Youth Transition Specialist (200078)

Lutheran Services Florida (LSF) envisions a world where children are safe, families are strong, and communities are vibrant.

LSF is seeking a talented Youth Transition Specialist who wants to make an impact in the lives of others.

The candidate for the role must be a Certified Child Welfare Case Manager in the state of Florida!

Purpose and Impact:

This position will lead support activities for life, academic, vocational, and evidence-based skill building through the use of various curricula. Responsible for assisting youth in foster care and young adults who exit foster care at age 18 in making the transition to independent living and self-sufficient adults in Polk County. Youth Transition Specialists shall provide children and young adults with opportunities to participate in life skills activities in their foster families and community placements which are reasonable and appropriate for their respective ages and abilities. and shall provide them with services to build the skills and increase their ability to live independently and be self-sufficient. Youth Transition Specialists assist with compliance issues related to audits and quality assurance and serves as the primary point of contact for all foster care youth ages 13-18 or 18-23, providing support, resources, and assistance for independent living (IL) activities. The Youth Transition Specialist may also be assigned to dependency cases requiring traditional case management duties.

Essential Functions

• Maintain socially appropriate behavior of youth through sanctioned and designed de-escalation skills and disciplinary procedures.
• Serve as a positive role model to youth at all times through appearance, attitude, and behavior.
• Serve as support for implementing and facilitating remedial education, tutoring and GED prep.
• Serve as a mentor for skill building and employability development.
• Assist with coordination and transportation of youth to obtain documents necessary for employment.
• Logistically coordinate and schedule youth in the assigned judicial circuit for transportation to and from services.
• Transport youth to job sites for interviews, community service projects and/or any other requests as needed for youth well-being.
• Maintain sight and sound supervision of youth. Provide a safe and secure environment for all staff and youth.
• Implement the behavior management system and documentation as necessary.

Additional age-specific functions:

13-18 year old requirements:

• Comply with requirements of the CBC IL Standards for Traditional Services.
• Refer teens on their caseload that are eligible for IL services within 30 days of their 13th birthday or within 30 days of adjudication and placement in foster care for those teens ages 13 and older.
• Ensure completion of Life Skills Assessment within 30 days of adjudication. Life Skills Assessments are to be completed annually at 13, 15, and 17 years of age. Assessments shall be submitted to the lead agency IL Coordinator no later than 5 days after the completion of the assessment with the youth.
• Schedule and present at all IL staffings and ensure the youth and all other necessary parties are in attendance (i.e., Foster Parents, GAL). IL staffings are to be completed at the age of 17, then quarterly after age 17. Youth must be present at staffings or by phone if the youth is unable to attend for any reason. Staffing results are documented in a Transitional Plan that must be provided to the youth in a written format for approval and signature, attesting to concurrence with the summation of the officially recorded results.
• Provide and/or ensure the provision of age-appropriate life skills as identified in the Life Skills Plan, and ensure the Teen and Foster Parent/group care staff understand the requirement of the youth to attend life skills trainings.
• Ensure a copy of the child's Independent Living Assessment Skills Plan is provided to the youth and all out-of-home caregivers within 30 days of placement.
• Provide and/or arrange for transportation so that teens may attend activities and access necessary services. These activities and services may include life skills training, educational activities, vocational training, legal services, social, cultural, leisure, religious, and recreational activities.
• Ensure that children in foster care who have reached 13 years of age have an educational and career path included in their case plans based on the abilities and interests of each youth. The child, the foster parents, and a teacher or other school staff member shall be included to the fullest extent possible in developing the path. The path shall be reviewed at each judicial hearing as part of the case plan. An educational staffing with the youth and school representative needs to occur annually.
• Assist the child in choosing one of the following post-secondary goals: attend a 4-year college or university, a community college plus university, or a military academy; receive a 2-year post-secondary degree; choose a post-secondary career and attain a technical certificate or credential; begin immediate employment, including apprenticeship, after completion of a high school diploma or its equivalent; or enlist in the military.
• Facilitate and follow up on all CBC referrals to service providers to ensure that needed services are provided in a timely manner.
• Assist and support the teen in completing the following:
• Applications and enrollment for post-secondary, trade, and vocational schools;
• Applications for Scholarships and Grants (i.e., PELL, Merit, Bright Futures);
• Career planning, job search, and retention activities;
• Developing an effective financial, budgeting, and personal support plan for self-sufficiency and independent living;
• Search and selection of appropriate housing accommodations and necessary furnishings;
• Monitoring and submitting required reports on the teen/young adult’s academic enrollment and progress to the IL Specialist;
• Applications for public assistance (i.e., housing, food stamps, WIC);
• Applications for SSI/SSA; and
• Applications and enrollment of IL programs offered, such as the Post-secondary Educational Services & Support program and Aftercare Services. These services should be reviewed with the youth at all IL staffings.
• Coordinate and facilitate the development and implementation of a post-18 Transitional Plan. This plan shall minimally address housing, financial supports, education, and employment.
• Coordinate and facilitate the development and implementation of a 17-year-old Transitional Plan every quarter and file them with the court in conjunction with the staffings that are held.
• Obtain all necessary documentation for inclusion in the Case Plan and Judicial Reviews.
• Facilitate and follow up on all CBC referrals to service providers to ensure that needed services are provided in a timely manner (i.e., mental health and substance abuse counseling; life skills classes, including credit management and preventive health activities; parenting classes; job skills training; temporary financial assistance; and those services necessary to prevent homelessness).
• Agency on-call rotation.

