma impact client behavior and engagement.
• Essential Mental Demands: Ability to maintain emotional composure, sound objective judgment, and constructive communication while interacting with dysregulated, hostile, or severely traumatized individuals in unpredictable field environments.
• Cognitive Load & Adaptability: Capacity to process secondary or vicarious trauma and rapidly adapt priorities in response to sudden client emergencies.
• Accountability & Open Communication: Maintain an open, honest line of communication with leadership-feeling comfortable asking questions, seeking guidance, taking responsibility for actions and choices, and actively sharing feedback.
• Relationship Building & Collaboration: Establish and maintain positive, effective working relationships with supervisors, school staff, community partners, county departments, and the families served.
• Emotional Intelligence & Boundaries: Demonstrate high emotional intelligence and strong professional boundaries, maintaining a balanced, compassionate approach when navigating sensitive family dynamics and social situations.
• De-escalation & Composure: Remain calm, professional, and cooperative in high-tension situations, exercising the ability to de-escalate conflict even when interacting with dysregulated or non-cooperative individuals.
• Resourcefulness & Continuous Learning: Demonstrate a self-starter mindset by actively utilizing available tools, networks, and resources to build job knowledge and solve problems in the moment.
• Autonomy & Teamwork: Work intuitively and independently in the field while staying connected as an engaged team member and reliably following oral or written instructions.
• Organization & Multitasking: Exercise strong organizational and multitasking skills to manage competing daily priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Technical Proficiency: Skilled in using basic office technology and tools-including computers, mobile phones, printers, and scanners-with proficiency in Google Workspace applications and web-based databases.
• Safe Client Transportation: Provide safe, reliable transportation for youth and families to essential appointments, agency meetings, or emergency stabilization resources when transportation barriers exist.

Preferred Experience and Competencies

• Bilingual proficiency in Spanish (verbal and written).
• Proficiency or demonstrated training in Motivational Interviewing (MI) and Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS).
• Deep familiarity with Umatilla County's social service network, navigation processes, and mandatory reporter mandates.
• Direct experience navigating child, youth, and family trauma.
• Advanced knowledge of data entry, spreadsheet management, and digital archiving workflows.

SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to travel extensively within the County and manage a highly flexible field schedule.
• Possess and maintain a valid Oregon Driver's License.
• Must successfully pass a comprehensive background check and drug screen.
• Must sign and adhere to the attached CARE Ethics and Personal Conduct Policy/Team Rules

Use of Umatilla County application is MANDATORY and must be submitted via our online portal at Anyone who qualifies for Veterans' Preference in Public Employment provided for in OAR 839-006-0435; please include proper certification (OAR 839-006-0465) with your application. Any applicant with a disability who needs reasonable accommodation in any step of the application or hiring process to assist or to demonstrate qualifications or to perform the essential functions of the job for which the applicant is applying should inform the Human Resources Department.

Umatilla County provides employment opportunity to all qualified employees and applicants, without unlawful regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran's status or any other status protected by applicable Federal, Oregon, or Local Law.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER