Promising Futures Resource Specialist
We are looking for a Promising Futures Resource Specialist who can fulfill CASA’s mission by engaging volunteer advocates who have transitioned to a role of supportive adult after a youth’s case closure by providing referrals to community resources and information for long-term stability.
CASA of Travis County believes every young person who has experienced abuse or neglect deserves to have a dedicated advocate speaking up for their best interest in our community. To accomplish this, the team at CASA educates and empowers community volunteers who ensure each young person’s needs remain a priority in an overburdened system. Through honorable and respectful involvement with these young people and their volunteer advocates, CASA makes independent and educated recommendations that prioritize their safety and empowers them to achieve promising futures and long-term stability and success.
As a Promising Futures Resource Specialist, you will work closely with volunteer advocates and the Program Team to provide resource support to young adults and families after case closure through referrals, in-person support, and warm hand-offs to community programs that can assist youth in meeting their goals. Utilizing the Promising Futures framework developed by CASA of Travis County, you will assess needs, develop client-driven goals, locate resources, and build and maintain relationships with community service providers to assist young adults whose cases have closed or biological families or fictive kin with whom children are permanently placed and whose cases have closed. You will provide access to Bridge to Permanency funds to assist in achievement of goals, provide family finding and engagement services to young adults and families with closed cases in collaboration with the Family Engagement team, and assist youth and families in navigating systems related to their needs.
Click the link below to apply:
https://www.paycomonline.net/v4/ats/web.php/jobs/ViewJobDetails?job=125830&clientkey=6134204B6AAD5458C5AEA1BC7AA3A526
Responsibilities
- Provides consultation and support to volunteer advocates and Program Team regarding community resources
• Receives referrals from volunteer advocates, youth who have aged out of foster care, or families/fictive kin with whom children are permanently placed and whose cases have closed, or Child Advocacy Specialists for youth who are at high risk of aging out of foster care. Reviews case details and identifies appropriate service providers and community resources that address the unique needs.
• Identifies opportunities for cross-team sharing, including attending various team meetings outside of the Family Engagement Team
- Advocates for youth and families in their best interest and in pursuit of the elements of a promising future
- In collaboration with the youth, families, and advocates, develops client-driven goals based on the Promising Futures definition and framework.
• With the data team, develops tools to measure progress towards goals.
- Assists young adults and families in accessing Bridge to Permanency funds when needed.
- Advocates for youth and families to secure safe living arrangements that ensure physical, emotional, and psychological safety.
- Empowers youth and families to develop self-advocacy skills and build confidence in their ability to express needs and make decisions.
- Establishes relationships with community-based service providers and keeps current on available services to support young adults.
- Develops techniques for efficient and effective resource identification in communities within and outside Travis County to support children living within various communities.
- Conducts ongoing research about resources in Travis County and neighboring communities.
- Attends and participates in community meetings with other stakeholders as requested by CASA leadership, including but not limited to Travis County Model Court Committees, to establish relationships with other child welfare providers and share information that may further support young adults and their families who are served in Travis County.
- Ensures the high standard of performance of service of CASA of Travis County
- Participates in regular supervision with the Director of Family Engagement, as well as other required team and staff meetings.
- Attends and participates in volunteer-related events for retention purposes including but not limited to Swearing In and Closed Case Recognition ceremonies, volunteer meet-ups, and volunteer appreciation events.
- Assists with fundraising events as needed.
- Other duties as required.
Qualifications
- A Bachelor’s degree is required however, in lieu of a degree, significant professional relevant experience may be considered .
- Demonstrated passion for CASA’s mission.
- Demonstrated ability to hold self and volunteers accountable to performance standards.
- Demonstrated understanding of child and family advocacy issues that exist in the Texas child welfare system.
- Demonstrated ability to work under time constraints, be goal-oriented and maintain productive and effective relationships with staff, volunteers and community supporters.
- Demonstrated excellence in communication, both written and oral.
- Demonstrated integrity, honesty and ethical conduct.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in child welfare.
- Spanish/English fluency.
- Knowledge of community service providers, including but not limited to mental and physical health providers, employment, housing, and financial assistance, and material resources .
Physical Requirements and Work Environment
The Resource Specialist will be expected to have transportation to attend staffings, visitations, court hearings, fundraising events, etc. While this position is not fully remote, there is some flexibility in scheduling and the task that may be completed outside the office. The position requires some flexibility as communication with advocates, service provers, and families may occasionally need to occur outside of regular business hours. The Resource Specialist will spend time in the office that could involve intermittent physical activities including bending, reaching, sitting, and walking during business hours. Additionally, it is anticipated that the person may spend several hours each day seated at a computer.