Overview

The Student Advocate works as a part of a team to provide a holistic, humanizing, and empowering learning environment for students and to support their families in Cascade Middle and Tyee High schools (Highline area).

As a Student Advocate, you will implement a promising new strategy for reducing chronic absenteeism that utilizes a family-focused, peer support model to increase student engagement and achievement. The Student Advocate is the direct service provider of this intervention and will be embedded in Cascade Middle and Tyee High schools to provide case management support to the students and families on their caseload. 

Seneca Family of Agencies has been nominated among the Bay Area’s Top Workplaces for several consecutive years. We’re committed to providing traditionally marginalized communities with a network of excellent mental health, community-based, and educational services. We are committed to building a diverse staff and strongly encourage people of color to apply. Our programs are deeply engaged in conversations and training on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to bring equity and justice to the youth and families we serve.

Responsibilities

• Work as an effective member of a multidisciplinary team with school leaders, teachers, therapists, and other specialists/educational staff
• Foster strong therapeutic relationships with students that support engagement at school and progress towards individualized goals 
• Coordinate and facilitate bi-weekly Family Team Meetings for all enrolled families on their caseload. This will include developing collaborative relationships with students and families, ensuring Family Teams develop a strength-based and collaborative visions for success, and co-creating an Action Plan for each student enrolled
• Meet with each student on the caseload for weekly check-ins to provide support, encouragement, and accountability
• Work closely with identified families and students between meetings, providing support and accountability in completing identified action steps
• Utilize crisis communication and de-escalation techniques as per Seneca's crisis response training. This may include intervening with the students’ behavioral program through physical management of the student, if applicable. Training in additional crisis intervention modalities may be required
• Contribute to a strong school culture by participating in or leading small group, classroom, or school-wide activities for students that celebrate success and promote joy
• Communicate effectively with families and all others involved in the daily life of the student, including other Seneca programs or outside agencies
• Complete required data collection and service documentation to measure the effectiveness of services, inform team decision making, and/or engage in service billing
• Transport clients to and from school as needed with the proper documentation on file with Human Resources
• Demonstrate professional behavior at all times in accordance with Seneca's mission and philosophy
• Demonstrate flexibility in meeting times and locations. This could include meetings occurring outside of traditional school hours/school days, and also flexibility regarding meeting locations to ensure we’re offering convenient times and locations to students and families 
• All other duties as assigned by program, region, and agency leadership

Qualifications

• Education/Experience requirements:
• Bachelor’s degree OR
• Associate degree 1 year of applicable experience OR
• High school diploma/GED 2 years of applicable experience
• Applicable experience is defined as experience working with children who exhibit extremely challenging behaviors or providing support/coaching to parents
• Preffered prior experience building relationships with struggling students and their caregivers in an education, community-based mental health, and/or youth development setting
• Preffered lived experience, either personal or as a caregiver, with relevant systems (e.g., child welfare, juvenile justice, mental health, special education, immigration, truancy, etc.)
• At least 21 years of age
• TB test clearance, fingerprinting clearance, and any other state/federal licensing or certification requirements
• Valid driver's license, clean driving record, and insurability through Seneca Family of Agencies’ insurance policy
• Proof of up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination
• Excellent organizational, writing, computer and communication skills

Schedule

• School based schedule:
  • Monday to Friday: 8 AM- 4 PM
  • 5 weeks of paid time off, 11 paid holidays, and 14 paid school break days
• Flexible schedule with ability to work some evening and weekend
• In person 4 days, Remote 1 day

Benefits

• Starting at $23.69-$26.19 per hour, with actual salary dependent on creditable experience above the minimum qualifications for the role
  • Salary increase upon passing a bilingual language proficiency exam
  • Salary increases each year 
• Comprehensive employee benefits package:
  • Medical, dental, vision, chiropractic, acupuncture, and fertility coverage
  • Long-term disability, family leave, and life insurance
  • Partially paid premiums for dependants 
  • 403b retirement plan
  • Employer-Paid Assistance Plan
• 5 weeks of flexible paid time off, 11 paid holidays, and additional paid school break days
• Abundant scholarship and promotional opportunities