Job Description

AGENCY OVERVIEW

Since our founding in 1895 in Marin County as an orphanage – and through subsequent years as Sunny Hills Services – Side by Side has been at the forefront of best practices in child welfare, working with the most vulnerable youth in our community. Today, Side by Side operates in four counties – Marin, Alameda, Sonoma, and Napa – across the Bay Area, reaching nearly 2,000 children, young adults, and family members per year with much-needed services related to behavioral and mental health, early intervention in schools, LGBTQIA+ support, transitional housing for foster youth, and special education.

Side By Side places high value on individuals with a passion for helping underserved youth and families in a collaborative and inclusive work culture. We strive to work together to create a trauma-informed workplace where we walk the walk of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging principles.

COMPENSATION

This position has an hourly rate of pay between $32.00 to $34.67 based on experience.

BENEFITS

• 3 weeks of paid vacation for F/T employees increasing to 4 weeks of vacation after 2 years of service (for all non-school based employees)
• 2 weeks of sick leave for F/T employees with 2 additional sick days for direct service staff
• 10 paid holidays per year and 1 Self-Care Anniversary Day each year
• 99% employer-paid Medical for F/T employees including platinum level Kaiser Permanente insurance, Sutter Health or Anthem options
• Dental and Vision Insurance
• Long Term Disability insurance up to $9,000 per month, plus $50,000 Life and AD&D insurance. Employees also have the option to purchase additional life insurance at their own cost.
• 403b Retirement Plan with agency match after one year of employment
• Professional development and other learning opportunities including unlimited access to over 1,000 behavioral health courses online. Side By Side is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness certified employer
• FREE Employee Assistance Program including up to 10 complimentary personal counseling sessions per problem, per year for staff and dependents
• Employee recognition program with $500 bonus awards
• Employee referral bonus of up to $1,000
• Pet Insurance

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The Independent Living Program provides every eligible youth in care with independent living skills training to assist in the transition to a successful and independent lifestyle. ILP services are currently delivered to youth ages 14-21 by Side by Side and partnered with Alameda County Social Services.

There is an option for this position to become hybrid based on an on-going demonstration of autonomy and continuously meeting program deliverables.

The Housing Specialist/FUP Coordinator works in conjunction with youth’s Case Managers/Coaches and will play a crucial role in supporting current and former foster youth and their families in securing and maintaining stable housing. The Housing Specialist/FUP Coordinator is responsible for maintaining housing resources and functions as a consultant for case managers and as a one-on-one support for youth with identified housing goals. This position work directly with the Family Unification Program and local THP/THP+ housing programs to ensure that youth and families are appropriately housed.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide client-centered, strengths-based, and culturally responsive educational case management to a designated caseload of ILP-eligible foster and probation youth; helping them to find and maintain appropriate housing placement(s).
• Regularly meet and assess the needs of each youth on assigned caseload, support them with achieving their housing goals, including those outlined in their TILP, and help them to solve problems and address challenges.
• Meet clients in the field when needed to assist them with accessing housing resources and support services.
• Support at risk populations, for example: pregnant and parenting teens, LGBTQIA+, and CSEC with accessing additional services unique to their situation.
• Meet with youth and their care team in the community to encourage youth participation in ILP related services.
• Support youth and supports completion of housing applications and voucher applications, sign up for waitlists, and support them in managing deadlines and due dates.
• Attend continuing education and professional development trainings to strengthen capacity to deliver quality service and programming to youth on caseload.
• Other duties as assigned.

Programming Support

• Conduct workshops and informational sessions for families and community members on special housing topics, alameda county specific resources, and youth rights.
• Develop and distribute housing materials and resources relevant to the ILP eligible population of youth.
• As part of outreach and engagement, the ILP Housing Specialist will attend monthly tabling events in the community to promote youth and family awareness and engagement.
• Collaborate with ILP team to develop, implement, and iterate on culturally relevant and responsive programming for systems-engaged youth.
• Attend and provide support at ILP events.
• Support annual events (e.g.: Back to School Bash, Independent city, Holiday events, etc.).

