GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Serves as a member of an Interdisciplinary Team for YESS’ Integrated Health Home Department and plays an active role in supporting families. Uses own personal experience to personalize care and assist clients and their families in understanding of services, accessing referrals, and applying recommendations from other professionals.
QUALIFICATIONS: Personal experience being the primary caregiver of a child who has experienced mental health/substance abuse services and success in managing the child and family’s recovery.
Bilingual Spanish and English
Upon hire, complete FPSS training and pass a competency exam.
Demonstrated ability to cope with a wide variety of child(ren)’s mental health diagnoses, behavioral health concerns, and family dynamics.
Experience working with children and families in a community-based program preferred.
Knowledge of community resources and outpatient mental health services.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively as a member of a team.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Computer knowledge.
Clear criminal and child abuse background checks.
Acceptable driving record.
DUTIES SPECIFIC TO THE POSITION:
Support members and families who are in crisis to maintain member in the community and prevent stays at a higher level of care.
Advocate for clients and their families.
Offer family support and education services for members and their families.
Link and support families in accessing community resources.
Promote client’s physical and dental health and work with the family to prevent gaps in care.
Communicate with providers regarding client’s progress or barriers to success.
Provide self-management, support, and skill development of self-management plans for clients and their families.
Provide support and advocacy as needed for families during medical, dental, academic, and behavioral health appointments.
Assist clients and their families to identify and develop natural support networks.
Maintain client charts and case notes that clearly document contact with families and providers.
Observe behavior and interactions involving youth at all times, and report any potentially harmful or suspicious behaviors immediately through the incident reporting process.
On-call rotation.
All other duties as assigned.
About YESS:
MISSION: Youth Emergency Services & Shelter (YESS) changes lives by protecting children and
empowering families.
From its inception in 1973, YESS has grown into a nationally-accredited organization and one of
the community’s most trusted providers of emergency services for children and families. YESS
cares for the entire age range of children - newborn through age 17 – by providing a network of
services that meet their specific needs. As Iowa’s largest youth shelter, children and teens can
stay in a safe and supervised environment, and receive nutritious meals, medical care, education,
case management, and innovative counseling services. Families in the community can also
receive support from YESS’ Hope Hall and Integrated Care Connections programs so children
remain safe and cared for in their own homes. The unique combination of crisis stabilization,
emergency shelter, and community-based services at YESS does not exist elsewhere in Iowa,
allowing the agency to uniquely serve the community’s most vulnerable children.
Working at YESS:
As a member of Team YESS, you can:
Provide hope and healing to children during one of the most turbulent and difficult
times in their lives.
Work every day with children who need your support and with peers committed
to the same work.
Participate in opportunities and activities that promote your own well being, so
you can better care for the children and families who turn to YESS for support
Make a real impact in the lives of children
Work Environment & Physical Demands:The work environment and physical demands described here are representative of those that
must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the
essential functions.
Able to sit or stand for extended periods.
Vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, depth perception,
and the ability to adjust focus.
Capable of pushing, pulling, lifting, and/or carrying up to 25 pounds. .
Noise level in work environment is generally low to moderate.
Our mission celebrates diversity. We are committed to equal opportunity employment.