Do more than a job, change a life. Provide a safe and trusting environment in leading youth residential care facility.
At Homme Youth and Family Programs, we provide treatment and care for children and adolescents dealing with issues from severe trauma and delinquency. We provide these children with the tools they need to recover, grow and thrive independently. Through structured schedules and activities, individual, group and family therapy, spiritual care, on-campus education services and eventually reintegration to the community, our programs focus on the whole person through a trauma-informed care approach.

Who are we looking for? You are compassionate, strong and patient. You're firm with boundaries but know when the situation demands some flexibility. A life-long student you're willing and ready to receive on-the-job training improving you and the work you do with your teams and clients. You know how to set and stick to your boundaries, but understand the importance of seeing life through other's perspective. You understand child development and can handle the demands of working with at-risk youth and families. You recognize, promote and most importantly model, strength-based, trauma sensitive care. You want to change lives.

As a Care Advocate Specialist, under the direction of the supervisor, you would develop and implement behavioral support plans for clients; providing a physical and psychologically safe environment for clients to engage in treatment; and performs other duties as required.

You're also responsible for:

• Works closely with unit supervisor and therapist to advocate for an environment conducive to meeting the needs of each individual client by developing and leading implementation of strength based behavior support plans.
• Conducts screens of clients' needs through interviews, collateral contacts, and other reviews; develops a behavioral support plan with the client and performs agreed upon and necessary follow-up and case management services.
• Assists in coaching, training, guiding unit staff and models positive behavior on the unit. Communicates with clients on an individual or group basis providing a positive trauma informed environment; performs crisis counseling as needed, providing advocacy, and guidance.
• May coordinate various social, community, and other health services received by the clients.
• Complies with licensing and agency-wide policies and procedures.
• Assists and leads in planning activity schedules, recreational, educational, and other psycho-educational groups as required. Including Aggression Replacement Training (ART) groups.
• Maintains accurate and timely program required paperwork.
• Participates as a member of a quality team and interacts with primary, external and internal clients of the agency in such a way that the client experiences increased quality.
• Maintains open dialogue with supervisor regarding clients.
• May provide coaching and mentoring to staff in the area of trauma sensitive care to prevent physical interventions and seclusion with the client.
• Performs other duties as required.

Working for Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan includes:

• Medical/dental/vision insurance
• Flex spending for dependent and health care
• Paid time off
• Ten paid holidays
• Low cost on-site, dorm-style housing for staff
• Paid training in trauma informed care, evidence-based practices, and facilitating psycho-educational groups
• Mileage reimbursement
• Ability to contribute to 403B
• Employee assistance program
• Service awards and recognition

You've got education and experience including:

• Graduation from a high school or GED equivalency required. Bachelor's Degree preferred. In lieu of bachelor's degree, a minimum of (1) year of related work experience working with high-risk adolescents, using behavioral modification or behavior management systems in a school, residential facility, or community based services is required.
• Experience in crisis management and the development of behavioral support plans.
• CPI/POSC certification required but can be obtained after hire.
• Background check required. Motor vehicle record with satisfactory driving history required.

Certificates, Licenses, and Registrations:

Must have a valid Driver's License and car - Motor vehicle check (MVR) with a satisfactory driving record required.

Physical Demands/Work Environment:

The job allows the employee to vary physical position or activity for comfort and may be required to stand and /or walk for 8 hours or longer. While performing the duties of this job, the worker is frequently (i.e. 34% to 66% of the time) required to bend/stoop, kneel, crouch, twist, reach above shoulder height and below and lift up to 10 lbs. In addition the worker is occasionally(1% to 33% of the time) required to lift 11 to 25 lbs, grasp, handle, fine manipulation, fingering and push/pull up to 50 lbs. The worker is rarely (less than 1% of the time) required to climb or lift clients/ objects (between 26 lbs to 75 lbs). Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Travel: Ability to travel on day trips as required up to 25%. Some overnight travel may be required.

We want you! Apply today to join our team.

LSS is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, disability status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information.