Fair Futures Coach

Lutheran-Social-Services-of-New-York; New York (NY); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Lutheran-Social-Services-of-New-York is seeking a full-time Coach to build trusted relationships with youth aging out of foster care, ages 14–26, to support high school graduation and post-secondary persistence. The role emphasizes trauma-informed approaches, strength-based coaching, and collaboration with case planners and families.

The Coach will guide individualized academic and career plans, connect youths to housing and resources, and help them navigate education and living wage pathways in

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 2+ years of experience with at-risk youth or related field.
• An Associate or vocational degree with 3+ years of relevant experience.
• Experience working with foster care or system-involved youth preferred.
• Ability to navigate NYC public transportation or valid driver’s license required.

Responsibilities

• Build relationships with up to 15 young people.
• Provide ongoing social/emotional support.
• Work 1:1 to develop academic and career goals.
• Connect youth to schools, programs, and resources.
• Help youth navigate challenges and plan next steps.
• Collaborate with Case Planners, Tutors, Specialists, and parents.
• Assist housing access and independent living skills.
• Re-engage youth to re-enroll in education.
• Assist with apprenticeship and vocational planning.
• Conduct career exploration activities.
• Ensure housing applications are submitted early.

Skills

Emotional maturity

Independent work

Team collaboration

Microsoft Office

Strong communication

Time management

Trauma-informed approach

Motivational interviewing

Education

Bachelor's degree

Two years experience with at-risk youth

Associate degree or vocational degree

Three+ years with at-risk youth (alternate)

Tools

Microsoft Office Applications

Job description

POSITION: CoachREPORTS TO: Director of Social ServicesCLASSIFICATION: Full-TimeEXEMPT/NONEXEMPT: Non-ExemptGENERAL DESCRIPTION: Coaches build trusting, long-term relationships with young people in and beyond foster care (ages 14 26). The overall goal of this relationship is to support the young person to graduate high school; persist in a post-secondary setting; build progressive career development experiences in line with the youths interests, strengths, and academic/vocational plans that will help them navigate onto a living wage career pathway; and successfully navigate the transition into adulthood (and into independent living, for those young people who are aging out).MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBLITIES:Build relationships with up to 15 young people.Provide ongoing social/emotional support no matter what including if they leave foster care and achieve permanency.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 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.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.Assist students with planning for apprenticeship and vocational education paths, as appropriate. 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.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 peoples housing applications are submitted as early as possible (by age 19 if their goals is to age out).Accompany the young person to visit supportive housing residences, when needed.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.Other duties as required by direct supervisor or needs of the program/agency.SUPERVISES:Volunteers/interns as neededQUALIFICATIONSThe Coach role is not an entry-level role. Coaches need to have both emotional maturity and professional skills. As helping young people enroll and persist in post-secondary settings is one of the goals of the Fair Futures model, it is important for Coaches to have a post-secondary credential.EDUCATION:A Bachelors degree and at least two years of experience working with at-risk or system-involved young people, orAn Associate or accredited vocational degree, and 3+ years of working with at-risk or system-involved young peopleEXPERIENCE:Minimum of two years experience in foster care or related fieldSKILLS & ABILITIES:Knowledgeable about working with foster care youth and children and families at-riskAbility to work independentlyAbility to work collaboratively with consumers and co-workersExperience and facility with Microsoft Office ApplicationsAbility to navigate throughout New York City using public transportation and/or have a valid New York State driver license and access to a motor vehicleAbility to work flexible hours as needed (beyond traditional 9 5 hours)Ability to work from a strength-based, trauma-informed, youth development lensCompassionate, warm, empathetic, consistent and reliableA love for working with young peopleStrong ability to relate to young people, engage them in conversation, and provide support and encouragementValues and promotes diversityA belief that change is possibleAble to maintain healthy boundariesAble to remain calm during moments of tension and stress.Strong written and verbal communication skillsStrong time-management, organizational skills, and attention to detailAbility to troubleshoot, advocate, and navigate obstacles where there is not always a clear-cut pathwayOpen to learning how to use and interpret data to inform decision-makingAbility to effectively collaborate in team settings and build relationships with external partnersAbility to use Motivational Interviewing techniquesAbility to use trauma-informed techniquesKnowledgeable about youth resources and servicesAbility to facilitate therapeutic peer groups.