The Texas Alliance for Child and Family Services
Youth Impact Specialist
Salary range - $60,000 - $69,999
FLSA Status - full time, exempt
Location – remote (must reside in Texas)
Background: The Texas Alliance of Child and Family Services (TACFS) is Texas’ leading network of mission-driven organizations that have embraced the call to serve vulnerable children, youth and families in their communities. TACFS members across Texas work to prevent and address child trauma through services including prevention and early intervention, family preservation, residential/foster care services, adoption, post-adoption, youth runaway and transition services, mental health, education, substance abuse and other programs designed to promote safety and reduce risk for children, youth and families.
Our mission is to work collectively to support and strengthen children, youth and families in communities across Texas. TACFS’ vision is to build a vibrant, strong, and unified network of child, youth- and family-serving community providers providing high-quality services across Texas.
The TACFS team proudly encompasses the values of being:
- Collaborative
- Forward-thinking
- Honest Brokers
- Inclusive
- Reliable
- Solutions-Focused
- Thoughtful
The organization was established in 1975, but we are continuously evolving and changing in response to the dynamic nature of the work we do. Our overall strategic aim is to support our members so they can do what they do best…care for children and families.
This position will work in collaboration with the Selfless Love Foundation to lead the foundation’s foster youth initiative work in Texas, One Voice Impact (OVI), which provides opportunities for young people to work alongside leaders to improve the child welfare system overall, with specific focus on improving supports for youth transitioning out of foster care into independent living. This position will focus on growing the youth voice movement through a network of youth councils, coordinating youth voice opportunities, leading advocacy efforts, and tracking outcomes.
Reporting: Our Youth Impact Specialist will work under the direction of the Vice President System Advancement and will work collaboratively with Staff Champions at partner organizations and identified Selfless Love Foundation staff. Additionally, the Youth Impact Specialist will work collaboratively with others on the TACFS team, TACFS CEO, TACFS Board, membership organizations, and other key state and national partners.
Key Responsibilities: Our Youth Impact Specialist is primarily responsible for elevating the work of regional child welfare youth councils across the state to create an active and impactful network for innovation and improved outcomes for transition age young adults. In addition, the Specialist will support initiatives focused on improving programs that support successful transitions and permanency for youth who are or have been in foster care.
Roles and Responsibilities:
- Growing and supporting a network of youth councils:
- Coordinate with regional child welfare youth councils in Texas and their organizational leaders to create a shared vision and build buy in for authentically engaging youth voice in policy and practice improvements.
- Plan and host monthly statewide meetings for staff champions and up to two youth representatives from the youth councils to share information, connect, and develop collective action priorities.
- Provide technical assistance and support to Single Source Continuum Contractors interested in expanding the impact of their youth council.
- Coordinate and track mini-grants to participating youth councils.
- Youth voice opportunities:
- Coordinate, promote, and co-host with Selfless Love Foundation, virtual and in-person workshops on topics such as: strategic sharing, creating leadership plans, strengthening youth-adult partnerships, and advocacy.
- Plan, promote, and host quarterly town halls on youth identified topics of interest.
- Recruit a group of lived experts that will be identified as ambassadors to assist in delivery training for councils across the state both in-person and virtually.
- Identify and promote opportunities for youth councils to participate in system advancement efforts including, statewide and national convenings.
- Advocacy:
- Work with our public affairs team to build a youth advocacy council who will engage with state leaders and legislators and develop appropriate materials for advocacy efforts.
- Coordinate legislative advocacy training for members of youth advocacy council.
- Develop an Independent Living Subcommittee that meets monthly with network providers who serve transitioning youth to better understand issues the arise from the field.
- Outcomes Tracking:
- Other duties as assigned
Required Qualifications:
- Detail-oriented with strong project management skills and demonstrated ability to coordinate work and projects with various external parties.
- Demonstrated understanding of the state’s complex foster care system, including transitional living services and independent living programs.
- Demonstrated success leading projects and collaborations.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, including demonstrated competency in group facilitation and public speaking.
- Adaptable, goal oriented and a “quick study” who can work independently.
- Enjoys developing strong working relationships with various internal/external individuals and groups and working collaboratively to effect change.
- Demonstrated understanding of the importance of youth voice.
- Experience forming authentic partnerships with youth and sharing decision-making responsibilities and power.
- Ability and interest in working with transition age foster youth ages 13-23
Preferred Qualifications:
- Lived experience with the child welfare system.
- Four-year degree in social work, public health, public policy, education, or a related field is preferred. Experience and skills commensurate with degree may be considered.
This is a full-time position, with a flexible, accommodating work environment and some travel required. The position works remotely but must reside in Texas. Some nights and weekends are required to attend meetings and events. This is a grant-funded position. TACFS offers a competitive benefits package and has an unlimited paid time off policy.
TACFS values our employees and aims to provide compensation and benefits commensurate
with experience. TACFS is an equal opportunity employer. TACFS does not discriminate based on race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided based on qualifications, merit, business need and available funding.