CARE Specialist

Salary: $4,903.00/month

Closing:
Open Until Filled

Department:
Health and Human Services

The CARE Specialist provides high-level intervention support across Umatilla County, serving as a dedicated bridge between vulnerable, multi-issue youth, their families, and essential community resources. Operating under a strategic "no wrong door" model, this position primarily focuses on receiving and acting on referrals from local school districts and funding partners. By addressing key social determinants of health-such as housing stability, basic needs, behavioral health, and resource access-the CARE Specialist works directly to remove non-academic barriers to learning, with a primary focus on improving school attendance and ultimately driving student graduation.

Moving beyond entry-level execution, this position requires more than simply making referrals; it demands advanced systems navigation to teach and empower youth and families to independently find and access support networks. By proactively educating both school personnel and families on the evolving landscape of available resources, the CARE Specialist builds long-term resilience and community capacity.

Ultimately, this role requires an elevated level of professional maturity to navigate youth development and complex family dynamics with a calm, compassionate demeanor. It calls for an agile problem-solver who can maintain firm professional boundaries, leverage local resource networks, and fluidly balance direct client support with the program's administrative and operational needs.

Works under the direct supervision of the CARE Coordinator and the general direction of the Human Services Director.

• Direct Client Support & System Navigation (40%)
• Intensive Family & Youth Support:
  Provide case coordination and navigation for highly mobile, housing-unstable, and/or crisis- and trauma-impacted youth and families.
• Family Action Plans:
  Facilitate structured client consultations to identify core needs, uncover systemic barriers, and align appropriate services, utilizing a "teach and train" framework that empowers families to prioritize goals and achieve sustainable self-sufficiency.
• Essential Resource Connection:
  Coordinate immediate access to stabilization resources, including housing options, medical insurance, food stability, basic needs, and behavioral health/substance use disorder (SUD) services.
• Transportation & Resource Access:
  Transport clients to critical appointments, community services, or program meetings to ensure access to support networks when transportation barriers exist.
• School & Community Collaboration (30%)
• CARE Team Coordination:
  Develop, schedule, and lead CARE Team meetings across county schools and collaborative partner agencies.
• Partner Relationships & Referrals:
  Act as a universal referral point, building robust professional relationships with school counselors, community partners, and external social service providers.
• Community Awareness & Outreach:
  Share program information, advocate for service equity, and publicize CARE service descriptions to community partners and stakeholders.
• Inclusive & Accessible Services:
  Deliver culturally and linguistically competent services to diverse populations to ensure available resources are accessible to all who may qualify.
• Record-Keeping, Privacy & Resource Tracking (20%)
• Timely Documentation & Data Entry:
  Complete accurate client notes and program data promptly in the program database to maintain up-to-date tracking and comply with grant reporting timelines.
• Confidentiality & Information Privacy:
  Keep all client information strictly secure-including written records, digital files, and spoken conversations-in full compliance with HIPAA, PHI, and PII privacy requirements.
• Responsible Resource Use:
  Act as a responsible steward of county resources when evaluating financial assistance requests (such as rent or utilities) by confirming immediate need, encouraging family sustainability plans, and using county funds as a last resort.
• Professional Practice & Team Support (10%)
• Knowledge Sharing & Team
  
  Collaboration:
  
  Participate in peer learning sessions, share insights on resource navigation, and actively identify workflow improvements in the workplace.
• Professional Boundaries & Problem-Solving:
  Model exemplary professional boundaries, critical thinking, and a solution-focused mindset during challenging workplace transitions or difficult client…