Job Title: CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND COLLEGE SPECIALIST, FAMILY FOSTER CARE

Reports To: Special Services Supervisor Family FOSTER CARE

Location: 7 West Burnside, Bronx, New York 10453

Hours: 35 Hours/Week; Non-Exempt Onsite Hours are Required

Salary Range: 50-55k based on post graduate relevant experience

Job Summary: Build positive relationships with young people and work in collaboration with Coaches to assist young people with their goals in specific areas-college and career development.

CAREER DEVELOPMENT

• Provide accurate assessment of participants work readiness, skills, experience, and education.
• Conduct career Assessments with young people.
• Facilitating and Organizing Career Club
• Outreach to potential internship providers, workforce development providers, and employers to identify and secure full, part time and summer internship and employment opportunities.
• Match and place participants into internship and employment opportunities, including SYEP.
• Attend home visits as deemed necessary to engage participant.
• Help young people apply to external programs and employers to serve as pipeline
• Engage in community outreach, networking, and public relations.
• Oversee placement and monitoring of participants at internship/job sites and obtain employer feedback.
• Facilitate workshops for participants on topics related to job and career readiness and exploration skills/competency development (i.e., resume writing, interviewing skills, completing job applications)
• Identify any barriers or challenges with participants and collaborate with other staff members, permanent adult supports, and family to support the youth on addressing or overcoming said barriers to function in a work site.
• Participate in conferences, including Family Team Conferences, discharge planning, and Continuation of Care and Support Beyond Age 21 conferences.
• Attend and participate in regular program and team meetings and provide progress updates.
• Oversight of all PYA related activities and trainings
• Coordinate and facilitate trainings for staff relative to employment, PYA skills, transition plans, etc.
• Recruit and invite participants to engage and/or participate in special events (i.e. agency field trips, annual youth celebrations, academic acknowledgements, and SYEP)
• Generates statistics and data information on outreach and placements as required.
• Prepare reports for internal and external shareholders as required.
• Maintain tracking sheets and keep them updated on the intranet educational group site.
• Assist young people with completing credit checks

COLLEGE SPECIALIST JOB DUTIES

• Maintain a caseload of young people who are in the 12^th grade and college
• Meet with young people interested in college to have an exploratory and informational session, after they are referred by their coach, and discuss what that roadmap/timeline would look like for them at their high school of interest or HSE program.
• Monitor Pre-SAT/SAT scores of students, and meet with them to discuss/refine college options;
• Organize college tours;
• Help young people apply to colleges aligned with their interest, preferences, and performance.
• Assist students with college essays and personal statements, where needed.
• Review any college applications or financial aid forms filled out by the student’s school/guidance counselor to ensure they are correct.
• Assist college bound students with applying for FASFA, TAP, ETV, and all applicable scholarships, including reviewing their essays and helping with letters of reference.
• Ensure students apply to any Opportunity Programs available to them.
• Ensure students are scheduled for any entrance interviews/exams.
• Complete all required paperwork for the College Choice Benefits, if applicable.
• Outreach students to ensure enrollment in the proper classes each semester, and assist with enrollment, if needed.
• Help young people reapply to all forms of financial aid and scholarships each year.
• Assist students with transferring colleges, if needed.
• Keep case records up to date within agency standards and complete all necessary ACS/Agency documentation.
• Promote and model the seven Sanctuary Model commitments to create a non-violent and trauma-sensitive culture.
• Integrate the Sanctuary Model SELF (Safety, Emotional Management, Loss and Future) framework into daily practice to ensure quality care and an effective work environment.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Experience working with adolescents/young adults in education/employment related fields required.
• Strong group facilitation or teaching skills required.
• Experience developing internships for youth preferred.
• Ability to work with diverse staff and students and network with diverse employer constituents.
• Excellent verbal and written communication.
• Bi-lingual (English/Spanish) preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite, especially Word and Excel.
• Excellent organizational skills
• Must have a commitment to work from a strength based, Youth & Family Development perspective.
• Field work is required.