Foster Youth Services, Specialist I or II (199)

Job Description Calaveras County Office of Education
Classification Title: SPECIALIST, FOSTER YOUTH SERVICES

BASIC FUNCTION:
In the Division of Student Support Services, the Foster Youth Services Specialist acts as a liaison between schools, caregivers, parents, educational rights holders, group homes, placing agencies and others to ensure that the educational needs of students in foster care and/or students in homeless situations are being met; provides direct services to students to improve educational and transitional outcomes; assists in coordinating the activities of the Foster Youth Services (FYS) and/or Homeless Education Services (HES) and meeting program goals.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
Under the supervision of the Foster Youth Services Manager; no supervisorial duties.

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES: May include, but are not limited to, the following:
(E) = Essential Duties

• Collaborate with internal and external personnel (e.g. California Foster Youth Education Taskforce, child welfare offices, child protective services, foster family agencies, health department, Court
• Appointed Special Advocates, Education Rights Holders, caregivers, judges, and attorneys, etc.) for the purpose of implementing and/maintaining services and programs;
• (E)
• Create, organize and maintain accurate records, and protect the confidentiality of those records and related information; (E)
• Gather/analyze data to produce state, federal and local reports as required; (E)
• Provide support to all schools and school districts in meeting the academic and educational needs of students in foster care or those who are homeless;
• Assist placing agencies, parents, caregivers, educational rights holders, substitute care providers and

LEAs in gathering/transferring education records for students in foster care and advocate for their educational needs; (E)

• Coordinate youth development activities, such as Independent Living and mentoring programs; (E)
• Provide resources and assistance in areas of higher education, career, vocational and transitional living for emancipating foster youth and homeless students;
• Represent CCOE at community forums; attend designated agency, county, and district meetings;
• Maintains knowledge of current laws and regulations pertaining to educating foster and homeless students; (E)
• Provides technical assistance on issues pertaining to the education of students in foster care and homeless students;
• Provide information and assistance to help youth transition to adulthood as aligned within their

Transitional Independent Living Plan (TILP);

• Assistance and referral to promote health, mental health, and safety skills, including substance abuse prevention, smoking cessation, pregnancy prevention, and nutrition education; (E)
• Referral of youth to appropriate county adult social services agencies, as needed, prior to emancipation;
• Assisting youth in finding safe and affordable housing, upon emancipation;
• Maintain strict confidentiality in all job related matters.
• Perform incidental tasks consistent with the goals and objectives of the position;
• Perform other duties or assignments and incidental tasks consistent with the goals and objectives of the position and as delegated or assigned by the assigned cabinet level administrator(s) and County
• Superintendent.

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• Current procedures, trends, issues pertaining to foster youth in relation to the juvenile justice system, education and private group home operators;

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Job Description Calaveras County Office of Education
Classification Title: SPECIALIST, FOSTER YOUTH SERVICES

• Current procedures, trends, issues pertaining to the education of homeless students and unaccompanied minors in relation to housing subsidies, supportive services and resources, school district responsibilities and mandates;
• How to acquire and manage receipt of important student documents.;
• Laws, regulations and policies related to foster youth services and homeless education services and funding;
• Related community agency organizations, services and resources.

SKILLS AND ABILITY TO:

• Perform a variety of complex clerical and administrative tasks;
• Utilize technology effectively: word processing, spreadsheet, SIS, database and presentation software;
• Communicate effectively, in oral and written form, with students, families, and other necessary groups and individuals;
• Facilitate meetings, activities and workshops;
• Develop and make oral presentations to groups;
• Prepare clear, concise and comprehensive reports, recommendations and assessments;
• Adapt to periodic heavy workload;
• Complete assigned projects, meeting deadlines independently and with minimal assistance;
• Maintain confidential information;
• Maintain regular and reliable attendance;
• Prioritize, plan and organize both regular work responsibilities and any additional assigned projects;
• Maintain office-wide professional standards of conduct (model core values);
• Act with honesty, not compromising the truth and employing the highest ethical standards;
• Be non-judgmental and culturally and linguistically sensitive;
• Establish and maintain trusting working relationships with youth, peers, school staff, community members and agency personnel;
• Be committed to best practices in all areas of the agency and be willing to embrace new ideas, new practices and new processes;
• Work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends;
• Travel to trainings and conferences that require overnight stays;
• Maintain reliable transportation for travel during the course of work, and be able to transport students and program materials to and from sites (verification of safe driving record required);
• Promote a positive professional image by action, communication, and appearance.

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Education, training or experience that demonstrates possession of the knowledge and abilities stated below: o Completion of college-level coursework in social services, sociology, psychology, education or related field and one (1) year of experience in relevant prevention, social service, education, or community based activities
• Bachelor’s degree in social work or related field, desired

REQUIRED LICENSES
Possession of a valid California driver’s license

WORKING CONDITIONS:
ENVIRONMENT AND HAZARDS:
Employees in this position will be required to work indoors in a standard office environment and come in direct contact with CCOE and district employees, and the public; work with constant interruptions in an

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Job Description Calaveras County Office of Education
Classification Title: SPECIALIST, FOSTER YOUTH SERVICES
environment that is fast-paced with high pressure. This position requires driving a vehicle to conduct work.
Occasional driving in inclement weather.

OTHER CONDITIONS:

• Incumbents of positions in this class are required to use personal vehicles to travel region-wide to a variety of sites within a reasonable time frame, in the course of employment; must have appropriately insured vehicle to travel from site to site with mileage reimbursed.
• May be required to work evening and weekend hours in addition to regular office hours as necessary and assigned.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Employees in this position must:

• Possess visual acuity sufficient to recognize people, words and numbers.
• Have hand-eye-arm and finger dexterity and coordination to use a personal computer keyboard, multiline telephone and other common office equipment.
• See and be able to read a computer screen and printed matter with or without vision aids.
• Hear and be able to understand speech at normal levels and on the telephone.
• Speak so that others may understand at normal levels and on the telephone.
• Sit, stand, walk, twist, kneel, crouch, and bend over or stoop to retrieve work materials; reach overhead; grasp, push, pull and move objects not exceeding 50 pounds; stoop, lift to waist height, and carry materials up to 25 pounds.

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable a person with a disability to perform the essential functions of the job.

OTHER:

• Paid on the Calaveras County Office of Education School Classified - Unrepresented Salary Schedule
• 260 Work Days per Year
• FLSA: Non-Exempt

Approved: 20180503-SN:mt

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Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $24.83 - $38.58 per hour

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $25 - $39