Foster Care Mentor​/Case Aide

Description

The Case Aide position offers the opportunity to work with youth in foster care as a positive support person engaged in their lives on an as-needed basis. You will provide case-related services to foster youth and families by assisting with transportation to appointments, participating in community-based activities and recreation, providing supervision and other service plan related duties as directed to address goals, youth needs and safety.

The service area of this position is throughout Whatcom & Skagit county and will require spending time with the youth in their community or home. Flexibility in scheduling is required and evening/weekend availability is preferred.

• Build strong relationships by doing recreational activities with clients, meeting clients’ needs, being a positive role model, maintaining healthy boundaries, and responding appropriately to behaviors from a trauma-informed standpoint.
• Plan activities based on clients’ treatment goals, interests and abilities, length of shift, allotted budget, and purpose of shift.
• Provide transportation for clients to and from appointments and/or activities throughout Whatcom & Skagit county.
• Provide enrichment activities in the community or in the foster home that supplement school work.
• Communicate effectively with foster parents/guardians and Case Managers about how time was spent (face-to-face communication, accurate written documentation, phone calls, and occasionally texts).
• Complete and maintain documents such as Case Aide Reports and Time Sheets.
• Follow all guidelines related to clients’ needs and safety and respond to all emergency situations as they arise.
• Must be able to adjust job assignments when the supervision needs of individual children warrant.
• Attend staff meetings and other mandatory trainings as required by Youthnet.

• Must be at least 21 years old
• Possess a valid Washington State driver’s license and have proof of automobile insurance that meets the statutorily required minimum amounts of coverage;
• Must have the ability to pass a Washington State criminal check and FBI fingerprinting if required;
• Must have a high school diploma, GED or HSEC, preferred Associates Degree in Human Services or related field;
• Have one year of experience working with children and families OR two years of social services education;
• Have the skills and abilities to work successfully with challenging behaviors of children in care;
• Have a basic understanding of family systems and child development;
• Have effective written and verbal communication and problem-solving skills;
• Possess the ability to work with diverse groups and populations;
• Possess the ability to make objective, visual assessments of home conditions and crisis situations AND to communicate information appropriately;
• Possess knowledge of community resources for youth;
• Have the ability to interact as a team member;
• Must be proficient with basic computer software, such as Microsoft Office suite.