Outreach and Engagement Specialist

WestCoast Children’s Clinic is a seeking a skilled Outreach and Engagement Specialist, as part of Project AWOL, who is committed to helping children and youth in the foster care system reach their full potential. The Project AWOL Outreach and Engagement Specialist provides outreach to youth who have ran away from their foster or group home, and is responsible for engaging with and identifying the needs and services for the youth in collaboration with clinical staff and the child welfare worker.

The Outreach and Engagement Specialist must have the ability to relate to youth who may be distrusting of adults, and be comfortable providing services in the communities of Oakland, Alameda County, and counties within a 90 mile radius. The ideal candidate demonstrates flexibility, initiative, discretion, and independent judgment while utilizing a strengths-based approach, and has proven experience working with abused and neglected children.

About Project AWOL:
Project AWOL is a collaboration between Alameda County's Department of Children and Family Services and WestCoast Children’s Clinic to improve the placement stability of Alameda County dependents by reducing the number and length of AWOL episodes. Project AWOL staff provide (1) outreach and engagement services and (2) intensive clinical case management services to Alameda County dependents who have run away from the homes in which they were placed by the Department of Children and Family Services. Project AWOL serves children and young adults, ages 0-21 years, and is committed to helping them cope with the traumas of abuse and neglect, while working to minimize the impact of being separated from their family, home, and community.

How the Outreach & Engagement Specialist makes an impact:

• Provides community-based outreach and engagement services to youth in the foster care system.
• Assesses the reasons that result in youth running away from their foster or group home and supports youth in returning to an appropriate foster home, group home, or home of a relative.
• Assists youth in engaging with clinical case management services provided by the Project AWOL Clinician and community resources.
• Identifies unmet needs, services, and resources the youth.
• Facilitates youth attaining and maintaining Medi-Cal coverage.
• Provides psycho-education about trauma and advocacy services.
• Understands and complies with policies and procedures regarding documentation, paperwork, and billing. May involve adhering to both EPSDT Medi-Cal guidelines as well as other policies and procedures set up with Alameda County Behavioral Health Care and the Department of Children and Family Services.
• Meets service hour requirements as set by the agency.

The ideal candidate has:

• BA degree in Social Work, Psychology, Criminal Justice, or related field preferred.
• Minimum three years experience working with at-risk youth.
• Experience working with foster youth, the child welfare system, and working in the community – e.g., homes, schools, neighborhoods, other agencies, etc.
• CPR, First Aid, and Blood-borne Pathogens certification (required).
• De-escalation techniques experience preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with clients who have multiple diagnoses, complex trauma histories, substance abuse and attachment/trust difficulties.
• Clinical/case management and crisis intervention skills.
• Cultural competency - knowledge of issues of race, class and ethnicity.
• Excellent efficiency, interpersonal, organizational, and time management skills.
• Knowledge of or ability to learn Medi-Cal reimbursement procedures and billing.
• Collaboration and team functioning - able to work independently with a high level of individual discretion and collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Familiarity with Alameda County resources for youth.
• Clean CA DMV record and current car insurance (travel is required).

**Note that this position is not remote and will require some onsite work at the Assessment Center in Hayward, CA***

Position Details and Compensation:
This is a full-time position reporting to the STAT Assistant Program Director. Salary range $63,653 to $65,500 per year depending on degree/experience, plus a 10% bilingual language differential, if applicable. Includes competitive benefits package, 403(b) plan, and performance-based compensation.

Why work here?

• Be part of a compassionate, driven team that is social justice-focused: We have Staff Affinity Groups such as Staff of Color, LGBTQ+, Equity and Inclusion, Health and Wellness, and more!
• Make a difference for the Bay Area’s most vulnerable populations: We serve hundreds of vulnerable kids and their families each year to create positive changes in their lives!
• Access a growth-oriented learning community: As a Joint Commission Accredited agency, we are dedicated to providing the highest standard of care, and offer extensive clinical trainings and seminars led by field experts. Some of our trainings include:

• CSEC and CSE-IT
• Child and Adolescent Development
• Complex Trauma/Trauma-Informed Care
• Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS)
• Supervisor in Training program, and much, much more!

We also offer:

• Bilingual pay differential for qualified candidates (10% of yearly salary)
• Quarterly and yearly incentive compensation and retirement plan contribution
• 403b retirement contribution and performance-based compensation
• 100% Employer paid medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and long-term disability coverage
• Flex-spending account options - Medical, Dependent Care and Commuter Plans
• 20 days paid time off (PTO) per year for full time employees (pro-rated for less than full time), 14 Paid Holidays, Self-Care Leave, and additional PTO accrual with years of service.
• Professional development stipend
• Weekly supervision and case conference
• CEUs for trainings
• Monthly wellness stipend