Job Summary

Under the general direction of the Director for Foster and Homeless Youth Education Services, the Foster and Homeless Youth Caseworker provides crisis intervention/case management services, advocacy, academic support, and information/referral services to foster youth students and/or students who are experiencing or at risk of becoming homeless.  Work in collaboration with district foster/homeless youth liaisons, and county and community agencies in coordinating services, trainings and technical assistance on behalf of students.  Caseworker will provide direction for Bachelor’s level interns from Cal Poly Humboldt and College of the Redwoods (CR) who will be working with and mentoring foster/homeless students.  Caseworker may be co-located at the Humboldt County Office of Education and the Humboldt County Department of Social Services (CWS).

Examples of Duties

• Leads case management for assigned foster and homeless students, primarily within the court/community school program;
•  Assesses student/family needs and monitors the effectiveness of interventions and support;
• Works in collaboration with HCOE Foster and Homeless Youth Program Support Technician and CWS Education Liaison to maintain the Health and Education records for foster youth students in the Child Welfare database system (CMS), Foster Focus database, and CALPADS;
• Keeps director apprised of student progress; assists with any educational program transitions to ensure students are adequately supported;
• Maintains adequate case notes/database to monitor and analyze service delivery;
• Prepares various reports as required; provides community outreach;
• Serves as a liaison with district homeless liaisons and other local youth service providers
• Assists in development and facilitation of trainings;
• Assists with community development activities to increase the availability of services to local youth and families;
• Protects agency, employee and client confidentiality and safety;
• Makes referrals to counselors, social workers, teachers, probation offices or other appropriate agency personnel when specialized services beyond the qualifications of the caseworker are required;
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

Demonstration of basic competency equivalent to graduation from high school plus not less than one year of college level education or equivalent training in the field of social work or related field; three years of experience working with youth as an instructional aide, vocational technician, career counseling tech or similar service.  For those without three years of experience, additional education such as a Bachelor’s degree in social work, education or similar may be substituted.

NOTE:  An employee in this position must have a valid California driver’s license and be able to operate a vehicle to drive to the necessary schools throughout the county or be able to otherwise move about to multiple work sites on any given day.

Employment Standards

Knowledge of:

• California laws and school policies pertaining to youth in the public school system;
• Social models of intervention; crisis intervention, family and ecological systems and counseling theories/approaches;
• Local services relating to youth in the foster care system;
• Local resources related to homeless youth and families;
• Career paths and future educational opportunities for students;
• Trauma responsive and PBIS intervention models for students and families.

Ability To:

• Read and comprehend laws, rules and regulations;
• Work well with students of varying ages, family members, and multi-agency personnel;
• Organize work and communicate clearly and concisely;
• Follow oral and written directions;
• Work independently and exercise sound judgment;
• Maintain accurate records for program audit;
• Coordinate and assess the work of college student interns and volunteer staff.
• Make formal presentations to small and large audiences with confidence and clarity;
• Lift and/or move supplies or equipment in excess of 30 pounds;
• Adapt to changing work demands including adjustments to work schedule;
• Manage task priorities to meet deadlines;
• Work under varying degrees of stress;
• Communicate effectively via telephone, vitually and in person.
• Use appropriate software including Outlook, Word and Excel;
• Initiate recommendations regarding programmatic or operational improvements when the need arises;

Physical Requirements:

Essential duties require, but are not limited to, the following physical abilities:

• Sit at a desk, table, on low chairs, on the floor or on mats, or in classrooms of various configurations for extended periods of time;
• See, read and distinguish colors, a computer screen, educational materials, books and other printed matter, with or without vision aids;
• Vision ability for both close and distant objects;
• Manual dexterity to enter data into a computer, and to perform assigned classroom tasks using both hands;
• Ability to move quickly on uneven terrain, play yards, and school grounds;
• Ability to stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, climb, balance, push wheelchairs or pull wagons with students at times;
• Physical agility to lift up to 25 pounds to shoulder height and 50 pounds to waist height and to bend, sit on the floor, climb stairs, walk and reach overhead;
• Mental acuity to perform the essential functions of this position in an accurate, neat, and timely fashion, to make good judgments and decisions and to evaluate the results of decisions and judgments.

Range 4 | Personnel Commission Approved June 29, 2022