Enrichment Specialist at Catholic Social Services (CSS)

The Enrichment Specialist provides direct support and structured activities to children, adolescents, and families experiencing housing instability. This role focuses on promoting emotional, social, and behavioral development through individualized and group-based enrichment activities. The specialist works collaboratively with families, care team members, and community partners to foster resilience, build life skills, and support family driven goals.

CSS is a Catholic human and social services agency and behavioral health care provider that welcomes people of all faiths through its programs and employment. We provide help for our Alaskan neighbors through a variety of supportive service programs, including emergency shelter, food stability, housing, case management, and refugee assistance. CSS empowers individuals and families on their path to permanent stability, creating thriving communities for all. Located in Anchorage, Alaska, CSS is a nationally accredited organization through the Council on Accreditation (COA), which recognizes that CSS provides high quality services that meet best practice standards in the social service field.

Mission: To promote the physical, spiritual and mental welfare of persons in need in the community. This mission is achieved by:

• Offering charitable assistance to those in need, especially persons who are poor
• Developing and conducting programs to strengthen and support families and the dignity of the human spirit
• Administering the Corporal Works of Mercy and Gospel of Jesus Christ as defined by the magisterium of the Roman Catholic Church and envisioned by the traditional concepts of Catholic Social Teaching and Action through the laity
• And advocating for social justice for the common good of all

This program provides supportive services to youth and families who are unhoused in the Anchorage community. The program is dedicated to helping youth and families move from crisis to stability, improving their quality of life, and empowering them to achieve their full potential. Through this collaborative, trauma-informed approach, we support each youth and family in their unique journey towards healing, stability, and lasting well-being. We do this by providing behavioral health support, health and wellness, housing assistance, and peer support. 

Accountability: Takes ownership for delivering on commitments; accepts responsibility for mistakes and uses them as opportunities for learning and development; openly discusses their actions and their consequences both good and bad; has an ability to identify strengths and developmental opportunities and leverages insight to adjust to improve their effectiveness; courage to have difficult conversations. 

Initiative: Ability to identify the need for change and take steps to begin and follow through with plans to make the change. 

Adapting to Change: Accepts and adapts to change in a professionally appropriate and thoughtful manner. Is willing to offer a different perspective or approach and yet knows when and how to stand down graciously and accept a well-thought-out decision. Embraces change. 

Confidentiality: Maintains the highest level of confidentiality regarding CSS’s records and information. Appropriately uses internal confidential information for business purposes only. 

Communicating Effectively: Shares information. Listens and involves others. Clearly conveys ideas in a manner that engages others and helps them understand and retain the message. 

Cultural Humility: Practices self-reflection and mindfulness of power imbalances in service delivery. Seeks to learn from others and build relationships based on mutual respect. 

Decision Making/Judgment: Approaches problems and decisions methodically and objectively; involves others as needed; uses sound judgment in making decisions and understanding the impact to themselves, customers, their team, and the organization; conducts the appropriate analysis to identify the symptoms and root cause of issues; makes timely decisions. 

Delivering High Quality Work: Makes sure responsibilities central to the role meet all requirements and expectations. Finishes tasks promptly and critically reviews work to ensure quality and accuracy. Considers impact of work to others and takes steps to mitigate. 

Results Orientation: Is focused on outcomes and accomplishments; follows through on commitments; can be counted upon to successfully execute on goals; motivated by achievement and a need for closure; has an attention to detail and is both efficient and effective in achieving a high level of measurable outcomes; persists in achieving goals despite obstacles. 

Teamwork: Interacts with people effectively. Encourages and respects the input of all team members. Communicates openly and honestly. Cooperates within the team and across the agency. 

Stress Tolerance: Displays emotional resilience. Deals with difficult and adverse events while maintaining professionalism and caring. Responds appropriately in the face of tension, emotion, and resistance. Seeks support from others when necessary and uses appropriate coping techniques. 

Empathy: Provides empathy towards clients who are receiving services. Focuses on individualizing care based on people’s needs. Provides nonjudgmental services. 

Knowledge Of:

• Trauma informed services
• Principles of good customer service
• Professional boundaries 

Skills: 

• Proficient use of Microsoft Office products 
• Able to document services using professional written communication 
• Efficient use of time and time management skills. 
• Able to build relationships and make others feel valued. 
• Goal and outcome oriented. 
• Able to think critically, identify problems, and offer solutions. 
• Demonstrate an eagerness to learn and grow professionally

Behavioral Health Support: 

• Develop and implement age-appropriate enrichment activities that align with family support plans and therapeutic goals.
• Support youth in developing coping strategies, social skills, and positive peer relationships.
• Provide one-on-one and group support to youth in shelter and community settings.
• Engage families in the enrichment process, offering guidance and modeling effective parenting strategies.

Resource Coordination: 

• Identify youth and family needs through observation, communication, and collaboration with care team members.
• Refer to appropriate internal and external services, including physical, emotional, and academic support resources.

Documentation & Billing: 

• Accurately document all client interactions, including case notes and updates to client records, in compliance with agency standards. Maintain detailed documentation to meet a minimum 50% billing rate.

Crisis Intervention & Support: 

• Respond promptly to crises, including emotional outbursts, behavioral incidents, or trauma-related reactions. Utilize trauma-informed practices and de-escalation techniques to stabilize situations and ensure safety.

Ongoing Support & Advocacy: 

• Advocate for youth needs within educational, recreational, and social systems.

Collaboration & Coordination: 

• Collaborate with care team to monitor progress and adjust interventions as needed.
• Participate in team meetings, supervision, and ongoing training related to trauma-informed care and youth development.

Additional Requirements: 

• Flexibility to work varying hours and days, including evenings and weekends as required. 

Other duties as assigned. 

Minimum Education Qualification: High School Diploma or GED.

Minimum Experience Qualification: One (1) year of experience in human services, behavioral health services, working with children, adolescents, and families in therapeutic, educational, or recreational settings.

A relevant combination of education and experience may be considered. 

The work environment is busy and high energy. The physical site is a shelter with 23 individual rooms with other shared spaces for laundry, food preparation, and dining. May be subjected to interruptions throughout the workday. 

Physical demands: Must be able to work flexible hours and have the ability to perform sedentary work as well as be able to engage in physical activities with families such as walking, outdoor games, etc. Must be able to lift 40 lbs. Must be able to utilize a computer monitor and keyboard throughout the course of a normal workday. Must possess the ability to communicate professionally in person, over the phone, and in written form. Must have visual and hearing acuity for sight and sound purposes.

Travel: Travel out of Alaska is rare. Rare travel within Anchorage is required.  

Location: Clare House, 4110 Spenard Road