The Social Work & Youth Wellbeing Manager serves as Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford’s organizational resource for supporting the social, emotional, behavioral, and mental well-being of youth. This position works across Club locations to strengthen BGCH’s ability to effectively serve young people experiencing trauma, involvement with the child welfare or juvenile justice systems, behavioral health challenges, and other barriers to success.

The Social Work & Youth Wellbeing Manager will lead BGCH’s relationship with the Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF), providing case coordination and documentation for youth referred through DCF while strengthening the Club’s ability to serve additional DCF-involved youth and families. The position will serve as BGCH’s internal expert on DCF requirements and practices and will partner closely with Human Resources, Program Services, Finance, Club leadership, and external partners to ensure appropriate compliance, documentation, billing, training, and service delivery.

This role will also manage BGCH’s grant-funded programs and special initiatives relating to youth well-being, prevention, and intervention and play a role in advancing the organization’s broader strategy around youth mental health. Through direct youth support, staff training, consultation, community partnerships, and program development, this position will help ensure that BGCH environments are safe, supportive, trauma-informed, and equipped to meet the evolving needs of Hartford youth.

Essential Responsibilities

DCF Partnership & Case Management

• Serve as BGCH’s primary organizational liaison to the Connecticut Department of Children and Families, building and maintaining a strong, responsive partnership with DCF representatives. 
• Coordinate services and communication related to youth referred to or participating in BGCH programs through DCF. 
• Meet regularly with DCF-involved youth as required and maintain timely, accurate, and confidential case notes, service documentation, progress information, and other required records. 
• Participate in case conferences and collaborate with DCF workers, caregivers, Club staff, schools, behavioral health providers, and other partners as appropriate. 
• Develop a strong understanding of DCF requirements, processes, referral pathways, documentation expectations, and contractual obligations and serve as BGCH's internal resource on these matters. 
• Partner with Finance to ensure accurate and timely documentation and billing for DCF-funded services. 
• Work proactively with DCF to increase appropriate referrals and expand the number of youth who can benefit from BGCH programs and services. 

Youth Mental Health & Well-Being

• Help develop and advance BGCH's organizational approach to supporting youth mental, social, and emotional well-being. 
• Assess youth needs and help coordinate appropriate supports, interventions, resources, and referrals. 
• Provide short-term supportive intervention and case management within the scope of the position and professional credentials. 
• Connect youth and families with appropriate community-based behavioral health, social service, educational, and family-support resources. 
• Consult with Club leaders and staff regarding youth experiencing behavioral, emotional, family, or other challenges. 
• Support BGCH's response to youth crises and help determine when additional professional or community intervention is appropriate. 
• Build relationships with mental health providers and other community organizations to strengthen referral pathways and resources available to BGCH youth and families. 

Trauma-Informed Practice & Staff Development

• Serve as an organizational resource on trauma, child development, behavioral health, social-emotional development, and effective responses to challenging youth behavior. 
• Develop and facilitate training for staff on trauma-informed practices,      de-escalation, youth mental health, positive behavior support, crisis response, and related topics. 
• Coach and consult with Club leaders and frontline staff to help translate trauma-informed principles into everyday interactions and program practices. 
• Observe Club programs and identify opportunities to strengthen practices, environments, and staff capabilities supporting youth well-being. 
• Partner with Human Resources and Program leadership to incorporate relevant practices and training into onboarding, ongoing professional development, and organizational policies.

Compliance & Organizational Resource

• Partner with Human Resources and Program leadership to ensure BGCH understands and meets relevant requirements associated with serving DCF-involved and other vulnerable youth. 
• Provide subject-matter expertise related to mandated reporting, confidentiality, documentation, information sharing, professional boundaries, and other areas related to youth welfare. 
• Help develop and maintain appropriate procedures, documentation standards, referral protocols, and staff resources. 
• Remain current on applicable regulations, DCF expectations, emerging practices, and community resources affecting BGCH youth and families. 

Grant-Funded Program Management

• Lead the implementation and ongoing management of assigned grant-funded programs and special initiatives related to youth well-being, prevention, intervention, and positive youth development.
• Ensure programs are delivered in accordance with grant commitments, program objectives, timelines, reporting requirements, and applicable regulations.
• Coordinate with internal staff and external partners involved in program implementation.
• Maintain appropriate participant documentation, program data, outcomes, and required records.
• Monitor progress toward program goals and partner with Grants and Finance staff to support reporting, compliance, billing, and financial documentation.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen, expand, or develop programs that respond to the evolving needs of youth and families, including youth involved in or at risk of involvement with child welfare or juvenile justice systems. 

Partnership & Program Development

• Build relationships with community providers, schools, government agencies, behavioral health organizations, and other partners that can support BGCH youth and families. 
• Represent BGCH in relevant DCF, behavioral health, juvenile justice, and youth-serving community meetings and initiatives. 
• Identify emerging needs among youth and families and recommend new programs, partnerships, resources, or approaches. 
• Contribute subject-matter expertise to grant proposals, program design, organizational planning, and evaluation related to mental health, social-emotional well-being, child welfare, and juvenile justice. 

Supervisory Responsibility:  This role does not manage any direct reports.

Expected Hours of Work

• September – early June: Monday through Friday 10:00 am to 7:00 pm, with an hour for lunch
• Late June – August: Monday through Friday, eight hours between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm as designated by supervisor
• Occasional morning and/or evening and weekend work will be required as job duties demand

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. 

EOE Statement

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Hartford is an equal opportunity employer, committed to inclusion and diversity. We ensure equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics.

• Master's degree in Social Work from a CSWE-accredited program required. 
• Connecticut LMSW or LCSW preferred. 
• Minimum of three years of relevant professional experience working with children, adolescents, and families; five or more years preferred. 
• Experience working with DCF, child welfare, juvenile justice, behavioral health, or comparable systems strongly preferred. 
• Demonstrated experience with case management, case documentation, service coordination, and confidential records. 
• Strong knowledge of trauma-informed practices, youth development, social-emotional development, and behavioral health. 
• Experience facilitating professional development or training adults strongly preferred. 
• Experience managing a grant-funded program, government contract, or similar initiative preferred. 
• Ability to build effective relationships with government agencies, community partners, families, youth, and staff at all organizational levels. 
• Strong judgment, problem-solving ability, organization, and follow-through. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. 
• Ability to manage sensitive information with discretion and maintain appropriate professional boundaries. 
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across departments and Club locations. 
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel between BGCH locations and community meetings as needed.