A Career at Little Flower

Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York is a nonprofit organization that has worked to improve the well-being of children, youth, families, and people with developmental disabilities across New York City and Long Island since 1929. Our staff of more than 500 provides prevention services, foster care, residential treatment care, adoption services, medical and mental health services, and programs and services for individuals with developmental disabilities.

A career with Little Flower can be rewarding in so many ways. We are looking for conscientious and caring people who are ready to commit to the work of strengthening families and supporting the well-being of children and adults with developmental disabilities. If you’re looking for a career where you can truly make a difference, we hope you will consider joining our team.

Summary Job Description:

The overall role of the specialist is to work with up to 50 middle school students and their families, providing educational advocacy and ensuring students are receiving the supports/services they need to succeed.

The Education Specialist will be responsible for providing supportive services to 50 or less, depending on how many middle school students that have been identified, from grades 6 through 8. The Specialist will provide educational advocacy, conducts academic performance monitoring and makes referrals for tutoring services and extracurricular activities.

The middle school Specialist will also provide individualized assistance with the high school selection, processes to all 8th grade students and their families, as well as all 5th grade students with the middle school process when possible. The Specialist will ensure that the list of High Schools students is choosing are quality, best-fit school. The Specialist will effectively serve as a conduit to help students and parents navigate the process exploring and identifying the best school to meet and support the student’s educational needs.

Principle Responsibilities:

The Middle School Education Specialist will provide individual assistance to student and parents as well as work collaboratively with case planners, tutors, schools and the mental health provider, if warranted, to provide student focused supportive services to identify environment and institution that will best meet the child’s needs based on several issues: Academics, School size, Proximity/distance from home, Students/families preferences and Extracurricular activities.

• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with schools; provide advocacy on behalf of students
• Work with Case Planner, foster parent, bio-parent/caregiver and tutor to address educational concerns
• Request that the school make referrals for IEP evaluations and behavioral/academic supports within the school
• Negotiate with DOE staff to ensure the implementation of recommended and appropriate educational services

• Negotiate with ACCESS VR counselors for appropriate services
• Ensure school stability if a student is relocating homes, in consultation with the Case Planner and parent

ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

• Able to use the Online Platform to record progress and create automated reports
• Collect, review, and track NYC DOE monthly data on attendance, grades, promotion status, school enrollment, tutoring history, transcripts, etc.
• Use data to identify struggling students
• Work with Case Planners and parents to ensure improved attendance, and/or provide additional academic supports

INDIVIDUALIZED ASSISTANCE

• Ensure that the list of schools the student is choosing are quality, best-fit schools, and will record this list of schools (it will eventually be tracked in the Online Platform)
• Responsible to guide the process as much as possible which includes establishing trust, explaining why the process is so important, and providing information/guidance when a selection may not be appropriate
• Provide individualized assistance to all 5th grade students with the middle school selection process as well

IN-HOME/QUALITY TUTORING

• Follow up regularly with Tutor Coaches regarding the students’ performance, needs, and any concerns

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

• Connect students to appropriate afterschool and summer activities

COORDINATING WITH OTHER STAKEHOLDERS

• Responsible to outreach to parents for discussion about issues such as special education services, attendance concerns, behavioral issues in school, and school transfers
• Responsible to include foster parents in educational planning because they will often interact with school staff on a regular basis
• Must coordinate with Case Planners on the student’s academic progress and follow up on any needs/concerns. Provide a monthly report to the students’ Case Planners that includes progress notes and key academic data. Case Planners should also be consulted about school transfers and any other significant educational advocacy activity
• Collaborate with the school to explore options for students to improve and benefit from services offered such as afterschool tutoring, special education services, and other supports
• Schedule school visits for students in order to meet with the student and counselor together
• Work with community resources including tutoring programs, mental health services, and afterschool programs. Collaborating with these stakeholders allow for students to receive assistance and services on a broad spectrum that can foster continued success educationally as well as emotionally

GENERAL EDUCATIONAL ADVOCACY ACTIVITIES

• Offers both long-term individualized interventions for students with complex or ongoing educational needs and targeted short-term supports to ensure that every student has access to an appropriate service or opportunity of interest to the student

SUSPENSION

• Secure representation for the student who is receiving the suspension

SPECIAL EDUCATION AND STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

• Advocate for students to receive the most appropriate services available
• Individual Education Program (IEP): Request a referral from the school for students to receive a special education evaluation if it is believed that the student may benefit from additional services in school
• Assist in developing an IEP that focuses on the best interest of the student as well as ensure that students are receiving the services, they need to be successful

Special qualifications:

• Ability to work with traumatized children/Students
• Ability to engage students, families, school staff, and other entities.
• Ability to advocate for the student and work collaboratively with other service providers
• Able to work independently, be proactive, tenacious and resourceful
• A love for working with children, youth and families
• Excellent interpersonal skills to engage and build relationships with children, families, school partners and tutoring providers
• Engagement skills from a strength-based, collaborative approach
• Excellent interpersonal skills and able to easily build relations with children, families, school partners, and tutoring providers
• Values and promotes diversity
• Able to remain calm during times of tension and stress Good knowledge of the principles and practices of social casework
• Good knowledge of the laws, rules, and regulations governing the care and treatment of children
• Must be able to act decisively when necessary for client protection
• Experience related to services to families and children, preferably medical or child welfare related
• Excellent written, listening and verbal communication skills in order to effectively provide direction and counseling to clients and maintain all required documentation
• Ability to establish effective working relationships with clients, relatives, and other individuals and to obtain and verify information needed through interviews and investigation
• Ability to prepare clear, accurate, and comprehensive case records and to reach logical conclusions based on pertinent regulations and information
• Must be able to accurately report the functioning of families and individuals

Minimum Requirements:

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s degree
• Minimum two years in an education-related field
• Have experience in an instructional, administrative, or advocacy-related position
• Experience working with students and families in foster care is strong preferred Ability to navigate complex educational issues, be resourceful, and work independently;
• Ability to organize their time and prioritize responsibilities in order to plan and carry out all duties;
• Ability to effectively collaborate in team settings and build relationships with external partners;

Travel Requirements:

This position is based in Brooklyn, NY. Expect to travel in all locations to service this population. A valid NYS Driver’s License if using personal vehicle or agency vehicle to drive on agency business.