Youth and Family Specialist

Project Oz is growing and adding to our amazing team!

Join us in partnering with young people to build a foundation that promotes safety, opportunities, and well-being in their lives.

Project Oz is looking for a full-time Youth and Family Specialist in McLean County to support youth (between the ages of 10 and 17) and families in developing positive relations by using intervention skills to resolve crises or complaints and stabilize living arrangements.  This caring person will mediate conflict, make appropriate referrals, and assist clients in developing life skills.  A trauma-informed approach is used which incorporates opportunities for positive youth development.

Our staff are driven by purpose, passionate about  working with young people, and value a workplace that is supportive, compassionate, and fun.  We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Starting salary is typically $48,000 (44,000 plus approximately 4,000 of additional on-call pay)
• Low-cost health insurance
• No-cost dental & vision insurance 
• Generous vacation and sick time, plus 13 paid holidays
• Cell phone reimbursement or agency-issued cell phone
• Generous retirement plan
• Professional development and advancement opportunities
  
• Mileage reimbursement or use of agency vehicles
  
• Flexible work schedule, with possibility of some remote hours
  
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible spending plan
• Eligible for Federal Student Loan Forgiveness Program
  

Duties and Responsibilities

Role Specific:

• Provide crisis intervention counseling, aftercare, and advocacy services to youth and families. 
• Assist youth to return home and/or help to maintain youth in the home.  Arrange for the temporary placement of youth that refuse to return home or are locked out.  
• Provide counseling for a length of up to 90 days of service and maintain weekly sessions with the family throughout the duration of the case. 
• Assure clients are addressing their physical and mental health and, if applicable, the health of the clients’ children, as well as connect to useful resources.
• Conduct outreach to youth and provide recreational opportunities to all youth. 
• Educate clients in life skills (safety, health, decision making, setting parameters, communication, anger management, employment-related, etc.) with the intent to stabilize behavior and support self-sufficiency and citizenship.  
• Conduct in-school group counseling sessions. 
• Function as a neutral advocate to resolve parent or child conflict. 
• Attend court hearings with youth and family when youth are petitioned to court. 
• Conduct annual police roll calls. 

Youth Services Specific:

• Assume rotating 24-hour rapid response duties to crisis calls at police departments, hospitals, schools, and Safe Place locations on designated weekdays and weekends. The on-call schedule varies. 
• Communicate with clients, co-workers, supervisors, and others, understanding that someone may have been exposed to trauma. 
• Provide referrals and linkage to appropriate agencies as needed. 
• Debrief appropriate staff on cases opened, interventions utilized, case status, case plan, and case documentation at the completion of on call duties. 
• Provide appropriate documentation of care contact through case notes, data entry, and documentation. 
• Complete all required forms and progress notes and submit agency reports, forms, and logs by agreed upon dates. 
• Participate in community outreach, panels, and other committee meetings as directed by leadership. 
• Act as a representative of Project Oz and as a community resource person. 
• Attend all required staff meetings and weekly Youth Services meetings.
• Perform other duties as assigned by Supervisor, Program Manager or executive team.

• Act as a Mandated Reporter as outlined by DCFS rules and regulations.

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree or imminent Bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, or related field.

• Reliable personal transportation.  May transport clients in own vehicle.

• Must be flexible, able to respond to crisis calls within designated time frames, and able to travel and work weekend and evening hours as needed.
  
  

Preferred:

• Related professional experience working in a human services program and with people of diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to recognize trauma symptoms and support healing and recovery for youth exposed to trauma.
• Knowledge of childhood trauma and/or experience working with youth that have been exposed to trauma.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Strong negotiation and mediation skills.
• Ability to solve practical mathematical problems.
• Knowledge of Microsoft® Teams software and/or Outlook, Excel, and Word.
  
  Additional Details
• Background checks – Must pass required criminal and character background checks. Must possess valid Illinois driver’s license and have a satisfactory driving history along with documentation verifying current automobile insurance. 
• Mandated Reporter - Act as a Mandated Reporter as outlined by DCFS rules and regulations.
• Training – Job involves CPR and other crisis-intervention related training.
• Travel – Job may require travel via commercial transportation and/or driving motor vehicles. Must occasionally drive in heavy traffic and/or inclement weather conditions.
• Physical Requirements – Must be able to stand, walk, and sit. May occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Hours – Job may require irregular work hours and travel outside of normal business hours. Must be flexible and able to respond to crisis calls within designated time frames.