Youth Advocate

Program Summary

FIT serves infants, children and youth (ages 0-21) with a team approach to treatment planning allowing clinicians the flexibility to assess the level and type of services needed. As treatment needs vary over time, services are tailored to fit without interruption. Equally flexible is the location of service: home, school, River Oak clinical sites or community setting to best accommodate the family/care provider. A wide array of treatment interventions, to include multiple evidence-based programs, are used to include individual, family and group therapy.

Job Responsibilities

• Advocate for clients, parents, and family; attend meetings both within and outside the Agency with youth to provide support and inform the youth of their rights and options; explain the applicable systems obligations and empower youth to present their desires and needs in treatment.
• Perform home and school visits to build relationships and trust with the youth, empower the youth and family to meet goals and objectives, explain assigned program activities, and review current outcomes and efforts; identify the strengths of the youth and support the youth in identifying focus areas.
• Assist in the identification of clients and families’ natural resources, strengths, and needs; assist youth and team in locating and utilizing community, Agency, and other resources; make phone calls, network and research, assist families in determining logistics, scheduling appointments, arranging transportation, and providing other necessary support.
• Meet established client service accountability goals; track productivity levels on a consistent basis; self-manage to achieve established client service accountability goals and modify behaviors accordingly.
• Attend a variety of meetings, trainings, and seminars, which may include staff and departmental meetings, clinical case meetings, county training sessions and Agency training programs; network with other service providers.
• Work effectively and positively in a team environment; establish and maintain effective work relationships with those contacted in the performance of required duties.
• Knowledge of pertinent laws, codes, regulations, and guidelines related to the operation and delivery of a variety of client services to individuals and families with particular emphasis on child welfare system, juvenile justice system, IDEA, special education, and child protection services applicable reporting laws and protocols.
• Learn and understand Agency's organization, policies, operations and program services.
• Learn and apply the terminology, billing system, philosophy and documentation requirements of the Agency and of referring sources.

Minimum Qualifications

• Must have successfully completed twelfth grade (or the equivalent of completing twelfth grade)
• PLUS at least one (1) year of responsible work experience.
• PLUS have lived experience or received services from foster care or child welfare services.
• Please note: Work, professional, or volunteer experience does not qualify as personal, lived experience.
• Must have strong communication, networking, and organizational skills.
• Proficient with Outlook, Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Maintain a variety of online recordkeeping and documentation processes and systems, ensuring all relevant confidentiality and privacy requirements are met.