Job Details

The candidate must reside within the following county(s) within Region 8: Bexar, Kerr, Bandera, Gillespie, Kendall, Comal, Guadalupe, Frio, La Salle, Atascosa, Wilson, Karnes, Victoria, De Witt, Lavaca, Calhoun, Jackson, Val Verde, Edwards, Real, Kinney, Uvalde, Medina, Maverick, Zavala and Dimmit County.

PRIMARY FUNCTION/RESPONSIBILTY

The Independent Living/PAL Specialist provides support to Foster Youth (age 14-21) aging out of the foster care system by providing life skills training and preparation for independence. The Independent Living Specialist will assist youth to identify needs, set goals in building life skills by mobilizing resources for individual counseling on employment, vocational, housing, and educational services. The job requires sensitivity to the services populations' cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Ensures all PAL aged youth in the foster care system both in paid and non-paid care have received their PAL services. Tracks this information to reports on progress made monthly.
• Documents services provided to youth and young adults receiving PAL services and provides follow-up reports after youth have left foster care.
• Assist youth to identify needs, set goals in building life skills by mobilizing resources for individual counseling on employment, vocational, housing, and educational services
• Ensures that contracted service providers fulfill PAL contractual obligations by following all program policies/procedures with a concentration on, but not limited to, Casey Life Skills Assessments, PAL Life Skills Training, Aftercare services for youth who are currently in foster care, and the needs of foster youth preparing to transition into adulthood.
• Determine if youth or young adults both in and out of foster care need PAL services, such as life skills training, case management, or financial help.
• Assist youth to find extended care placements if appropriate and determine if young adults are eligible for the Return to Care program.
• Assist in securing specialized services to PAL aged youth and young adult who have left the foster care system.
• Provide information to youth or young adults about the dangers of Human Trafficking and Labor Trafficking, and informing them about any available services and resources.
• Provide face to face contact with youth as needed. Assist in providing and arranging transportation for youth.
• Collect outcomes and service data for the federal National Youth in Transition Database for Texas.
• Ensure PAL services meet quality standards.
• Give input to help youth as they develop their transition plan from foster care to a successful adulthood.
• Develop the regional annual plan and budget, with help from regional budget analysts and other staff.
• Provide education and training to CPS caseworkers, service providers, caregivers, and the community about available services and resources to meet the needs of youth who are moving from foster care to a successful adulthood.
• Participate in state-wide meetings with PAL team members to make sure the program stays consistent, to improve program outcomes, to understand policy changes, and use best practices.
• Plan, coordinate, transport and supervise state-wide and regional conferences and events, such as Texas Teen Conference or College Conference.
• Use outside professional collaboration and intra-agency teamwork appropriate to the agency.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

• Adheres to all policies and procedures of the agency and its accrediting and standard setting bodies, such as Council on Accreditation (COA) and state licensing.
• Maintains client confidentiality per SJRC Texas/Belong standards and all applicable codes of ethics.
• Learns, understands, and supports the SJRC Texas/Belong mission, purpose, and function.
• Carries out the Trauma Informed Care principles and practices for both internal and external stakeholders.
• Responsible for the environmental, cultural, safety, diversity issues, and needs of the clients and others that enter the work area.
• Attends mandatory trainings as defined in positions training matrix.
• Attends continuing education as necessary to expand knowledge and maintain certifications or licenses.
• Uses outside professional collaboration and intra-agency teamwork appropriate to the agency.
• Skilled in organizing work in an environment with multiple challenges and priorities with minimal supervision.
• Avoid all conflicts of interest, real or perceived.

• Minimum of two years' experience working with at-risk youth.
• Demonstrate flexibility, autonomy, responsiveness, sound personal judgment and a high level of initiative.
• Maintain self-composure and self-control under stressful conditions, as this position requires a high degree of fortitude /emotional stamina. Clients may exhibit physical aggression, challenging, or offensive behaviors.
• Demonstrate a supportive, caring demeanor with clients.
• Demonstrate the ability to be a strong mentor to the person supported in learning independent living skills and providing guidance and feedback without diminishing the person's progress or efforts.
• Demonstrate ability to work in an environment that must be responsive to the clients' needs and wants versus a focus on following routines and set practices.
• Demonstrate ability to work as a single staff person in a program.
• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in social work or related field.

• Working knowledge or Minimum Standards for Child Placing Agencies.
• Bilingual English/Spanish.

• Valid Texas Driver's License, good driving record, ability to provide own transportation and proof of current automobile insurance.

• Body mobility to stoop, kneel, bend, reach, walk and walk briskly in order to interact with and monitor children.
• Stamina to work long days and drive long distances.
• Moderate to heavy lifting up to 60 pounds.
• Must have the ability to communicate both verbally and in writing.
• Must have the ability to give and receive verbal and written instructions (with or without hearing aids).
• Must have the ability to read fine print, have sustained vision, and peripheral vision (with or without glasses).
• Environment requires dexterity to remain calm and adapt to fast paced and emotional environments consisting of children with moderate to severe emotional and psychological needs.
• Minimum of 40 hours per week but may necessitate additional time in order to complete assigned work, which would include evenings and weekends.
• Rotating on call 24/7 schedule is required.
• Home-like settings with varying moderate to high degrees of background noise.
• Light and ventilation are found in a typical home setting.
• Campuses are smoke-free, except on permitted campuses in designated areas.
• Possible injury when lifting or moving if employee fails to use proper body mechanics, or if proper techniques are not used.