Fair Futures Coach - Good Shepherd Services

Good Shepherd Services is a leading multi-service agency with more than 85 programs that serve over 30,000 youth and families each year – and builds on their strengths to help them gain skills for success.  At Good Shepherd we respect the dignity and worth of every person and reject intolerance, inequity and injustice in whatever form it may take. Voted one of the top 100 places to work in NYC by Crain’s New York, Good Shepherd Services offers a fantastic work environment, a collaborative team dedicated to fulfilling our mission, and an amazing array of benefits. Join our team and help make a difference! 

The coach is to work from a strength-based; trauma-informed approach with each young person while building on their personal interests, skills, and promoting self- sufficiency. Coaches are to promote self-sufficiency and independence while building positive rapport and lasting relationships beyond permanency. Coaches are also required to establish networking relationships with the NYC Department of Education, NYC Administration for Children Services, CUNY/SUNY, and all other college/university personnel, and external partners of which provide support to each youth in care.

Reports To:         Fair Future Focus Coach Supervisor, Green house

Location:              2190 University Avenue, Bronx, NY 10453

Hours:                   35 Hours/Week; Non-Exempt (Flexible)

***Salary Range 50k-55k****

Major Duties:

• Build and maintain relationships with young people at any given time.
• Meet with newly admitted youth within 48-72 hours to begin developing an academic/vocational/educational support plan.
• Provide ongoing social/emotional support. Work 1:1 with young people to develop academic and career development goals based on their interests and strengths to take measurable steps towards their goals.
• Connect young people to quality schools, programs, resources, and opportunities in line with their goals.
• Connect young people to peer group support and build positive relationships.
• Help young people persist in these settings, navigate any challenges that arise, celebrate successes, and plan/prepare for the next step on their journey.
• Should a youth be unsuccessful in any school/program setting, Coaches assist young people in reflecting on the experience and work with them to set new goals and transition to the next opportunity.
• Collaborate with Interdisciplinary team guardians to help youth achieve academic, employment, and vocational goals.
• Plan and facilitate Preparing Youth for Adulthood (PYA) groups as needed.
• Ensure young people aging out of foster build independent living skills.
• Establish, at a minimum twice monthly, face-to-face contacts with the youth and weekly contacts (via phone, text, email).

Educational Duties:

• Re-engage disconnected youth and help them re-enroll in an academic setting.
• Assess the fit between the young person and their current academic setting and help them transfer into a better-fit high school or high school equivalency (HSE) program if needed 
• Visit the young person’s school/program and build relationships with school staff, review transcripts and academic data, provide educational advocacy, and discuss progress towards graduation/HSE obtainment.
• Ensure young people attend school and have the support and resources they need to succeed, such as tutoring, individualized educational plans (IEPs), 504 Plans, or other special accommodations.
• Expose participants to post-secondary pathways, such as college and/or accredited vocational programs, starting in the 9th grade (or as early as possible).
• Assist students with post-secondary planning, along with the guidance counselors and/or College Specialists and Career Development Specialists.
• Connect the student to the College Specialist to apply to colleges, opportunity programs, and all financial aid, funding, and scholarships.
• Provide college persistence coaching, including ensuring students receive all of the financial and academic support they need to succeed each semester.
• Collaborate with all relevant partners, such as Case Planners, guidance counselors, Youth Development Counselors, Social Workers, Tutors, teachers, family members, caregivers, mentors, and other additional supports.

Career Development Duties:

• Assist young people in obtaining working papers, if needed.
• Conduct career exploration activities with young people.
• Assist young people in selecting at least one career development experience each year that is in line with their interests and academic situation/background.
• Work with the young person and Career Development Specialist to identify potential longer-term career pathways based on the young person’s interests, strengths, and academic/vocational plans.
• Connect the young person to the Career Development Specialist, if needed, to explore workforce development programs, and vocational programs, and for assistance with job applications.
• Connect young people, as needed, to agency-based job readiness and/or internship programs.
• Provide persistence coaching to young people enrolled in any external program by checking in with them regularly.
• Attend and participate in agency training, ACS trainings, NYC DOE trainings.
• Keep case records and accurate data information up to date, including but not limited to, school visits, home visits, community visits, and visits with parents/guardians by documenting in connections within 5 business dates of the event.
• Promote and model the 7 Sanctuary Model commitments and the SELF (Safety, Emotional Management, Loss, Future) Model into daily practice to create a non-violent and trauma informed culture.
• Complete transitional discharge education/employment, career and vocational plan.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required with two years of experience working with vulnerable youth in a residential setting or youth involved in the child welfare system preferred.
• Knowledge of the NYC Dept. of Education, including alternative education/vocational programs (Pathways to Graduation, ACCESS-VR, YABC, etc.), NYC Dept. of Youth and Community Development programs, and College application process, and
• Experience providing 1:1 support to youth in care, preferably in a residential setting.
• Ability to be flexible to the demands of youth in care.
• Ability to work autonomously as well as part of a team.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong time management, organizational skills, and attention to detail.
• Ability to troubleshoot, advocate, and navigate obstacles where there is not always a clear-cut pathway.
• Open to learning how to use and interpret data to inform decision-making.
• Ability to effectively collaborate in team settings and build relationships with external partners.
• Ability to use Motivational Interviewing techniques trauma-informed techniques; and to facilitate therapeutic peer groups.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) a plus, but not required.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word Office, Connections Citrix, and Excel
• Must have a commitment to work from a strength based and/or youth & family development perspective.

Good Shepherd Services is an equal opportunity employer that is proudly committed to becoming an anti-racist and multicultural organization that stands up for justice and equity. We welcome prospective employees from diverse backgrounds, for administrative support and direct service and leadership roles, who will join us on that journey, uphold our values and approach, and believe in our mission. Additionally, we aim to have a racially representative leadership and workforce that is reflective of the communities we work in partnership with.

Good Shepherd Services is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, participants, volunteers, subcontractors, and vendors. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of our activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and termination of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services.

We are committed to providing a workplace that is accessible and accommodating to employees with disabilities. As part of our commitment to providing a barrier-free recruitment and selection process, we will provide reasonable accommodations upon request for candidates with disabilities. If you require any accommodations to participate in the hiring process, please inform us of your needs in advance. We value diversity and inclusivity in our workplace and encourage applicants of all abilities to apply.