San Diego Youth Services

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

Youth Behavioral Health Specialist

San Diego Youth Services seeks a Youth Behavioral Health Specialist in the Safe School Project to be based at San Diego Youth Services Spring Valley East Communities Campus and identified school campus within La Mesa Spring Valley School District (LMSVSD).  This is a full time & exempt position reporting to the Project Coordinator. San Diego Youth Services:  Who we are San Diego Youth Services has helped improve the lives of more than 780,000 homeless, runaway and vulnerable youth since its beginning in 1970. We provide safe places to live and long-term solutions through shelter, foster homes, community centers and housing to more than 28,000 youth every year at 100+ community and school locations. Through prevention, early intervention and treatment, we also help youth before they need higher levels of care or become homeless.

We aim to:

• Meet the basic needs of youth.  Hunger, poverty and youth homelessness are on the rise for many youth and their families today. We help meet these basic needs for youth. What could be more vital than food and shelter? We provide safe places to live and long-term solutions through shelter, foster homes, community centers and housing.

• Create positive connection. We help youth focus on positive life changes and healthy relationships as part of providing needed resources and services. San Diego Youth Services has long provided foster homes and adoption support services for families considering adopting a youth in the foster care system.

• Help youth develop life skills. In addition to a range of safe and stable housing options, we offer support to help youth develop the independent living skills necessary to become self-sufficient and keep off the streets.

• Promote overall health and well-being. Early intervention and care for the whole child are critical. We provide a broad continuum of services to help youth overcome trauma and challenges that put them at risk, including case management, counseling, mental health treatment and educational support and resources.

  SDYS has a staff of approximately 250 employees and 80 volunteers working across San Diego County and an annual budget of approximately $24 million.   You can learn more about us at www.sdyouthservices.org

  CONTEXT OF THE POSITION

  Provide comprehensive trauma-informed, school-based case management services to middle school students at assigned school in LMSVSD. Specialist is responsible for screening possible intakes, providing intake assessments, providing risk and safety assessments, crisis management, creating a service plan in partnership with the youth and parent/guardians, facilitating appropriate referrals, linking to therapy, and community outreach. In addition to individual case management services, Specialist will provide prevention and intervention facilitated groups using evidence-based curricula on a variety of topics including alcohol and drug use, self-esteem, positive choices, anger management, family support, and parenting. Maintain digital case files with complete and up-to-date documentation to meet all requirements and timelines.

  Essential functions include:

• The development, implementation, and evaluation of trauma informed youth programs that adhere to and uphold the rigorous standards of San Diego Youth Services as mandated by its mission, purpose, guiding principles and standards of quality.

• Assist in updating agency policies and procedures. Carry agency big picture and stay current on agency activities.

• Participate in appropriate agency-wide committees as applicable.

• Attending and actively participate in all required agency and contract training and meetings.

• Prepare case presentations and actively participate in weekly Case Management meetings by providing advocacy and support as applicable.

• Work collaboratively and cooperatively with staff and volunteers within the project, the school site, the agency, and the community.

• Identify eligible families and students enrolled at assigned school through outreach to community-based organizations, government agencies, school, street outreach including other outreach methods as identified during the program period.

• Represent SDYS at appropriate community meetings such as Community Collaborative meetings and SARB meetings.

• Maintain clear, timely, effective and open communication within team and among community partners such as referral sources (law enforcement, schools, treatment providers and community-based organizations, etc.) to coordinate services.

• Maintain data collection and contract compliance of records within contract timelines as required. Maintain accurate and timely uniform case file documentation.

• Assist in planning, coordination, development, monitoring, and evaluation of services for youth and family.

• Provide home based, school based, and community-based individual/family case management services that are strengths-based and family-centered.

• Maintain current knowledge of resources and treatment providers within the community to support youth and family needs.

• Mobilize/link family with any necessary supportive or wrap-around services to carry out the service plan; ensure that any referral made is actively followed up on.

• Provide resources for positive youth development activities including leadership activities and/or positive youth development.

• Maintain as necessary contact with the family and their supportive services received for service plan re-assessment/refinement.