Administration

• Maintain timely and accurate progress notes and other records to document program participant status, progress toward the completion of goals, and outcomes.
• Provide status updates to County ILP staff when asked for QA purposes.
• Contribute to the development of TILPS as needed.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and expectations required of the position.

AGENCY-WIDE COMPETENCIES

Ethical Conduct. Understands and adheres to the Agency’s Code of Conduct, demonstrates a high level of integrity in all internal and external activities and complies with the Employee Handbook and all other Agency policies, practices and procedures. Must maintain strict confidentiality related to client, staff and other Agency information

Communication. Able to inform verbally and in writing, with clarity and good effect and to understand clearly and quickly when instructions or orders are received. Includes judgment about what information is important and what is not, and what should be communicated, how, to whom and when.

Judgment. Able to make decisions in a timely fashion that are sound, accurate and supported by the reasoning and inclusion of appropriate people. Includes the ability to recognize, address and propose solutions to problems that arise.

Safety. The employee is safety conscious about the work environment. The work area is free of debris to prevent trip and slip hazards. All products and equipment are stored in its proper location. All safety devices are in their proper location, are functional, and utilized effectively on a consistent basis. Standard operating procedures and safety work rules are followed on a daily basis.

Job Knowledge

• Knowledge of housing resources for systems engaged youth
• Knowledge of the foster care system
• Knowledge of the obstacles current and former foster youth face
• Understanding of youth development/youth-adult partnership frameworks
• Knowledge of Child Development
• Knowledge of the cycle of Domestic Violence
• Knowledge of Parenting skills and bonding techniques
• Knowledge of the effects of Substance Abuse a harm reduction framework
• Knowledge of youth-friendly community resources and public welfare system

Work Quality. Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs, particularly Word and Excel

Adaptability/Flexibility. Ability to work both collaboratively and independently

Teamwork

• Ability to establish and maintain rapport with youth and families, as well as other permanent support people and professionals
• Enthusiastic and strengths-based approach to partnering with youth and collaborating with peers.

Action Oriented/Initiative. Commitment to effectiveness, prioritizing efficiency and follow-through.

Professionalism/Self-Regulation. Commitment to self-reflection and personal awareness as a means of being able to remain emotionally available and connected with youth, and function as an engaged team-member

Cultural Responsiveness

• Commitment to working in a diverse workplace, and self-awareness regarding issues of race, ethnicity, class, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion/spirituality and disability.
• Passion for working with a diverse group of Transition Age Youth (TAY) including youth of color, LGBTQ youth, and youth with disabilities.
• Ability to view families, both biological and chosen, as resources and support systems for youth, and commitment to involve families in services

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS

• BA/BS in a Social Science field or at least 2 to 4 years of experience in mental health field or working with systems engaged adolescent and transitional aged youth.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills are required.
• Experience in crisis and resource management, youth development and group facilitation both virtually and in-person.
• Fulfillment of TB clearance, fingerprinting and state clearance, and any other mandatory state/federal requirements.
• A valid California driver's license, dependable personal automobile for use on the job, insurable by SHS’ insurance policy based on DMV record and personal vehicle insurance.

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

• Sitting, walking, standing for extended periods of time
• Twisting and bending for brief periods of time.
• Occasional reaching and/or grasping using hands and/or arms.
• Regular use of hands requiring dexterity in using the telephone, computer keyboard, mouse or calculator.
• May be required to use cleaning products and assist clients with cleaning and moving belongings.
• Regularly required to talk and hear in person or by telephone.
• Visual ability to read documents and computer monitor.
• May be required to lift up to 30 pounds.
• May be required to ascend/descend stairs.
• Exposure to low to moderate noise levels characteristic of working in an office or client environments.
• Ability to drive to various sites.

Side by Side provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.