Fair Futures Coach - OSP

LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICES OF NEW YORK

POSITION:  Fair Futures Coach - OSP

REPORTS TO: Fair Futures Supervisor

CLASSIFICATION: Full-Time 

EXEMPT/NONEXEMPT:  Exempt    

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: 

Builds trusting, long-term relationships with parenting youth in and beyond foster care placement at Our Sisters’ Place (ages 14 – 26). The overall goal of this relationship is to support the young person to achieve their goals and that of their children, to parent safely, graduate high school; persist in a post-secondary setting; build progressive career development experiences in line with the youth’s interests, strengths, and academic/vocational plans that will help them navigate onto a living wage career pathway; and successfully navigate the transition into adulthood (and into independent living, for those young people who are aging out). 

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
•    Approach work with a positive attitude, with an ethic of service and integrity rooted in the values, mission, vision, and philosophy of Lutheran Social Services of NY (LSSNY). 
•    Understand that the focus of all LSSNY’s work is for the betterment of those LSSNY serves.
•    Comply willingly with all organizational policies and procedures and supports all functions that attain and maintain accreditation and compliance with regulatory agencies.
•    Contribute to organizational excellence at the individual, team, department, divisional, and agency wide levels.
•    Exhibit integrity, professionalism, and respect both in the workplace and in the communities we serve.
•    Build positive and productive relationships with youth.
•    Works with the youth and OSP staff towards quality of the residence's overall environment.
•    Provide ongoing social/emotional support – including if they leave foster care and achieve permanency.
•    Promotes positive parenting and connections to related services for pregnant and\or parenting youth.
•    Work 1:1 with young people to develop individualized academic and career development goals based on their interests and strengths and take measurable steps towards their goals.
•    Connect young people to quality schools, programs, resources, and opportunities in line with their goals.
•    Help young people persist in these settings, navigate any challenges that arise, celebrate successes, and plan/prepare for the next step on their journey. 
•    Should a youth not be successful in any school/program setting, Coaches help young people reflect on the experience and work with them to set new goals and transition to the next opportunity. 
•    Collaborate with Case Planners, Supervisors, Clinicians, Childcare Workers, birth parents, tutors, specialists, and other providers as needed, to help youth achieve their goals and ensure their overall well-being.
•    Participate in Family Team Conferences and Treatment Plan meetings.
•    Connect young people to peer support groups and help them build positive relationships.
•    Ensure young people who are aging out can access and maintain stable, affordable housing and build independent living skills.
•    Re-engage disconnected youth and help them re-enroll in an academic setting. 
•    Assess the fit between the young person and their current academic setting and help them transfer into a better-fit high school or high school equivalency (HSE) program, if needed. 
•    Assist students with planning for apprenticeship and vocational education paths, as appropriate. Assist young people in obtaining working papers, if needed.
•    Conduct career exploration activities with young people.
•    Assist ALL young people in selecting at least one career development experience each year that is in line with their interests and academic situation/background.
•    Ensure that the young person coordinates with a Housing Specialist to ensure that housing applications are submitted as early as possible (by age 19 if their goal is to age out).
•    Accompany the young person to visit supportive housing residences, when needed.
•    Help young people maintain their housing by providing independent living and life skills supports such as budgeting, obtaining a bank account, building credit, and advocating with landlords, if needed.
•    Document youth goals and progress accurately and timely in CARES4 and Connections.
•    Other duties as required by direct supervisor or needs of the program/agency.

SUPERVISES:
•    Volunteers/interns as needed

QUALIFICATIONS
The Coach role is not an entry-level role. Coaches need to have both emotional maturity and professional skills. As helping young people enroll and persist in post-secondary settings is one of the goals of the Fair Futures model, it is important for Coaches to have a post-secondary credential.

EDUCATION:
•    Bachelor's degree in social work or related field is required. 

EXPERIENCE:
•    Minimum of two years’ experience in foster care or related field

SKILLS & ABILITIES:
•    Knowledgeable of foster care and assisting youth, children, and families at-risk
•    Ability to work independently
•    Ability to think critically and execute good judgement
•    Ability to work collaboratively with consumers and co-workers
•    Experience and facility with Microsoft Office Applications
•    Ability to navigate throughout New York City using public transportation.
•    Ability to work flexible hours as needed (beyond traditional 9 – 5 hours)
•    Ability to work from a strength-based, trauma-informed, youth development lens
•    Compassionate, warm, empathetic, consistent, and reliable
•    A love for working with young people
•    Strong ability to relate to young people, engage them in conversation, and provide support and encouragement
•    Values and promotes diversity
•    A belief that change is possible
•    Able to maintain healthy boundaries
•    Able to remain calm during moments of tension and stress.
•    Strong written and verbal communication skills
•    Strong time-management, organizational skills, and attention to detail
•    Ability to troubleshoot, advocate, and navigate obstacles where there is not always a clear-cut pathway
•    Open to learning how to use and interpret data to inform decision-making
•    Ability to effectively collaborate in team settings and build relationships with external partners
•    Ability to use Motivational Interviewing techniques
•    Knowledge of youth resources and services
•    Ability to facilitate therapeutic peer groups.

Salary : $50,000 - $51,000