My First Place is an education and employment program developed nearly two decades ago by First Place for Youth. Envisioning a future where the disparities between foster care-involved youth and their non-foster peers have been eliminated, the My First Place program is expanding to communities across the country, starting with HopeWell’s implementation in Boston. Through My First Place, youth receive stable, safe, and affordable housing, community-based case management, and individualized education and employment support. A team of staff including a Youth Advocate, an Education and Employment Specialist, and a Housing Specialist, support youth in working towards healthy living, education, employment, and housing goals set by the youth. HopeWell began serving youth through My First Place in February of 2018 and the program is steadily expanding. This is an exciting opportunity to join a growing and engaged team to serve transition-age youth comprehensively.

The Youth Advocate is a dynamic, collaborative, and results-oriented service provider who will partner with 18-22-year-old transition-age foster care-involved youth to support them in their path to independence. This position requires a clinical professional whose passion for HopeWell’s vision is matched with sound judgment in the face of complex challenges and a proven track record of successfully supporting transition-age youth.

The Youth Advocate is responsible for case management, psychosocial assessment, and development and implementation of intervention strategies. The Youth Advocate provides clinical leadership to a multi-disciplinary team. They provide coaching to support each youth to achieve goals of housing stability, sustainable and sustaining employment, and educational achievement. The Youth Advocate is active in developing, supporting, and implementing an individualized, strength-based, culturally competent, youth-centered approach. Successful Youth Advocates understand how to partner with young adults in support of achieving their goals and achieving independent living. Youth Advocates must be comfortable working independently and directly with youth in the program, able to assess danger and risk and make sound decisions in partnership with youth.

• Develop a partnership strategy with each youth. Provide direct support, coaching, mentoring and intervention to increase youth self-sufficiency and goal attainment.
• Provide youth with individual counseling, crisis intervention, referrals, advocacy and life skills training, as well as crisis counseling as needed.
• Provide on-going assessment of youth well-being and develops plans to ensure safety and de-escalate crisis as needed.
• Provide clinical leadership to multi-disciplinary teams consisting of youth, family and other natural supporters, social workers, Employment and Education Specialists, and Housing Specialists to ensure seamless and effective service delivery. Ensure continuous information sharing and communication.
• Collaborate with community providers including but not limited to social workers, courts, professionals, vocational and independent living skills programs, schools, universities, family members and significant others.
• Complete documentation including but not limited to intake paperwork and consents, Care and Services plans, needs assessments, and progress notes.
• Participate on a rotating basis to provide on-call coverage.

The ideal candidate will possess:

• Master’s degree in social work, mental health counseling, or related field.
• Experience working with transition age youth with complex presentations including chronic trauma preferred.
• Must be comfortable working in community settings.
• High level of personal accountability for the quality and impact of work.
• Excellent communication skills, professional demeanor, sound judgment, and strong organizational skills.
• A high level of professionalism in work and interpersonal interactions with both internal and external contacts.
• Strongly prefer a candidate that will have a demonstrated understanding of and competence in serving culturally diverse populations.
• Willingness to work collaboratively, but with the capacity to work independently.
• Computer skills sufficient to perform essential functions.

Other Requirements

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  This role involves predominately home based and community based work with occassional remote oppurtunities. During home and community visits there are possible environmental exposures including pets.
• Daily access to an automobile is required.
• Driving is required in and out of the catchement area.
• A valid MA State Driver’s License.
• Clearing of background checks as required by state and federal law.
• Remain current in all DCF required trainings.
• Other duties as assigned to support quality care

Additional Information

HopeWell has an unparalleled work culture, with an emphasis on diversity, belonging, inclusion, equity, and holistic wellness. At HopeWell, each team member is called to uphold and live daily the values of empathy, strength, learning, and integrity. HopeWell is an environment where we laugh and smile while handling serious, life-changing work.

HopeWell also offers a comprehensive rewards package that values employee wellness, work-life balance, and continuous learning. Benefits include student loan pay-down assistance, tuition reimbursement, funding for professional development, as well as a full suite of healthcare benefits, 401k plan, and generous paid-time-off.