Independent Living Program Coordinator

The Transition Age Youth Program serves current and former foster, probation placement and unhoused youth ages 15-25. We provide an array of programs and services including case management, counseling, skills building, a drop-in resource center, and subsidized supportive housing. Our mission is to support and empower youth in making a successful transition into adulthood. 

Job Summary:

The Independent Living Program Coordinator provides coordination of care and counseling to TAY youth. Responsibilities include establishing positive and professional working relationships with youth, providing comprehensive case management services, providing trauma-informed mental health services, and acting as a liaison with outside agencies and community partners. Additional duties include completing comprehensive intake assessments and goals sheets with clients, weekly, every other week, and/or monthly meetings with clients to work on their goals, weekly counseling sessions to build coping strategies, creating and facilitating life skills workshops, connecting youth with necessary referrals to outside agencies in order to achieve their goals, and working in the drop-in center 1-2 days per week.  

Knowledge of:

• Preferred, but not required: 
  1. Knowledge of trauma-informed care, motivational interviewing, crisis intervention, positive youth development, de-escalation training, and multi-cultural/diversity, equity, and inclusion training. 
  2. Familiarity with community resources, including social services agencies, health and wellness providers, and crisis intervention providers.
  3. Experience working in a non-profit setting and/or working with grant-funded programs.
  4. Experience with MediCal billing and electronic medical records (AVATAR).

Skills and Qualifications:

• Undergraduate work and/or BA/BS in social services field (social work, sociology, psychology) 1-2 years of relevant experience.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish, preferred).
• Self-motivated with the ability to work independently or as a team. 
• Strong time management and organizational skills.
• Maintaining effective working relationships and professional communication.
• Must have a vehicle, valid CA driver’s license, vehicle insurance, and a good driving record covered by agency insurance and be willing to transport clients as needed.
• Fingerprinting for licensing, criminal record clearance, and necessary physical exams are required.
• Ability to work flexible hours between 8:00 AM and 6:00 PM, Monday through Friday. 

Wages & Benefits: 

We prioritize the well-being of our team as much as the community we serve. Our comprehensive health benefits reflect this commitment. We offer full-time employees medical and dental insurance plan that ensures peace of mind for themselves and their families. We go beyond traditional care by also offering our employees acupuncture and chiropractic, embracing a holistic approach to health that aligns with our values of care and compassion.    

Our team’s future matters just as much as the present. That’s why we offer a 403(b) retirement plan, providing a foundation for a secure retirement. We also recognize the need for work-life balance, so Encompass offers a competitive package of 17 vacation days, 12 sick days, and 14 additional paid holidays. These benefits are thoughtfully pro-rated for part-time positions, affirming our commitment to fairness and flexibility. 

About Us: 

At Encompass Community Services we provide our community with a wide range of services related to family & social well-being, early childhood education, behavioral health, housing and more. Every day through these services we work to make health, education and housing more equitable for all people in Santa Cruz County. For more than 40 years our work has touched generations by helping people have access to education, rebuild relationships, restore their health and regain dignity. 

Encompass Community Services is committed to racial equity and standing against any kind of discrimination. We believe in having a diverse workforce that is representative of the many communities we serve. We strongly value providing equal opportunities for our employees, such as providing the training and education needed to excel in this and other positions.

Our agency recognizes the value of racial, ethnic, cultural and linguistic diversity and strives towards the overarching goal of ensuring that all services promote healing, and integrate the values and standards of providing culturally informed services.