Youth Care Coordinator - Project Excel - Aspire Program

Wisconsin Community Services - Greendale, WI

Full-time - Entry Level

Greendale, WI

Personal and Laundry Services

About the position

The Youth Care Coordinator at Wisconsin Community Services (WCS) for the Project Excel - Aspire Program plays a crucial role in supporting youth and their families. This position involves coordinating with various stakeholders, including Milwaukee County Division of Children, Youth and Family Services (CYFS) staff, schools, and other service providers, to ensure that youth can access the necessary professional, community, and natural supports to address their needs at home, in school, and in the community. The primary focus of the services provided is on the educational, treatment, and employment/vocational needs of the youth involved in the program. In this role, the Youth Care Coordinator will assist youth and families in developing youth-centered goals and coordinating services that encompass medical and mental health assistance, AODA services, medication management, education, employment, and the development of social support systems. The coordinator is expected to model a positive attitude, provide affirming feedback, and offer positive reinforcement to the youth. Additionally, the coordinator will be responsible for completing and maintaining all required paperwork, including intakes, service plans, school engagement plans, monthly reports, and discharge summaries, ensuring that all documentation is accurate and submitted within required timeframes. Effective communication is essential in this role, as the coordinator must maintain consistent and reliable communication with youth, families, Milwaukee County DYFS staff, and other team members. Participation in staff meetings and treatment team meetings with other service providers is also a key responsibility. The coordinator will assist with transportation of youth, which may include riding on transportation routes to pick up and drop off youth from programming. Utilizing Evidence-Based Practices, such as Motivational Interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), is expected to be part of the coordinator's approach to service delivery. The coordinator will also facilitate approved groups and ancillary services based on program needs and schedule, and will work to connect youth and families to resources using a warm hand-off approach. The Youth Care Coordinator will participate in the program's Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) and Performance Quality Improvement Processes, and will engage in ongoing training as required by the Comprehensive Community Support (CCS) program to provide psychosocial rehabilitation services to children with mental or substance use needs. It is important for the coordinator to renew their Mental Health/AODA Certification every two years, if applicable, and to provide services within Milwaukee Public Schools as required by the DYFS contract. The role may also involve providing coverage for colleagues when needed and performing other job-related duties necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of the position.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate with youth and families to develop youth-centered goals.
• Assist in coordinating services for medical and mental health assistance, AODA services, and education.
• Role model a positive attitude and provide affirming feedback to youth.
• Complete and maintain all required paperwork, records, and documents.
• Enter data into the program database, SecurManage, and the Milwaukee County database Synthesis.
• Maintain consistent communication with youth, families, and team members.
• Attend and actively participate in staff meetings and treatment team meetings.
• Assist with transportation of youth, including riding on transportation routes.
• Utilize Evidence-Based Practices with fidelity, including Motivational Interviewing and CBT.
• Facilitate approved groups and ancillary services based on program needs.
• Connect youth and families to resources using a warm hand-off approach.
• Participate in Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) processes.
• Engage in ongoing training as required by CCS.

Requirements

• At least two years of social services/human services or education experience.
• Bachelor's degree in clinical psychology, psychology, counseling and guidance, social work, education, or a related discipline.
• Familiarity with youth justice interventions and the Wisconsin Juvenile Code is beneficial.
• Experience with Comprehensive Community Support (CCS) services is beneficial.
• Licensed independent clinical social workers, certified social workers, and licensed professional counselors must meet qualifications established in Wis. Stat.
• Must have an insured automobile and valid driver's license.
• No convictions or license revocations that would fail a caregiver background check.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience with mental illness and substance use needs of youth.
• Knowledge of positive adolescent/youth development and the effects of childhood trauma.