The Workforce Development Facilitator is responsible for evaluating the interest and job readiness of youth offenders in the Raise the Age program. Upon receiving referral from the RTA Case Manager conducts face-to-face meetings with youth offenders to discuss a) their education level (including literacy and English language proficiency); b) any past work experiences; c) self-identified skills, proficiencies and aptitudes; and d) known vocational interests. The position also seeks to identify existing impediments to employment—such as known support needs related to their family circumstances, to their financial history and to their personal health status. Additionally, the position is required to establish connections and develop relationships with possible employers, including educating them on the potential benefits of hiring someone enrolled in the program.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

• Ensures the Case Manager is kept up to date on the participants’ progress and/or any concerns/problems encountered.
• Meets face-to-face with youth offenders to administer formal assessment tools that will help facilitate discussion regarding their employments interest and goals, as well as any current impediments or barriers to employment.
• Develops person-centered Employment Aspiration Plans that are driven by goals for employment to reflect youth’s interests and support needs.
• Provides or arranges for the completion of more diagnostic vocational evaluations, which might include community-based situational assessments and/or the use of specialized standard assessments to measure abilities, aptitudes, and interests.
• Provides career exploration counseling services, connecting youth to prospective employers, and assisting with researching employment opportunities.
• Assists job seekers with developing resumes, completing employment applications, attending job interviews, and other hiring requirements.
• Provides work readiness skills development services to assist youth in acquiring essential workplace soft skills and work-related daily living skills to help youth secure entry-level employment in desired fields.
• Seeks to identify work experience services to create paid work experiences (e.g. internships) that align with career goals and mandated treatment goals.
• Provides ongoing job development, placement, and retention services.
• Participates in community outreach events that will help identify employment opportunities for youth and that educate business on the value of engaging the people served in employment opportunities.
• Conducts community outreach activities in an attempt to engage with businesses that could be potential employers and educate them on the benefits of hiring these youth.
• Conducts job search services to help youth search for employment in the immediate term and to gain the lifelong skills necessary for finding jobs after exiting the program.
• Provides vocational education training referral and engagement services to connect youth to other formal vocational training opportunities offered at organizations throughout Erie County.
• Maintains working knowledge of the WNY job market to isolate new employers and to connect the people we serve to high growth/high demand industries that align with their goals and abilities.
• When necessary, engages and refers youth to High School Equivalency (HSE) and English as a Second Language (ESL) instructions.