Temporary Retention Coordinator (3039)

This is a temporary position not to exceed 24 weeks or 960 hours, whichever comes first. This position is not benefits eligible.

Under the supervision of the Program Manager – YouthBuild, the Retention Coordinator role works directly with program participants, other YouthCare staff, service providers, employers, and community members in order to provide vocational training, workforce and education navigation, job readiness skills, internship and work experience opportunities, job placement, and retention support for young people experiencing homelessness or housing instability. This position will focus heavily on program outcomes such as job placements,12 months of post program follow-up, building and maintaining partnerships with programs and local businesses, governments, and other entities that assist in these goals.

Support programs with job developer responsibilities; assist young people in attaining employment opportunities and develop supportive structures to ensure retention of job placements.  This program is intended to bolster clients who are ready to become self-sufficient in their employment and living situations with the primary goal of independence.  Clients participating in the Become level program will gain independent work experience outside of YouthCare, learn strategies to maintain employment and advance in their chosen field and work towards industry-recognized certifications and skills.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Build trust and rapport with young people experiencing homelessness and housing instability, young people who have experienced sexual exploitation and/or young people who are at risk.  
• Engage, support, coach, and develop young people using healing-centered engagement practices and a strength-based approach.  
• Provide on-site in-person services, while maintaining professional boundaries in providing crisis intervention and services to young people. Must learn and apply positive behavior modification techniques and model effective de-escalation, problem-solving and mediation skills. Be willing to intervene in times of crisis using these skills.  
• Complete necessary paperwork and data collection. Additionally, complete incident reports within the required timeframe on any facility damage, medical emergencies or any incident which occurs out of the ordinary functioning of the site or program.
• Complete timely and accurate documentation in YouthCare’s CaseWorthy and other required systems, including service entries, progress notes, ISPs, and case notes.
• Read and maintain accurate and timely case records, progress notes, emails, logbooks, and other types of documentation and enter data into YouthCare’s CaseWorthy client management system according to agency standards.  
• Execute Performance and Quality Improvement (PQI) tasks and accreditation standards and adhere to all agency policies and procedures.
• Meet deadlines for required reporting and comply with the agency’s mandated reporting requirement and report suspected abuse, neglect, or sexual exploitation of minors within the required timeframe.   
• Work cooperatively and collaboratively with all site and programmatic staff, partners, and volunteers to create a nurturing, dynamic, and constructive environment for young people. Coordinate closely with the Client Success Navigator and GED Instructor to align educational, employment, and personal goals across services.
• Support with coordination of basic needs, inclusion of meals, obtaining of legal documents, referrals to systems of support, clothing, and more as needed.
• Work collaboratively with other YouthCare programs, families, school district professionals, crisis services personnel, and staff from other agencies in support of youth.   
• Participate in regular supervision, client consultations, and staff and agency meetings. Attend and fully participate in meetings, professional development opportunities, and designated training sessions as required.     
• Be eligible to drive and transport clients in agency vehicles including 15-passenger vans.

ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• In alignment with current service and contract requirements, regularly engage all young people at site and ensure clients remain actively engaged in pursuit of their employment goals; encourage young peoples’ movement from emergency services to case management, and education and employment programming. 
• Develop and maintain ISPs for each participant focused on employment goals, including action steps, timelines, and measurable milestones. Update ISPs regularly to reflect progress and ensure goals remain relevant and achievable.
• Create, update, and facilitate a structured JRT curriculum that prepares youth for real-world employment. Topics should include résumé writing, interview preparation, workplace professionalism, financial literacy, teamwork and communication skills.
• Support the client success navigator to recruit, assess, enroll, and retain clients in program, including but not limited to documenting eligibility, facilitating applications and intakes, creating flyers, email blasts, and mobile orientation opportunities, and ensuring that required paperwork is complete and submitted in a timely manner for successful program enrollment.
• Successfully transition young people into subsidized and unsubsidized employment and provide ongoing job retention support.
• Coordinate and host Job Fairs with local employers. Support young people in attending these opportunities as well as externally organized job fairs.
• Support youth in external and internal internships, including assisting with hiring paperwork, facilitating interviews and employer meet & greets, collecting and submitting youth timesheets, distributing youth paychecks, and regularly connecting with employer and interns to ensure success of the internship.
• Assist clients in identifying and eliminating barriers to success in employment and post-secondary settings; work with YouthCare case managers to provide case management support to young people and meet basic needs; work with each client’s support team to support young people in removing barriers that impact their ability to reach their employment and education goals (transportation, legal advocacy, referrals to mental health and substance use support, and more)
• With the support of the YouthBuild Program Manager, identify and build relationships with potential community partners to assist in internship and work experience opportunities.
• Follow each graduate’s progress through regular, sustained contact over the course of a year post-program. Make all reasonable efforts to contact or stay in contact with program graduates in that time and accurately capture any data or updates to their progress toward employment and/or post-secondary education.
• Per YouthCare and contract requirements, maintain client records in an accurate, secure, and timely manner, complete intakes, enrollments, service entries, case notes, attainments, exits, referrals, and incident reports.

• Contribute to our DEI&J culture by creating at least one SMART Goal related to DEI&J within your control to deliver. 

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:      

• At least two years’ of successfully working with at-risk-youth or young adults in a job training program.
• Bachelor’s degree in social work or relevant field of study and 1+ years of relevant work experience, OR an equivalent combination of education, relevant work experience, and/or lived experience (3+) serving young people experiencing homelessness, housing instability, poverty, and systemic oppression
• Experience and credentials must comply with program contractual requirements, including but not limited to the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) background clearance process and must be at least 21 years of age.  DCYF Clearance must be maintained for entirety of employment when working with under-18 clients.

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS:

• Master’s degree in social work, Public Administration, Education or related field.
• Demonstrated ability in youth development, employment training and/or familiarity with YouthBuild model.
• Strong commitment to the philosophy of the program – to help youth people succeed and reorient their lives, nurture their leadership skills and enable them to make a difference in their community.
• Public speaking skills and excellent listening and written communication skills.
• Willingness to learn from young people.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• Must be able to provide I-9 supporting documentation for employment.
• Ability to provide a negative TB Test (results must be within one year of hire date).
• Employees who drive YouthCare vehicles as a requirement for their position must be at least 21 years old, possess a valid Washington State Driver’s License, meet minimum safe driving criteria established by the agency and our insurance company which includes completion of Van Certification trainings. Drivers under the age of 25 must have been licensed for at least 3 years and those operating vehicles with a capacity of 15 or more passengers must be at least 25 years old.
• Successful completion of pre-service training courses as required by contracting agencies. Training such as CPR & First Aid (Adult/Child), Bloodborne Pathogens, and Behavior Management.
• The ability and willingness to operate a 15-passenger van to transport clients.
• Ability to deal therapeutically with behavioral and emotional problems presented by youth and understanding of emotionally, physically and sexually abused youth.
• Ability to accurately maintain and produce files, records, logs and reports.
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries with clients while building trust and respect.
• Ability to verbally and physically respond to an aggressive person in ways that de-escalate, establish and maintain staff and youth safety.
• May be required to assume responsibilities or duties within the Unit not specifically delineated in this job description for short periods of time or on an infrequent basis.
• Commitment to YouthCare’s initiative to build cultural proficiency across the agency. Acceptance of a variety of lifestyles, behaviors, and cultural and spiritual practices.

PHYSICAL CONSIDERATIONS:

Ability to perform a range of physical motions, exerting up to 50 pounds. Lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds; standing, walking, sitting for long periods of time, kneeling, squatting, and stooping; running for brief periods of time; and go up and down stairs.