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Community Program Manager, Inglewood/ East LA

Full-time, Exempt: $80,000 - $95,000

Organization Overview

United Friends of the Children empowers current and former foster/justice involved youth on their journey to self-sufficiency through service-enriched programs, advocacy, and consistent relationships with a community of people who care.

 

Founded over 40 years ago, United Friends’ is a leading provider of youth development services to current and former foster youth in Los Angeles County. Through its housing and education programs, the organization has helped thousands of young people imagine and actualize their own dreams and futures. United Friends’ programs focus on commitment, trauma-informed care, and empowerment by prioritizing a whole-person-development approach. Through a Social Justice Positive Youth Development (SJPYD) model, we center building relationships with youth over an extended period to achieve greater outcomes. Around those relationships, United Friends wraps an array of supportive services to help youth successfully transition to adulthood.  As a result of services, United Friends alumni have greater housing and economic stability, higher educational attainment and a stronger sense of community and emotional wellbeing.

 

Position Overview

Pathways is a low-barrier to entry housing program that provides intensive case management and support services to transitional aged-youth (TAY), ages 18-24. The Pathways program utilizes the Housing First Approach in which, assertive engagement with our youth is essential to ensure youth are aware of and participate in a myriad of resources and supportive services offered by the program. Reporting to the Senior Program Manager, the Community Manager will be responsible for creating a positive community experience for United Friends’ housing programs. The Community Manager will coordinate community-building efforts, including events and life skills programming, oversee housing and property management, and develop strategic relationships with external partners (i.e., resource agencies and employers). In partnership with the team, the Community Manager will build opportunities for residents to engage in relationships with each other, the Pathways program, and the surrounding community that will positively affect their ability to thrive.

 

The ideal candidate will have a keen understanding of best practice service models, such as trauma-informed care, harm reduction, and social justice positive youth development. Specific knowledge related to transitional aged youth experiencing housing instability is a plus.

 

The ideal candidate will be a visionary leader who brings critical thinking, creativity, initiative, good judgment, integrity, and a deep commitment to social justice and equity – along with a sense of humor – to the work.

  • Duties and Responsibilities:

    Community and Youth Engagement

    • Maintain an engaged, safe, and thriving community and sites.
    • Establish meaningful relationships with youth that promote growth, responsibility, and accountability.
    • Plan and execute dynamic events and opportunities that bring youth together to engage in meaningful relationships and develop life skills.
    • Respond timely and thoroughly to youth conflicts and incidents.
    • Build and maintain strategic community partnerships to remove barriers and increase opportunities available to youth.

     

    Leadership and Program Management

    • Collaborate across teams to support integrated planning, communication, and service delivery.
    • Partner closely with the Property Management team to ensure alignment and seamless workflow, as well as maintain the safety, upkeep, and cleanliness of the properties.
    • Lead productive team meetings to provide information, trainings, identify needs, and problem solve challenges.
    • Maintain a thorough understanding of program contract requirements and consistently uphold legal and ethical standards.
    • Monitor vacancies, intakes, and support occupancy requirements.
    • Engage in difficult conversations with youth regarding program rules and expectations and provide guidance to teams to create re-engagement plans.
    • Manage and monitor the budget to ensure spending remains within approved limits.
    • Participate in regular internal and external meetings to ensure alignment and effective communication.
    • Complete timely and accurate reports as required.

     

    Data Management

    • Oversee and ensure accurate and timely completion of required reports, data entry, and documentation.
    • Monitor data across required management systems, Apricot and Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) to ensure accurate use and adhere to requirements.
    • Utilize data consistently to assess and communicate outcomes and trends.

     

    Supervision and Support

    • Responsible for hiring, onboarding, and training.
    • Supervise assigned staff through regular guidance, coaching, feedback, and performance management.
    • Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing team environment.
    • Provide support to the team or directly respond to after-hours crises and emergencies.

     

    Other

    • Other duties as assigned.

     

    General United Friends Responsibilities

    • Act as a role model within the organization to uphold and implement United Friends’ organizational values:
      • Embrace program evaluation that leads to excellence and impact.
      • Build effective and empowering partnerships with the youth, community, and each other.
      • Create a fun and exciting environment that inspires learning and innovation.
      • Communicate openly, honestly and with humility across all groups.
      • Work together as one organization.

     

    • Staff hold a commitment to:
      • A culturally responsive Trauma-Informed Approach to our population and client centered advocacy.
      • Strong knowledge of the communities served and centralize this cultural understanding into the work.
      • Support in Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI).
      • Evaluating the completeness, accuracy and relevance of data to determine information value and improve client services.
  • Direct Reports:
    • Advocacy Counselors
  • Required Qualifications:
    • Master’s Degree in Social Work or related field
    • 2+ years of experience supervising teams
    • 2+ years of experience managing programs
    • 2+ years of case management experience
    • Experience working with vulnerable populations
    • Establishes and cultivates respectful relationships with people from diverse backgrounds
    • Activates network to produce results that benefit program participants
    • Demonstrated experience engaging groups and individuals in effective learning activities
    • Responds effectively and urgently to critical incidents
    • Provides clear, proactive, and timely communication
    • Works collaboratively and cooperatively as a member of a multi-disciplinary service team
    • Works responsibly with sensitive and confidential information
    • Balances multiple competing priorities with strong organizational skills and attention to detail
    • Holds self-accountable, sets high expectations for self and others
    • Works independently and collaboratively
    • Conveys thoughts and ideas clearly, listens well, communicates in a solution-oriented manner, and incorporates others’ views into work
    • Trauma-informed and client-centered advocacy
    • Understand the communities served and centralize this cultural understanding into the work
    • Passionate about United Friends’ mission
    • Must have valid California Driver’s License and an insured and reliable vehicle
  • Preferred Qualifications:
    • Social Work Licensure (LCSW)
    • 2+ years in residential setting with TAY population
    • An understanding and sensitivity to issues concerning former foster care youth
    • Knowledge of the TAY resource landscape in Los Angeles
    • Knowledge of the Los Angeles County Coordinated Entry System and Measure A
    • Knowledge of Positive Youth Development
    • Experience with data management platforms such as HMIS and Apricot
United Friends currently implements a hybrid work environment – schedule is determined at the discretion of management and the needs of the program and/or agency. This position will work full-time hours, Monday-Friday and on weekends and evenings as necessary. The Community Manager is a part of the after-hours rotation schedule where they are required to respond to youth-related crises and emergencies.  The Community Manager will work primarily from East LA and Inglewood housing sites Monday-Friday of each week and on weekends. United Friends’ downtown office will serve as a hybrid work location to the Community Manager for administrative and meeting purposes (as specified). Travel between United Friends’ housing sites across Los Angeles County is required.
About United Friends of the Children
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