Community Health Worker

Community Health Worker (CHW) Position

The Youth Development Services Division (YDSD) is recruiting highly motivated and community-driven individuals for the position of Community Health Worker (CHW) within the Independent Living Program (ILP). The selected candidate will support Transitional Age Youth (TAY), including Kin-GAP youth, by connecting them to Independent Living Program services, community resources, and supportive services that promote self-sufficiency and successful transition into adulthood. The CHW will serve as a key liaison between youth, DCFS staff, and community partners.

The work location will be determined based upon the Division's needs.

The individual selected for this position will perform the following duties but are not limited to:

• Receive and process ILP referrals from ILP Supervisors for Independent Transition Service Program (ITSP) and LP life skills training and workshops
• Process ILP life skills referrals for Los Angeles County ILP eligible youth residing out-of-county
• Provide walk-in youth at DCFS Regional Offices with ILP services and supportive community resources
• Develop and maintain logs for ILP case files, including Kin-GAP cases
• Complete data entry in ILP tracking systems, CWS/CMS, and NYTD
• Mail questionnaires and conduct outreach to assess youth needs
• Distribute employment resource materials and assist youth with employment-related documentation
• Obtain updated Transitional Independent Living Plans (TILPs) from CSWs/SCSWs for ILP contractors
• Coordinate with CSWs to ensure NYTD updates and reporting requirements are met
• Locate and follow up with foster youth to support completion of NYTD Youth Surveys
• Assist youth with documentation for ILP-related programs
• Develop and maintain tracking logs for youth milestones, including high school seniors
• Conduct outreach and follow-up with Kin-GAP youth regarding ILP services and available funding
• Compile and distribute ILP resource packets for youth and families
• Meet with youth in-office to provide support, guidance, and assistance with required documentation
• Participate in ILP orientations, events, and workshops
• Attend staff meetings and general staff meetings to provide ILP-related information and updates

Employees interested in applying for this transfer opportunity must currently hold the payroll title of Community Health Worker (CHW). Desirable

Qualifications:

• Lived experience in foster care, extended foster care, Independent Living Program (ILP) services, or another child welfare system is highly desirable
• Strong desire and passion for working with Transitional Age Youth, particularly youth and young adults currently or formerly involved in foster care
• Ability to use lived experience, when appropriate, to build trust, establish meaningful connections, and support youth in navigating their transition to adulthood
• Knowledge of community resources, Independent Living Program services, and resources available to current and former foster youth
• Understanding of the unique experiences, strengths, challenges, and barriers that foster youth and Transitional Age Youth may encounter
• Ability to effectively engage and communicate with youth and families using a youth-centered, strength-based, and supportive approach
• Experience providing outreach, peer support, case coordination, advocacy, mentoring, and/or resource navigation
• Ability to empower youth to identify their goals, advocate for themselves, and develop skills that promote independence and self-sufficiency
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Ability to work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams, community partners, caregivers, and service providers
• Experience with data entry, documentation, and tracking systems
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal…