Fair Future Coach

POSITION: Coach

REPORTS TO: Director of Social Services

CLASSIFICATION: Full-Time

EXEMPT/NONEXEMPT: Non-Exempt

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Coaches build trusting, long-term relationships with young people in and beyond foster care (ages 14 26). The overall goal of this relationship is to support the young person to graduate high school; persist in a post-secondary setting; build progressive career development experiences in line with the youths 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 RESPONSIBLITIES:

• Build relationships with up to 15 young people.
• Provide ongoing social/emotional support no matter what including if they leave foster care and achieve permanency.
• 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, Tutors, Specialists, and foster/birth parents, as needed, to help youth achieve their goals and ensure their overall well-being.
• Connect young people to peer group supports and 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 (and/or Case Planner, if the agency does not have a Housing Specialist) to ensure that all young peoples housing applications are submitted as early as possible (by age 19 if their goals 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, and advocating with landlords, if needed.
• 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:

• A Bachelors degree and at least two years of experience working with at-risk or system-involved young people, or
• An Associate or accredited vocational degree, and 3 years of working with at-risk or system-involved young people

EXPERIENCE:

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

SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Knowledgeable about working with foster care youth and children and families at-risk
• Ability to work independently
• 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 and/or have a valid New York State driver license and access to a motor vehicle
• 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
• Ability to use trauma-informed techniques
• Knowledgeable about youth resources and services
• Ability to facilitate therapeutic peer groups.