18-23 year old requirements:

• Is the primary point of contact for all Independent Living clients
• Follow up on all youth requests for services or inquiries regarding eligibility for services within three working days from the date of the initial call.
• Ensure client eligibility for services; provide and assist clients in the completion of appropriate applications for services (i.e., Aftercare Services, and Post-secondary Educational Services and Support program.)
• Assist clients in identifying and locating appropriate supportive documentation to ensure applications are complete (i.e., report card, W-9, ICWSIS printouts - ICWSIS printouts can be obtained from staff with access, as needed).
• Link clients to appropriate community services including, but not limited to, housing, employment, and ex-offender re-entry services.
• Ensure clients’ contact information is up to date in all automated data systems including FSFN, ASK, and CBC accounting systems.
• Liaison between Social Security, Agency for Persons with Disabilities, and clients that have or need these types of services. Assist youth in completing applications or obtaining required documentation to meet eligibility requirements to access these services.
• Facilitate and follow up on all CBC referrals to service providers to ensure that needed services are provided in a timely manner.
• Assist and support the young adult in completing the following:
• Applications and enrollment for post-secondary, trade, and vocational schools;
• Applications for Scholarships and Grants (i.e., PELL, Merit, Bright Futures);
• Career planning, job search, and retention activities;
• Developing an effective financial, budgeting, and personal support plan for self-sufficiency and independent living;
• Search and selection of appropriate housing accommodations and necessary furnishings;
• Monitor and enter into FSFN required reports on the teen/young adult’s academic enrollment and progress.
• Applications for public assistance (i.e., housing, food stamps, WIC);
• Applications for SSI/SSA; and
• Implementation and follow through of Post-secondary Educational Services and Support program and Aftercare Support IL plans.
• Facilitate and follow up on all agency referrals to service providers to ensure that needed services are provided in a timely manner (i.e., mental health and substance abuse counseling; life skills classes, including credit management and preventive health activities; parenting classes; job skills training; temporary financial assistance; and those services necessary to prevent homelessness).
• Monthly telephone and quarterly face-to-face contact with the young adult. Although a minimum of a quarterly face-to-face visit is required, many young adults require more frequent contact based on their individual needs.
• Agency on-call rotation.

Education:

• Must have a Bachelor’s degree in human services and two years of related experience in child welfare or youth crisis programs.
• Current child welfare certification required.

Experience:

Two years full time paid or volunteer experience working with at-risk or delinquent youth preferred.

Skills:

Able to present creative recreational or leisure activities. Requires a good understanding of group dynamics, group leadership and crisis intervention. Group management, observation, and documentation procedures. Prefer strong understanding of juvenile delinquent rehabilitation methods within a residential program. Will be required to comply with training as identified by contract. Requires strong communication skills, both written and verbal.

Other:

Must demonstrate sensitivity to our service population’s cultural and socioeconomic characteristics and needs.

Principal Accountabilities:

• Reports to Permanency Manager
• Team player with co-workers, stakeholders, and administrators
• Ensures qualitative care for clients in a safe, secure environment.
• Adherence to license and quality assurance standards of local, state, and federal agencies
• Effective behavior management and supervision of youth during activities
• Serves as role model leader regarding behavioral management tools and techniques
• Adherence to all agency policies and procedures

Why work for LSF?

LSF offers 60 programs across the state of Florida serving a wide range of populations in need. Mission Driven staff members become part of the LSF community while transforming the lives of those in need. Our staff additionally find growth opportunities as they explore areas of interest within the organization.

Amazing benefits package including:

• Medical, Dental and Vision
• Telehealth (24/7 online access to Doctors)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Employer paid life insurance (1X salary)
• 13 paid holidays + 1 floating holiday
• Generous PTO policy (starting at 16 working days a year)
  • Note: Head Start employees paid time off and holiday schedule may differ
• 403(b) Retirement plan with 3% discretionary employer match OR 3% student loan repayment reimbursement
• Tuition reimbursement

LSF is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

Lutheran Services Florida is mandated to perform background screenings for employment in accordance with the Florida Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse as outlined in Section 435.12, Florida Statutes. Additionally, pursuant to House Bill 531 (2025), Lutheran Services Florida must ensure that all job vacancy postings and advertisements include a clear and conspicuous link to the AHCA Clearinghouse website and its requirements. For more information on background screening requirements please visit: https://info.flclearinghouse.com

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.