Fair Futures Coach

Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York; New York (NY); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York is seeking a Coach to work with young people aged 14-21. The role involves building relationships, providing social/emotional support, and helping youths set and achieve academic and career goals. Qualified applicants need a Bachelor's degree and at least 3 years of relevant experience. The position also focuses on advocacy for youth housing and independent living skills. Located in Brooklyn, NY, this job offers an opportunity to make a significant impact on at-risk youth.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and at least three years of experience working with at-risk youth or an Associate's degree and 5+ years experience.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to troubleshoot and navigate obstacles.
• Open to learning how to use and interpret data.
• Experience working with vulnerable youth.
• Knowledgeable about youth resources and services.

Responsibilities

• Build relationships with up to 15 young people and provide ongoing support.
• Assist with career exploration activities and securing working papers.
• Ensure young individuals can access stable and affordable housing.
• Collaborate with various stakeholders to achieve youth goals.
• Manage housing applications and support independent living skills.

Skills

Written and verbal communication skills

Time-management

Organizational skills

Troubleshooting

Ability to collaborate

Motivational Interviewing techniques

Trauma-informed techniques

Human relations skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree + 3 years experience or Associate degree + 5 years experience

Job description

Summary Job Description

Coaches are paired with up to 15 young people and work with each of them from 9th grade (or age 14, if they are disconnected from school) to age 21, regardless of their academic status. Through the course of their work with assigned youth, coaches’ general functions include the following:

• Building relationships with up to 15 young people
• Provide ongoing social/emotional support to the youth on their caseloads
• Work 1:1 with young people to develop individualized academic and career development goals based on their interests and strengths and take measurable steps towards their goals
• Connect young people to quality schools, programs, resources, and opportunities in line with their goals
• 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 not be successful in any particular school/program setting, coaches help young people reflect on the experience and work with them to set new goals and transition to the next opportunity
• Collaborate with Case Planners, Tutors, Specialists, and foster/birth parents, as needed, to help youth achieve their goals and ensure their overall well-being
• Connect young people to peer group supports and build positive relationships
• Ensure young people who are aging out can access and maintain stable, affordable housing and build independent living skills

Academic

• 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 are attending school and have the supports and resources they need to be successful, such as tutoring, individualized educational plans (IEPs), 504 Plans, or other special accommodations
• Expose students to post-secondary pathways, such 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 forms of financial aid, funding, and scholarships
• Provide college persistence coaching, including ensuring students are receiving all of the financial and academic supports they need to succeed each semester
• Assist students with planning for apprenticeship and vocational education paths, as appropriate
• Collaborate with Case Planners, guidance counselors, Specialists, Tutors, teachers, family members, and caregivers

Career Development

• Assist young people in obtaining working papers, if needed
• Conduct career exploration activities with young people
• Assist ALL 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, vocational programs, and for assistance with job applications
• Connect young people, as needed, to agency-based job readiness and/or internship programs (e.g., YA WORC or the Mentored Internship Program)
• Provide persistence coaching to young people enrolled in any external program by checking in with them regularly

Housing and Independent Living

• Ensure that the young person coordinates with a Housing Specialist (and/or Case Planner, if the agency does not have a Housing Specialist) to ensure that all young people’s housing applications are submitted as early as possible (by age 19 if their goal is to age out)
• Accompany the young person to visit supportive housing residences, when needed
• Help young people move in and obtain furniture
• Help young people maintain their housing by providing independent living and life skills supports such as budgeting, obtaining a bank account, and advocating with landlords, if needed

Qualifications

• Qualified applicants for the Coach positions will be required to have a Bachelor’s degree and at least three years of experience working with at-risk or system-involved young people or an Associate degree and 5+ years of working with at-risk or system-involved young people
• Strong written and verbal 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
• Ability to use trauma-informed techniques
• Experience working with vulnerable youth
• Knowledgeable about youth resources and services
• Ability to facilitate therapeutic peer groups
• Competence in planning, organizing, scheduling, case documentation, and strong oral and written communication abilities. Some experience in public relations preferable
• Must possess strong human relations skills to communicate and work effectively within a culturally diverse work environment and community
• Valid NYS Driver’s License if using personal vehicle or agency vehicle to drive on agency business.

Travel Requirements

This position is based in Brooklyn, NY and will be required to travel to all locations to service this population.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other legally protected group status.