Youthlink Intake Specialist

About the Department

Starting hiring salary - $60,000 to $63,600 annually

YouthLink - Resource and Assessment Center is a newly established nonprofit 501(c)(3) serving Adams County, CO, dedicated to strengthening families and supporting youth through early intervention, assessment, and coordinated access to community resources. YouthLink accepts referrals from law enforcement when concerning behavior is identified and provides timely assessment, trauma-informed care coordination, and connections to culturally responsive supports aligned with each young person’s strengths and family context. Serving youth ages 12–17, YouthLink delivers early, preventative support before challenges escalate into school suspension, court involvement, or emergency response.

Our work includes:
Preventing and diverting youth from the child welfare and justice systems
Identifying underlying issues contributing to behavior or conflict
Partnering with young people and their families to connect them with individualized, culturally responsive supports

DEFINITION
This position provides programmatic leadership and operational oversight and partnership representation for YouthLink, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) serving young people and their families in partnership with agencies and community stakeholders across Adams County. In collaboration with the Executive Director, drives organizational mission, vision, and strategy.
The In-take Specialist works closely with the Case Manager and Program Director to advance YouthLink’s mission and priorities.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES
1. Screening and Triage
Conduct initial screenings and safety assessments to determine urgency, level of need, and appropriate response pathway.
Review referrals from law enforcement, schools, and community partners to assess eligibility and service needs.
Determine whether cases are appropriate for YouthLink services or require referral to external providers.
Prioritize cases based on risk, safety concerns, and time sensitivity.
Ensure timely response to referrals in alignment with program standards and expectations.
2. Care Coordination and Case Initiation
Open and maintain case records, ensuring all required documentation is accurate, complete, and up to date.
Coordinate initial outreach to youth and families and support engagement in services.
Serve as the primary point of contact during the intake phase, ensuring clear communication and follow-through.
Notify and connect appropriate service providers, both internal and external, based on assessed needs.
Support development of initial outreach and engagement plans in collaboration with families.
Coordinate and track school engagement, including oversight of school coordination and summer programming support.
Monitor early-stage case activity to ensure successful transition to ongoing case management or partner services.
3. Collaboration and Reporting
Collaborate with law enforcement, schools, behavioral health providers, and community partners on high-risk cases and follow-up needs.
Participate in case coordination meetings, team huddles, and multidisciplinary discussions.
Accurately capture required data, including referral details, service connections, timelines, and outcomes.
Support team case reviews and contribute to continuous improvement efforts.
Ensure compliance with data entry, documentation standards, and reporting requirements.
4. Program Support and Service Quality
Ensure intake processes are consistent, efficient, and aligned with YouthLink’s trauma-informed and culturally responsive model.
Identify service gaps, delays, or barriers and escalate concerns to the Program Director.Contribute to refinement of intake workflows, tools, and protocols.
Maintain confidentiality and professionalism in all interactions with youth, families, and partners.

QUALIFICATIONS
Knowledge of:
Trauma-informed care, crisis screening, and youth assessment practices.
Youth-serving systems, including schools, behavioral health, and community-based resources.
Intake processes, referral systems, and care coordination practices.
Data entry, documentation standards, and basic reporting requirements.
Ability to:
Work nights and weekends as needed (anticipated schedule being Wednesday-Saturday or Sunday-Wednesday)
Conduct effective screenings and make sound decisions in time-sensitive situations.
Communicate clearly and compassionately with youth, families, and partners.
Manage multiple referrals and prioritize workload in a fast-paced environment.
Build trust and rapport with diverse populations.
Maintain strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
Navigate complex systems and coordinate across multiple agencies.
Demonstrate professionalism, discretion, and sound judgment.
Work both independently and as part of a collaborative team.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, criminal justice, human services, or a related field – Preferred.
1–3 years of experience in intake, case coordination, youth services, crisis response, or related field – Preferred.
Equivalent combination of education and relevant experience will be considered.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, talk, listen, and operate a computer. The role may include driving to meetings or community locations and lifting up to 10 pounds. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. Specific vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
Pass a thorough criminal background check
Possess a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation
Willing to work varied hours, including occasional evenings
Local travel within Adams County and surrounding areas