Re-Entry Services Social Worker

Focus Forward’s mission is to create pathways to success for youth in the Juvenile Justice and/or Child Welfare systems through effective programs and services.

At Focus Forward, we strive to mitigate these adversities with care, support and programming. We believe supporting young people and their families impacted by county systems will reduce cycles of violence, poverty and incarceration, and improve health, safety and stability for our community.

If your personal philosophy aligns with ours, we encourage you to apply to join our team! We are a local non-profit that is growing every day.

www.focusforward.org

Experience:Experience working in multi-disciplinary teams, using culturally sensitive approaches, implementing intake/needs assessments, following established evidence based curriculums, and assessing any needs or barriers affecting participant success. Experience working one-on-one or in groups with at-risk or systems-involved youth and families.

Supervision: Reports to Reentry Coordinator or designee

Description of Duties and Responsibilities: The Reentry Social Worker (RSW) supports youth transitioning from the Fresno County Juvenile Justice Campus facility to the community alongside a multi-disciplinary team of partner agencies. The RSW is responsible for coordinating and facilitating Child Family Team meetings to bring the multidisciplinary team players together with the youth and family to create a shared plan for successful reentry and stabilization. The multidisciplinary team works together to support the youth’s case plan goals and includes agencies and individuals that provide services in the areas of education, medical/behavioral health, safety, social support, family services, housing/placement, workforce and life skills. The RSW may directly provide mentoring, workshops, case management, parenting and more. The RSW also works with the youth’s family when possible to stabilize the household. The RSW is responsible for reporting on services and case plan progress. Services are provided both in-custody and out-of-custody and clients may be co-enrolled in other Focus Forward programs. In addition, the RSW will provide resource and referral assistance to youth and families with low criminogenic risk who are in need of community support. This service is provided in an effort to decrease formal Probation involvement for lower risk youth and provide services for families that will prevent their youth’s further involvement with the system.

Major Responsibilities

• Coordinate, facilitate and document Child Family Team meetings and staffings
• Assess Probation case plans for youth and their family for a successful transition of the youth from juvenile incarceration to their home/placement in the community.
• Provide support services such as assessments, case management, parenting classes and resources to remove barriers
• Identify needs and provide support with community referrals to ensure all needs of youth and families are being met (i.e. substance abuse treatment, counseling, job training, housing, etc.). May include developing resource guides for clients and partners.
• Conduct assessments and aggregate information and/or enter into data system
• Track all services rendered, client outcomes and client demographics
• Help coordinate in-custody and out-of-custody programming for participants.
• Supervise and leverage the support of interns and volunteer case managers/mentors
• Attend required team meetings, relevant trainings, workshops and community meetings

Specific/Additional Duties:

• Maintain up-to-date, well-organized and accurate case file notes and records in the database.
• Be responsive, consistent and reliable with all clients, staff and partners
• Assist or lead special projects or services, as needed
• Cross-screen all clients for eligibility in other Focus Forward and partner agency Services
• All other duties as assigned

Desired Skills:

• Ability to work with youth, young adults and families who face multiple risk factors and barriers, and have had justice and/or child welfare involvement including serious criminal offenses.
• Ability to use a nonjudgmental, trauma-informed and culturally competent approach with all clients.
• Effectively communicate and engage participants in services
• Ability to develop and maintain professional working relationships with management, co- workers, partners and general public
• Knowledge of available resources within the community for the client population
• Excellent group facilitation skills including de-escalation and consensus building
• Must exhibit professionalism at all times, manage bias, and uphold professionalism
• Effective written communication skills, and organizational skills
• Demonstrated computer skills including, but not limited to: using databases, use of Google Suite, Microsoft Office, Social Media, Website and Email
• Excellent Customer Service Skills
• Ability to work under pressure and handle multiple tasks simultaneously
• Ability to think critically and identify opportunities, challenges, needs and prioritization of work to meet mandatory outcomes of program and organization
• Must exercise good judgment and have experience working on projects with specific goals and outcome measurements
• Have a basic understanding of the child welfare and justice systems and ability to learn to navigate both systems on behalf of youth
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred

Work Environment and Physical Conditions/Demands:

Cubicle setting, sitting/standing for prolonged periods of time, lifting up to approximately 40 pounds (more or less as needed), some meetings and appointments or presentations offsite in the community, heavy computer and telephone usage, physical coordination, working in noisy or crowded environment, speak loudly, stopping, bending, lifting, reaching, must drive vehicle. Must be comfortable working with families facing various challenges and provide services in a non-judgmental manner. Must have the ability to work remotely as needed. These conditions and physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

Compensation: Full-time, 40 hours/week, $20/hr. Benefit package that includes paid time off (sick leave, all Fresno County recognized holidays). Portion of medical insurance coverage; 100% of dental and vision coverage (employee only) and 403b retirement option with up to 4% employer match. Mileage reimbursement for approved work-related travel at the federal reimbursement rate

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $20.00 per hour

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Work Location: In person