DCFS and Probation System Liaison | SPA 5

ABOUT US:

Safe Place for Youth (SPY) is the leading service provider for youth experiencing or at-risk of homelessness in West Los Angeles. Founded in 2011, our agency offers trauma-informed, low barrier programs that support young people in exiting the streets and achieving stability so that they can thrive, not just survive. Our robust continuum of care includes street outreach, drop-in services, health and wellness programming, case management, education and employment services, and housing programs.

SPY is a unique social impact agency that is committed to overcoming structural barriers to equity, community collaboration, and innovative youth-focused programming. If you have the skills, passion and collaborative spirit, join our growing team of over 100 employees.

SPY strives to attract and develop individuals who reflect a broad spectrum of diversity, including (but by no means limited to) racial, ethnic, gender identity and socioeconomic dimensions. We believe that inclusion of diverse perspectives is essential to achieving long-term, systemic change. We explicitly seek applications from those who self-identify as coming from historically marginalized populations to enrich and elevate our equity-centered approach to problem-solving.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

The DCFS and Probation System Liaison (System Liaison) will be responsible for serving all SPA 5 system-involved youth who are at risk of or currently experiencing homelessness and aiding them to navigate the Youth Coordinated Entry System (YCES). The System Liaison will serve as the main YCES point of contact for Probation and DCFS staff in SPA 5 and will receive referrals from these offices directly for youth imminently at risk of homelessness upon aging out. The System Liaison will attend Transition Plan meetings and collaborate to help resolve potential housing crises. The System Liaison will employ Problem-Solving (also known as "Diversion" or "Rapid Resolution") services which is a crisis response philosophy and approach focused on supporting youth experiencing a housing crisis to quickly identify and access alternative housing resources outside of the homeless crisis response system. If a youth’s housing crisis is not resolved through Problem-Solving, System Liaison will conduct Next Steep Tool (NST) and continue to advocate for youth to be housed appropriately within YCES.

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

Utilize culturally-relevant active listening and motivational interviewing skills with system-involved youth to identify possible supports in their network that can assist them with temporary or permanent housing outside of the YCES

Liaise with and provide technical assistance to DCFS regional office staff including children’s social workers (CSW) for youth exiting or exited from DCFS

Liaise with, and provide technical assistance to, Probation Camp staff and field deputy probation officers for youth exiting or exited from DCFS

Participate in Discharge/Transition planning meetings and related services for youth and young adults exiting Foster Care and/or Probation Camps

Identify safety or health issues that may need to be considered during identification of housing

Provide mediation between households and property owners/family/friends to assist in resolving housing crisis

Deliver both field- and place-based supportive services, as appropriate, to participants

Acquire resources and make successful referrals, including follow-up to ensure the participant successfully accesses and initially retains housing

Ensure services are documented (e.g. face to face, phone and collateral contacts) in the LA CoC homeless management information system (HMIS) in a timely and thorough manner

Assist in budgeting with participants, and determine what level of minimal assistance is necessary to be successfully housed or have housing crisis resolved

Facilitate access to YCES for participants, as appropriate, including the completion of the Initial Triage and Initial Assessment phases of system access and assessment

For participants gaining entry into YCES, provide a warm handoff to sustained case management services where possible, or provide initial case management for up to 60 days upon the participant gaining YCES access

Deliver services based on participant strengths

Attend trainings and participate in regular technical assistance such as learning collaboratives

Adhere to LAHSA Interim Guidance as pertaining to job responsibilities

Other duties as assigned to support the mission of the program and organization.

Requirements

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

Bachelor's Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Sociology or related field is preferred.

1-2 years of experience in field based case management, counseling or related experience is required.

1-2 years of experience providing direct services to high-risk youth including counseling and advocacy is required.

1–3 years of experience working with youth experiencing or at risk of homelessness is required.

Strong commitment to social justice and practice actualizing these values in a working environment

Knowledge and experience working with co-occurring populations (chronic health conditions, mental health and substance use)

Knowledge and experience with motivational interviewing, evidence-based practices, and trauma informed care, housing first principles and harm reduction

Strong understanding of homeless services including CES and HMIS database

Strong understanding of LA County foster care and juvenile justice systems, including foster care placement options, participant rights and eligibility, and discharge planning processes

Strong belief in growth mindset, self-determination, and psychological resilience

Compliance with information and security policy and procedures

Bilingual in Spanish is a plus

Must have valid CA Driver’s License and a clean driving record