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Independent Living Specialist

Wellpoint Care Network
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At Wellpoint Care Network, our mission is to facilitate equity, learning, healing, and wellness by restoring the connections that help children and families thrive.

 

Every person deserves the opportunity to reach their fullest potential. It’s part of human nature, and the promise of our country, that everyone be given a fair chance to be and do their best. Yet, many in our community live with unresolved childhood and generational trauma. 

 

That’s where we come in. We believe we can create a world where children and families have a clearer path to their fullest potential. Wellpoint Care Network has championed the restoration of families for nearly 175 years.

 

Job Purpose: 

Our next Independent Living Specialist will be the primary contact/relationship for the youth in the Supervised Independent Living (SIL) program. The ILS will use a strength-based trauma informed approach to supporting youth to independence. The ILS will be a teacher, at times hands-on, and coach of independent living skills using the 5 pillars of stability framework and connecting the youth to resources in their community. ILS support a youth driven service plan that celebrates successes and focuses on youth needs and goals. The ILS works closely with child welfare and Youth Transitioning to Adulthood to ensure the youth is prepared for independence.

 

 

 

Qualifications: 

  • Bachelor’s degree in social work/human services field required.
  • At least 2 years’ experience in human services or related field, working with high-risk teens, and young adults
  • Basic experience and/or knowledge of CHIPS court orders
  • Must have flexible availability and respond to occasional after business hours calls or youth needs.
  • Experience and knowledge of mental illness/treatment and trauma. 
  • Experience in networking and community outreach. 
  • Knowledge and skill in creative problem solving. 
  • Good judgment and strong personal boundaries and ethics. 
  • Ability to work well independently and as part of one organization. 
  • Proficient in the usage of computer software; demonstrate an understanding of computer file systems and computer software packages, e.g., Microsoft Office, Excel, Outlook, Teams, ADP, etc.
  • Must be honest, dependable and able to meet deadlines; Self-motivated and able to work independently.
  • Must be organized and able to manage their calendar to meet program protocols and policies.
  • Physical exam, drug screen, motor vehicle report, and background checks are required for this position

A valid Wisconsin Driver’s License or occupational driver’s license, reliable transportation and insurance is required.

 

Duties:

 

Assessment, Decision Making, and Problem Solving

  • Provide IL services to program participants, ages 17-21, who are in out of home care on a CHIPS order. 
  • Help participants obtain and sustain housing. 
  • Hands-on, face-to-face supervision and contact in accordance with contract requirements, in the community, at their home and/or at the office. 
  • Connect with leadership in weekly supervision, system partners and emergency resources to communicate safety concerns and develop a plan to support the youth.
  • Facilitate the development of skills that demonstrate total independence, such as budgeting, finding employment, paying bills. Support participants work through the balance of dependency on system care to pursuing income that helps them sustain, meet basic needs, and provides total independence.
  • Provide coaching, teaching and guiding participants with independent living skills based on the participants’ needs and skills.

 

Youth Advocacy

  • Provide advocacy for participants through modeling, teaching and coaching to strengthen their voice independently, seek support and resources and sustain their independence. 
  • Help participants navigate health systems and insurance. Help participants ensure they have access to mental health treatment as needed
  • Help participants obtain their High School Education or equivalency and plan for future education or vocation, attend IEP meetings as needed or requested.
  • During monthly meetings with the On-going Case Manager, assist participants in advocating for their needs, sharing their perspective and goals for their future.
  • ILS will introduce participants to the Youth Transitioning to Adulthood program and guide the participants with the transition to YTA. 

 

Direct Service

  • ILS will help to create and provide opportunities for participants to learn and practice skills. This may include community outings, and transport to different locations.
  • Ensure participants understand and adhere to the SIL agreements to provide framework for program success
  • Provide hands on support for participants moving into their apartment to include a walk through, cleaning, shopping, organizing home, etc.
  • ILS are present in the community, and with participants in their homes 
  • ILS are present while guiding participants through need obtainment via community resources
  • Participation in educational events (meetups, etc.) as required

 

Quality of Work

  • Ensure timely and professional documentation of all work in the required data collection systems. This includes ongoing communication with the assigned child welfare case manager and completion of case notes on a weekly basis. 
  • Utilizes CoBRIS and eWiSACWIS computer systems to document case activities.
  • Timely communication and transition planning for the participants to Wellpoint Care YTA program
  • Understands contractual expectations, Wellpoint Care SIL Staff Protocols and Procedures and adheres to them.
  • Manages credit card activity, including timely submission of receipts and documentation.

 

Collaboration

  • Engage in program team meetings to discuss participants trends and needs to focus individual and group learning opportunities.
  • Ensure ongoing communication of high risk, safety concerns, instability, as well as ongoing positive reporting on time to child welfare case manager, landlords, etc.
  • Help participant grow caring connections for ongoing support beyond system care.

 

Agency Representation

  • Participates in program, as well as overall Agency activities to support/develop integrity and growth of participants and program. 
  • Acts as a positive ambassador for the program as well as advocates for the needs of young adults aging out of care. 

 

Agency Engagement

  • All employees will be evaluated on their demonstration of a consistent commitment to the Agency’s Seven Essential Ingredients and engagement in the strategic initiatives of the organization. This will be measured by their active participation in committees and workgroups, and by their communication and practice within their daily work and in the community.
  • Participates in assigned meetings, events and learning as required.
  • Other duties as assigned including serving in a coverage role for other department members.

 

 

Position Details & Extras:

  • Full time.
  • Moderate exposure to noise.
  • Regular travel in personal vehicles is required with the ability to move intermittently throughout the workday.

 

 

 

 

Organizational Information: 

 

At Wellpoint Care Network, we have seen exactly how trauma, poverty, systemic racism, social injustices, and other barriers create instability in all areas of life. The people in our care face education and health disparities, high unemployment rates, and unaffordable housing. What’s worse, many have lost connections to resources, family, friends, and other support systems. We have seen the toll it has on a person’s physical, emotional, and financial well-being to try and successfully navigate complex systems that may have failed them in the past.

 

We believe there is a better way. So, we have anchored ourselves in our 170 years of caring for our neighbors through modernized human services.

Wellpoint Care Network provides a rich continuum of services, including:

• Child Welfare and Foster Care 

• Support for youth who have aged out of care

• Care Coordination and Wraparound services 

• Mental health therapy and supports such as our Clinic, Family Preservation, Caregiver Support, and Integrated Community Treatment

• Professional education and clinical consultation (for organizations, schools, and individual/family) 

 

Wellpoint Care also works to promote a diverse and caregiving environment to ensure that those we serve and employ are valued, accepted, respected, and treated equitably.

 

• Equity means we work tirelessly toward fair and just treatment, systems, and policies. At Wellpoint Care Network, we believe that we are accountable – individually and collectively – when inequity or injustice replaces equity and inclusion. 

• Inclusivity means that we consciously build groups that welcome and celebrate differences in age, race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexual orientation, religion, gender expression, education, socio-economic background, personal history, geographical location, marital status, parental status, and work experiences. 

 

Interested parties please apply online. We are committed to enhancing diversity, equity and inclusion and strongly encourage minority candidates to apply. For more information, visit our website www.wellpointcare.org.

 

Equal Opportunity Employer