Youth Advocate, El Dorado CPS

Stanford Sierra Youth & Families provides a continuum of care to empower youth and families to overcome challenges together, as well as connects youth in foster care to the permanent loving families they need and deserve. We support the entire family with professional treatment and compassionate care, so every youth has the opportunity to thrive at home, in school, and in the community. Those we serve are able to heal, learn life skills, and build relationships through our research-based, family-centered, targeted approach.

We offer community based services to families living within El Dorado County. The Stanford Sierra Youth & Families office site is located in Placerville.

We are offering a $1,000 Hiring Bonus + an Additional $1,500 for Spanish Speaking candidates!

DESCRIPTION:

Youth Advocates play a crucial role in the system of care by leveraging their personal experience and expertise to ensure that youth receive the best possible services and support. The key functions and responsibilities of Youth Advocates are as follows:

Family Engagement ̶ Youth Advocates ensure active participation of families, empowering them as equal decision-making partners in their care plans.

Advocacy ̶ They advocate for families, representing their needs and perspectives to decision-makers within the system, ensuring responsiveness to families' unique requirements.

Service Access ̶ They work to provide families with access to a wide range of tailored prevention and support services, identifying and advocating for service gaps.

Family-Centered Services ̶ Youth Advocates play a critical role in ensuring services are designed and delivered with families' best interests at heart, considering their holistic needs.

Collaboration ̶ They collaborate closely with the Family and Youth Partnership Manager, aligning their efforts with the agency's mission.

In summary, Youth Advocates serve as advocates and representatives, ensuring families have a strong voice in decision-making, access to suitable services, and services respectful of their cultural and individual characteristics. Their work is instrumental in creating an inclusive, family-focused system of care. Additionally, the Youth Advocates support the Mission, Vision, and Values of the agency.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Experience as youth with a serious emotional disturbance receiving, or having previously received, services within the public systems, including: mental health, child welfare, or juvenile justice

Basic knowledge of Child Welfare and Education systems, and the ability to advocate on the behalf of clients in navigating and negotiating those systems.

Previous experience with advocacy, outreach, and community resources preferred.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Program Intake

Coaching and Mentoring

Outreach

Mutual Support and Education Groups

Participation in Agency Wide Program Meetings, Family Team Meetings and Management Decisions

Staff Consultation and Training

Participation in the Hiring Process

Community Advocacy

Grievance and Complaint Support

Collateral Support

Bilingual skills are a plus

Please follow the link below if you would like to apply online - please complete the application and upload your resume to our Job Opportunities Page: