Organization OverviewUnited Friends of the Children empowers current and former foster youth on their journey to self-sufficiency through service-enriched education and housing programs, advocacy, and consistent relationships with a community of people who care.United Friends of the Children has been an integral part of the Los Angeles foster care community since our founding by Nancy M.
Daly in 1979.
Our early advocacy efforts helped establish the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services and pass the Foster Care Independence Act.
Innovations in direct services span from co-founding the first transitional housing program in the nation for former foster youth to the creation of an 11-year education support continuum that follows foster youth from the seventh grade through the completion of a bachelor’s degree.Position OverviewUnited Friends of the Children’s Pathways Housing Programs provides residents, ages 18-24, with housing and support services as they seek to obtain stable and secure housing and employment.
Reporting to the Community Manager, the Advocacy Counselor (AC) carries a caseload of up to fifteen 18-24 year old former foster youth.
The AC’s primary objective is to build meaningful relationships with youth in order to provide them with the support and guidance necessary to reach their educational, career, and personal goals.The Advocacy Counselor will work full-time during standard business hours, Monday-Friday and weekends and evenings as necessary.
Also, working one weekend per month is required.
United Friends’ Downtown LA office will serve as the Advocacy Counselor’s work location on Mondays.
The Counselor will work from the Inglewood housing site Tuesday-Friday each week and on weekends.
Occasional travel between United Friends’ housing sites across Los Angeles County is required.Duties and responsibilitiesCase ManagementSupport and guide the residents while maintaining an advisory relationship based on trust and respect.Promote personal growth, independence, responsibility, and accountability among the residents in the housing program and inspire them to reach their full potential.Work with assigned residents to develop a thorough and individualized case plan within the required time frame.Meet one-on-one with residents on caseload on a weekly basis to discuss goals related to career, education, mental/physical health and basic life skills including budgeting and finance.Facilitate the move-in procedure including completing paperwork and coordinating with Property Management regarding apartment readiness.Work closely with the Property Management team to insure that AC’s assigned residents are paying rent and maintaining their housing units in accordance with program rules.Conduct needs assessments, coordinate resource referrals and connect youth to services through effective case management.Give regular feedback to residents regarding their progress with respect to their case plan.Monitor residents’ adherence to program rules and institute and enforce improvement plans where necessary.Provide crisis intervention assistance and personal counselling as needed.Attend community building activities in order establish and maintaining relationships with Pathways youth.Attend weekly clinical supervision meetings to discuss case planning, progress with residents and any problematic cases.Participate in Life Skills classes as needed on a weekly basis.Guide residents through the transition from the program assisting them with developing a proper exit plan into a permanent/stable housing situation.Documentation and OutcomesTrack and document all service efforts made on behalf of youth in ETO database within a week of each effort’s occurrence.Continually expand and update professional and technical knowledge within the education, foster care, and case management fields.Using a strengths-based and solutions-focused approach, track youths’ progress towards achievement of the Pathways Program milestones and work with the Pathways Team to develop interventions for youth as problems arise.Analyze caseload outcomes and trends and work with Pathways team to improve program model and service delivery.Program Selection Work closely with the Intake Coordinator during the application and review of potential candidates.Participate in review of potential candidates to determine their appropriateness for the program.OtherOther duties as assigned.General UFC ResponsibilitiesAct as a role model within the organization to uphold and implement United Friends’ organizational values:Embrace program evaluation that leads to excellence and impactBuild effective and empowering partnerships with the youth, community and each otherCreate a fun and exciting environment that inspires learning and innovationCommunicate openly, honestly and with humility across all groupsWork together as one organizationRequired Qualifications MSW or related Master’s level degree3+ years post-graduate case management experience with a similar population in a relevant settingExcellent knowledge of substance abuse and mental health issuesAbility to work well both independently and collaboratively as a member of a multi-disciplinary teamConveys thoughts and ideas clearly, listens well, communicates in a solution-oriented manner and incorporates others’ views into workAn understanding of and sensitivity to issues concerning former foster care youthStrong problem-solving and crisis intervention skillsEstablishes and cultivates respectful relationships with people from diverse backgroundsHolds self accountable, sets high expectations for self and others, and relates tasks to organizational valuesMust have valid California Driver’s License and an insured and reliable vehicleJob Type: Full-timePay: $54,908.00 $68,635.00 per yearBenefits:401(k)401(k) matchingDental insuranceDisability insuranceEmployee assistance programFlexible scheduleHealth insuranceLife insurancePaid time offParental leaveProfessional development assistanceRetirement planVision insuranceSchedule:8 hour shiftCOVID-19 considerations:We do have a COVID-19 Safety Plan in place.Education:Master’s (Preferred)Work Location:Multiple locationsWork Remotely:Temporarily due to COVID-19