• Provide a comprehensive assessment in the areas of: Child Abuse, Intimate Partner Violence, Parenting Skills, Mental Health, Drug and Alcohol Usage, Basic Needs, Physical Health, School Readiness (including attendance, school performance and IEP’s).

• Develop a Service Plan to provide youth with access to: Healthcare, Substance use and/or abuse education and prevention, resources to assist with meeting family self-sufficiency needs, youth’s participation in after school enrichment activities, and Community services.

• Participate in implementing agency’s resource development plan as appropriate.

• Maintain project’s space cleanliness and safety. Report and coordinate any necessary facility or equipment repairs with Director of Services as needed. With other staff, participate in the maintenance of the day-to-day cleanliness and order of the physical facility and grounds.

• Provide and facilitate case coordination with Community Assessment Team program staff.

• Other duties as assigned to ensure successful project implementation.

  PREFERRED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.

• License-eligible (MFT, MSW, MHC) by the State of California Board of Behavioral Services required.

• Experience with school-based services and knowledge of East County resources is preferred.

• Familiarity with the Juvenile Justice/Probation and social services systems also preferred.

• Ability to de-escalate and respond to crises appropriately.

• Must be willing to develop or possess working knowledge of trauma-informed care and dual diagnosis treatment; experience working in trauma-informed and dual diagnosis programs preferred.

• Able to work in a very diverse setting with people of all backgrounds, culture and sexual orientation.

• Must be computer literate in Microsoft Outlook, Word and Access.

• Creativity and a sense of humor is a must.

• Able to obtain and maintain in CPR/First Aid.

• Must show a willingness to work flexible hours, including some evenings and weekends.

• Must have reliable vehicle, relevant auto insurance, a clean driving record, and willing to drive (mileage reimbursement available).

• Strong professional oral and written communications skills is a must, as well as ability to work well autonomously and with a multiple- disciplinary team with minimum supervision and frequent interruptions, while always maintaining a professional demeanor.

• Must be available to work flexible hours, including some evenings and weekends.

• Employment offers will be subject to clearances, which include background finger printing checks, Tuberculosis testing, and drug testing.

  SDYS EXPECTATIONS

• Adhere to and uphold the rigorous standards of SDYS as mandated by its mission, purpose, guiding principles and standards of quality.

• Maintain confidentiality and privacy standards of service partner protected health information and other applicable information and material in accordance to agency and center policies, and applicable regulations and laws including HIPAA. 

• Welcome and support SDYS volunteers and assist them in accomplishing their services whenever applicable.

• Effectively communicate with people from diverse backgrounds and experiences.

• Receive and give supportive feedback to foster equity and inclusion in working relationships.

• Recognize, nurture, and learn from strengths in co-workers.

• Maintain warm, welcoming and safe work environments.

• Possess flexibility to accomplish job responsibilities in several work environments, whether it be from home, on the road , or in an office.

  Salary Range :  $68,000 - 70,000/year + up to $1500 annual bilingual differential based on proficiency

  To apply, please send resume and cover letter through job posting on SDYS website.

  SDYS offers a comprehensive benefits package to full time employees that includes generous PTO, personal holidays, health, vision, dental, life insurance, parental leave and a 403(b)-retirement plan with matching contribution.  SDYS is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) employer.  Read more about the PSLF program here (https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service) .

  Commitment to cultivating and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.  

  As an organization working to meet the basic needs of youth, create positive connections, help youth develop life skills, and promote overall health and well-being, SDYS believes its practices and actions must reflect the highest level of commitment to access, equity, and social justice.

  The collective sum of the individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, innovation, self-expression, and talent that our members invest in their work represents not only part of the SDYS’ culture, but the SDYS’ reputation and achievements as well.  SDYS remains open to feedback from all communities it touches and knows that input from those with direct experience of issues will make the SDYS more effective in achieving its goals.

  SDYS is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status .  Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.

In compliance with the Immigration and Nationality Act as amended, all new employees must verify their eligibility to work in the United States.

SDYS is proud to be a kindness certified (https://www.kindnesscertified.org/)  company.

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