Transition Coordinator

Welcome to Eckerd Kids – one of the largest nonprofit child and family service organizations in the United States. We are an established national leader that has given much needed second chances to more than 168,000 children since 1968. Founded by Jack and Ruth Eckerd, our organization provides life-changing child welfare, juvenile justice, behavioral health, and workforce development programs to over 25,000 children and families annually.

To coordinate services that focus on each youth’s reintegration back into the community through a collaborative effort and a strength-based approach that includes identifying obtainable goals that will assist in vocational, educational, professional and personal skill building. Provide youth with transitional services in coordination with family, partnering agencies, the community/resources, and the Juvenile Justice System with the goal of reduction in recidivism. Develop and implement an individualized service plan to reduce risk factors and increase protective factors. Coordinate services with the youth and their family in a manner consistent with the program design to assure maximum effectiveness.

* Participate in Community Re-entry Team meetings to identify services needed for youth upon return to the community. * Ongoing communication with residential program staff, local school district, Community Re-entry teams, JPO, educational and vocational partners/subcontractors. * Coordinate intakes, orientation and assessments with youth and family, face-to-face and within 48 hours of youth’s active status in the program. * Develop individualized service plan with input from youth and family, as well as review of documents, PACT assessment, motivational interviewing and recommendations made at Community Re-entry Team meetings. * Identify leisure, recreational, and other pro-social activities for youth and facilitate youth’s enrollment and/ or involvement. * Complete individualized service plan (ISP) within 30 days of admission with detailed measurable goals and timeliness. Individualized service plan to be developed with a multi-disciplinary approach; individualized, customer-service focused, and strength based and accountable. * Make necessary referrals for services as identified in the youth’s ISP through subcontractors to address education, vocation, work readiness and mentorship. * Coordinate and follow up on additional services needed, including but not limited to, substance abuse and mental health. Referrals for substance abuse/mental health coordinated with the JPO. Complete referrals for identified services within 14 days of program admission. * Follow up on all the specific tasks required to assist the youth in achieving their educational and/or vocational goals and monitor/support youth’s attendance and progress. * Work with younger youth not pursuing a vocational track to identify a supportive adult role model within the youth’s community to act as their mentor and supporter. * Review progress on ISP with youth every 15 days via face-to-face contact. Include parents if available. * Coordinate, collaborate and report the youth’s progress to the Juvenile Probation Officer on an ongoing basis. * Conduct ongoing assessments to determine the youth’s related support needs and how to address such needs through partnerships and community resources. * Develop and submit monthly progress reports on youth’s compliance to the Juvenile Probation Officer. * Provide/facilitate transportation of youth and family when needed to carry out goals. * Provide family with training and support services. * Assist youth with obtaining records and other supportive services as required. * Develop working relationships with youth, families, residential programs, prospective employers, public schools, alternative schools, vocational resources and local service providers. * Establish and maintain relationships with DJJ staff, local law enforcement, juvenile court judges, state attorney offices and public defender offices. * Maintain up-to-date youth case files and case notes on all contact and activities relating to cases; Complete required tracking and follow-up data collection.

**Education** – Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university, in criminal justice, human services or related field required. Master’s degree in criminal justice or related field preferred. An exception to the degree requirement may be made when there is multiple years of direct experience in a similar capacity with Florida Department of Juvenile Justice. **Experience** – Minimum of two years’ experience with at-risk youth. **Skills** – Knowledge of behavior and needs of adolescents and delinquents; Intermediate word processing skills. Excellent verbal and written communication skills; Ability to work independently in self-directed fashion, and exercise good judgment; Ability to balance multiple, diverse and conflicting priorities. **Physical Demands** – Must be capable of extensive travel and driving; Must be able to provide 24 hour, 7 day a week on-call crisis intervention to youth; Must be able to work a flexible schedule that includes some nights and week-ends; Ability to transport youth, volunteers and others; Must be free of communicable disease as defined by the state and to the extent that knowledge is attainable under the law. **Other** – Must interface effectively at all organization levels, with commitment to professional standards and personal development; must meet state criminal and Eckerd background screening requirements. **Travel** - must be able to meet requirements for Eckerd’s Auto Insurance and be able to drive for business purposes. Must maintain an appropriate and valid state driver’s license. Must be capable of extensive travel and driving. Must maintain a safe driving record, and provide annual proof of appropriate auto insurance; must have use of a vehicle capable of transporting three adults, plus driver.