Transitional Living Specialist

Project Oz is dedicated to partnering with young people to promote safety and well-being. They are seeking a Transitional Living Specialist to assist youth experiencing housing instability by providing case management, life skills training, and support in achieving self-sufficiency.

Responsibilities

• Maintain a caseload of 6-9 housing clients and 10-15 outreach clients by providing direct and regular contact
• Conduct street outreach activities to educate homeless youth regarding shelter and placement options, etc. This involves frequenting areas where youth are known to socialize or congregate
• Teach clients basic life skills to gain and maintain self-sufficiency (e.g. safety, health, decision making, communication, money management, and anger management)
• Supervise the educational or vocational efforts of a client to obtain basic knowledge such as GED, diploma or trade certification needed obtain marketable skills
• Attend school or community activities that involve a client
• Help youth obtain gainful employment by providing interviewing skills, training and guidance in resume preparation, completing job applications, and job retention
• Teach clients basic job skills to obtain and/or maintain employment (e.g. communication, timeliness, responsibility, valuing diversity, work ethic, honesty, teamwork, and positive employee relations)
• Provide parenting skills and education to youth with children
• Function as neutral advocate to address parent and/or youth concerns
• Confirm clients are addressing their physical and mental health and, if applicable, the health of the clients’ child(ren)
• Reduce or prevent drug use through substance prevention training
• Identify problematic behaviors to avoid criminal activity, domestic abuse, and child abuse or neglect
• Conduct site visits to assess living conditions and track client progress as well as program compliance
• Build positive relationships and troubleshoot with landlords, neighbors, employers, and family members
• Provide documentation of case management activity including preparing and monitoring individual case plans and assisting in data collection as needed
• Assist youth in crisis or youth who are runaways, locked-out, homeless, or living on the street
• Is available, as scheduled, to provide 24-hour crisis intervention services
• Assume rapid response duties to crisis calls at all Safe Place locations by carrying a crisis cell phone on designated weekdays and weekends. The rotation 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 and monthly data entry and service reports
• 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 Director or executive team
• Act as a Mandated Reporter as outlined by DCFS rules and regulations

Skills

• Bachelor's Degree in social work or related field
• Reliable personal transportation, valid Illinois driver's license, and satisfactory driving history along with documentation verifying current automobile insurance. 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
• 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

Benefits

• 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

Company Overview