Youth Pathways Coach: Education & Career Support

SCO Family of Service; New York (NY); On-site; USD 52,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

SCO Family of Services in New York, NY seeks a Forward Journey Coach to build enduring relationships with youth, delivering ongoing social and emotional support while guiding academic and career development based on individual strengths and interests.

You will connect youth with schools, programs, and internships, collaborate with a wide team of case planners and foster families, and ensure access to essential supports and housing stability as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree; Extensive experience working with youth.
• Experience in Education and Foster Care (preferred).
• Excellent communication skills (oral and written), strong empathy, and passion for child welfare.
• Ability to respond to the developmental needs of children across different age groups.
• Ability to work with families with histories of chemical dependency, mental illness, abuse, and diverse cultural/socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Bilingual applicants strongly encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

• Build relationships with youth and provide ongoing social and emotional support.
• Work 1:1 with youth to develop individualized academic and career development goals (including financial literacy) based on their interests and strengths and take measurable steps towards their goals.
• Connect youth to quality schools, programs, resources, and opportunities in line with their goals.
• Help youth succeed in these settings, navigate any challenges that arise, celebrate success, and plan/prepare for the next step on their journey.
• Collaborate with Case Planners, Tutors, Specialists, Foster Parent, and Parents, as needed, to help youth achieve their goals and ensure their overall well-being.
• Connect youth to Peer Group supports and build positive relationships.
• Transport youth to/from school when necessary.
• Complete PYA Tasks including PAT Tool.
• Facilitate My Journey Groups for youth.
• Facilitate PYA Monthly Workshops.
• Attend and complete all Fair Futures trainings.
• Input child information into all required data platforms and systems.
• Other tasks as assigned by Supervisor.
• Re-engage disconnected youth and help them re-enroll in an academic setting.
• Assess the fit between youth and their current academic setting and help them transfer into a better-fit high school or high school equivalency program, if needed.
• Visit the youth’s school/program bi-monthly 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 (e.g., tutoring, IEPs, 504 Plans, special accommodations).
• Expose and assist students to post-secondary pathways and planning such as college, accredited vocational programs, and internships starting in the 9th grade (or as early as possible).
• Assist youth with obtaining working papers, if needed.
• Conduct career exploration activities with youth.
• Assist all youth to select at least one career development experience each year that aligns with their interests and academic background.
• Work with the youth and Career Development Specialist to identify potential longer-term career pathways.
• Connect youth to the Career Development Specialist, if needed, for workforce development programs, vocational programs, and job application assistance.
• Connect youth to agency-based job readiness and/or internship programs (e.g., YA WORC or Mentored Internship Program).
• Provide persistence coaching to youth enrolled in any external program by checking in regularly.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Empathy

Time management

Teamwork

Bilingual

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

CONNECTIONS

NY Driver’s License

Job description

SCO Family of Services in New York, NY seeks a Forward Journey Coach to build enduring relationships with youth, delivering ongoing social and emotional support while guiding academic and career development based on individual strengths and interests.

You will connect youth with schools, programs, and internships, collaborate with a wide team of case planners and foster families, and ensure access to essential supports and housing stability as needed.