Job Description:

Job Title: Youth SpecialistLocation: Hannibal, MODepartment: Clarity HealthcareEmployment Type: Full TimeShift: Monday-Friday

Job Summary:Are you a passionate and dedicated Youth Specialist looking to make a positive impact in the lives of youth and young adults, especially those in foster care? Do you want to work in a supportive and dynamic environment where you can grow your skills and advance your career? Join our team at Clarity Healthcare as a Youth Specialist!

As a Youth Specialist, you'll assist youth and their Family Support Teams in overcoming obstacles to independent living, employment, education, and social integration. Our ideal candidate is passionate about supporting youth, has experience in foster care or related fields, and possesses strong communication and collaboration skills.

Hannibal, Missouri, is special for its historical significance as Mark Twain's boyhood home, scenic location along the Mississippi River, affordable living, and tight-knit community spirit. It offers career opportunities, including in dentistry, and a high quality of life with its blend of charm, natural beauty, and community engagement. Join us in making a difference in the lives of individuals who seek our services!

Position Perks & Benefits:

• Employee benefits package - health, dental, vision, retirement, life, & more**

• Competitive 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan – up to 5% match for Part-Time and Full-Time employees

• Company-paid basic life insurance

• 29 Days of PTO for Full-Time employees

• Emergency Medical Leave Program

• Flexible Spending Accounts – healthcare and dependent child-care

• Health & Wellness Program

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

• Employee Discount Program

• Mileage Reimbursement

Key Responsibilities:

• Dignified Interactions: Treat all youth, referral sources, stakeholders, and team members with the utmost dignity and respect, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment.

• Confidentiality Adherence: Strictly adhere to all confidentiality protocols, CARF standards, and contractual obligations during service provision.

• Flexible Availability: Maintain flexibility in work availability, including evenings and weekends, to meet the diverse needs of the youth.

• Youth Expertise: Develop and maintain a deep knowledge base related to serving youth and young adults, with a particular focus on youth in foster care.

• Collaborative Planning: Work collaboratively with Family Support Teams to create and update service plans using SNAP (strengths, needs, abilities, preferences) principles.

• Obstacle Identification: Assist youth and their Family Support Teams in identifying obstacles to independent living, employment, education, social network development, and recreational activities, addressing these in the service planning process.

• Initial Planning: Complete all initial Planning Profiles and related documentation with youth and their Family Support Teams.

• Service Plan Facilitation: Guide the development of individualized service plans with each youth, contributing to the Individualized Action Plan (IAP) created by the Case Manager and Family Support Team.

• Consistent Engagement: Meet with each assigned youth as required by the type of services (Chafee, Aftercare, TLSS), ensuring regular and meaningful engagement.

• Active Services: Provide services directly tied to IAP and service plan goals during each meeting with youth.

• Supportive Relationships: Establish a supportive, professional relationship with each assigned youth, fostering trust and mutual respect.

• Strategic Development: Create strategies, lessons, and curriculum to help youth achieve their individualized plan goals.

• Life Skills Training: Assist youth in developing essential life skills related to adult living, such as meal planning, grocery shopping, budgeting, auto/lawn care, scheduling, and overall independence.

• Community Resource Specialist: Serve as a knowledgeable community resource specialist for youth, families, and referral sources.

• Resource Updates: Assist leadership in maintaining and updating information on available community resources beneficial to youth and stakeholders.

• Mentoring Facilitation: Facilitate mentoring opportunities for youth, helping them establish permanent connections with supportive adults in their community.

• Employment Support: Connect youth with resources for obtaining and maintaining employment, as outlined in their service plans.

• Financial Training: Provide comprehensive financial information training and support to youth, including checking credit scores, budgeting, saving, bill paying, and other related activities.

• Transportation Assistance: Transport youth as necessary to help them achieve the goals and objectives identified in their individualized plans.

• Resource Solicitation: Solicit in-kind services and donations to assist youth in reaching their personal and financial goals.

• Financial Assistance: Facilitate financial assistance transactions and purchases aligned with service plan goals, ensuring transparency and accountability.

• Expense Tracking: Track and document expenditures, collect receipts, and attempt to solicit donations prior to making purchases.

• Event Chaperoning: Serve as a chaperone for quarterly State Youth Advisory Board meetings, conferences, and other related events.

• Local Board Meetings: Assist in organizing and facilitating quarterly Local Youth Advisory Board meetings, including transporting youth to and from meetings.

• Group Activities: Help implement additional group activities provided by local offices, ensuring smooth organization and facilitation.

• Data Entry: Complete all required data entry within PFH and FACES databases accurately and timely.

• Reporting: Complete daily, monthly, and activity-based reporting (visit logs, progress, expenditure, hours reporting, plans) as required.

• Referral Source Communication: Maintain frequent contact with referral sources to discuss youth and identify potential referrals into PFH services.

• Youth Advocacy: Advocate for youth within their Family Support Teams, communities, employers, referral sources, and other stakeholders, ensuring their needs and goals are effectively communicated.

• Professional Promotion: Promote the organization, services, and youth in a professional manner through participation in community events, awareness activities, collaboration efforts, and committees, which may include making presentations or public speaking.

Education and/or Experience Qualifications:

• A high school diploma or equivalent certificate is required; an associate’s or bachelor's degree in an applicable field from an accredited institution is preferred.

• Experience in foster care, education, employment services, case management, social services, or other applicable vocation is preferred.

Additional Qualifications:

• Strong customer service skills.

• Skilled computer knowledge (Word, Excel, internet platforms, other electronic media).

• Effective and accurate communication in verbal and written form.

• Understanding of supporting youth with barriers to employment, education, and/or independent living.​

Brightli is on a Mission:A mission to improve client care, reduce the financial burden of community mental health centers by sharing resources, a mission to have a larger voice in advocacy to increase access to mental health and substance use care in our communities, and a mission to evolve the behavioral health industry to better meet the needs of our clients.

As a behavioral and community mental health provider, we value diversity, equity, and inclusion in our workforce and encourage applications from individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences. If you are passionate about empowering your local communities and promoting health equity, we invite you to join our mission-driven organization that is committed to building a diverse, equitable, inclusive and authentic workplace.

We are an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer, and encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital status, disability or veteran status, or to other non-work related factors.

Supported Living and Employment Services is a Smoke and Tobacco Free Workplace.

About Brightli

Brightli is on a mission: A mission to improve client care, reduce the financial burden of community mental health centers by sharing resources, a mission to have a larger voice in advocacy to increase access to mental health and substance use care in our communities, and a mission to evolve the behavioral health industry to better meet the needs of our clients. We are doing this by forming a new behavioral health organization under new model. Under one parent company, multiple organizations are able to collaborate, share resources and system supports, increase recruiting and retention efforts, increase access to specialized care, and meet the growing demand for behavioral and addiction recovery care.

Brightli’s top-line subsidiaries include Burrell Behavioral Health (Burrell), Preferred Family Healthcare (PFH), and Southeast Missouri Behavioral Health (SEMO). While these organizations operate independently and are governed by separate board of directors, their operations and services benefit from this model. Alone, organizations may be able to navigate the current tumultuous healthcare environment, but we believe that together we can do so much more than survive. Our communities need us now more than ever, and by working together we are ready to answer their call for years to come.

Brightli Snapshot

• 200 locations

• 4 states

• 19 subsidiaries and/or affiliates

• 5k+ employees