Forward Journey Coach (Close to Home)

JOB TITLE: Forward Journey Coach (Close to Home)
DEPARTMENT: Education and Parent Support Services
LOCATION: Brooklyn/Queens/Brentwood

REPORTS TO: Forward Journey Coach Supervisor
SUPERVISES: N/A
PURPOSE OF THE POSITION: Fair Futures is a youth-led advocacy movement and coalition of 100 organizations advocating for young people who are system-involved in New York City to have access to the individualized supports they need to achieve their potential. Fair Futures is also a comprehensive model that includes a middle school program that prepares students for success in high school and a coaching program where young people ages 14 are matched with a full-time, professionally trained Coach. Coaches provide emotional support to young people, believe in them, and help them with their academic, career development, housing, and life skills goals.
As a result of the Fair Futures youth-led advocacy efforts, New York City became the first in the nation to secure public funding for all young people in foster care through age 26. In 2020, the Fair Futures model was implemented at all 26 foster care agencies. This year, the Fair Futures model is expanding to serve youth in the justice system in partnership with the Administration for Children’s Services. As part of SCO’s Forward Journey Initiative under Fair Futures, the Forward Journey Coach works with youth on a one-on-one basis to develop individualized academic, career development, and housing goals based on youth interests and strengths. Support includes connecting youth to quality schools, programs, resources, and opportunities in line with their goals. Coaches provide ongoing social and emotional support including connecting youth to peer support groups that foster positive relationships.
Close to Home (CTH) programs are small group residences (both Non-Secure Placement (NSP) and Limited-Secure Placement (LSP) in or near the five boroughs where youth are placed closer to resources that can support their treatment and transition back into their communities. Fair Futures Coaches will support these young people during their time in CTH and as they return back to their families until age 21.

I. SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES
As part of SCO’s Forward Journey Initiative, the Forward Journey Coach works with youth on a one-on-one basis to develop individualized academic, career development, and housing goals based on youth interests and strengths. Support includes connecting youth to quality schools, programs, resources, and opportunities in line with their goals. Coaches provide ongoing social and emotional support including connecting youth to peer support groups that foster positive relationships.
Key program components include:
• Community-based- Staff meet youth wherever is best for them (e.g., home, school, community).
• Systemic approach- incorporates multiple aspects of the youth’s natural ecology (community, peers, family, and school).
• Comprehensive- addressing the full range of a youth’s needs and goals (academic, career, housing, relationships).

Forward Journey Coach duties will include, but not be limited to:
• Build relationships with youth and provide ongoing social and emotional support.
• Ability to work from a strength-based, trauma-informed, youth development lens
• Work 1:1 with youth to develop individualized academic and career development goals (including financial literacy) based on their interests and strengths and take measurable steps towards their goals.
• Connect youth to quality schools, programs, resources, and opportunities in line with their goals.
• Help youth succeed in these settings, navigate any challenges that arise, celebrate success, and plan/prepare for the next step on their journey.
• Collaborate with Case Planners, Tutors, Specialists, Foster Parent, and Parents, as needed, to help youth achieve their goals and ensure their overall well-being.
• Connect youth to Peer Group supports and build positive relationships.
• Transport youth to/from school when necessary
• Attend and complete all Fair Futures trainings. Input child information into all required data platforms and systems.
• Other tasks as assigned by Supervisor.

Academic:
• Re-engage disconnected youth and help them re-enroll in an academic setting and assess the fit between youth and their current academic setting and help them transfer into a better-fit high school or high school equivalency program, if needed.
• Visit the youth’s school/program bi-monthly and build relationships with school staff, review transcripts and academic data, provide educational advocacy, and discuss progress towards graduation/HSE obtainment.
• Ensure young people are attending school and have the supports and resources they need to be successful, such as tutoring, individualized educational plans, 504 Plans, or other special accommodations.
• Expose and assist students to post-secondary pathways and planning such as college, accredited vocational programs, and internships starting in the 9th grade (or as early as possible)
• Maintain school stability.

Career Development:
• Assist youth working papers, if needed.
• Conduct career exploration activities with youth.
• Assist ALL youth to select at least one career development experience each year that is in line with their interests and academic situation/background.
• Work with the young person and Career Development Specialist to identify potential longer-term career pathways based on the young person’s interests, strengths, and academic/vocational plans.
• Connect youth to the Career Development Specialist, if needed, to explore workforce development programs, vocational programs, and for assistance with job applications.
• Connect youth, as needed, to agency-based job readiness and/or internship programs (e.g., YA WORC or the Mentored Internship Program).
• Provide persistence coaching to young people enrolled in any external program by checking in with them regularly.

Housing & Independent Living:
• Coordinate with housing specialist to ensure youth submit housing applications (by age 18 when appropriate)
• Accompany the youth to interviews and visit housing options, when needed.
• Assist youth with obtaining furniture, support through the move in process, and provide continued support with housing stability.

II. QUALIFICATIONS
Education/Degree: Bachelor’s Degree; Extensive Experience working with Youth
Other skills and requirements:
• Experience in Education and Foster Care (preferred).
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, a strong sense of empathy towards our populations served, and a passion for the field of child welfare.
• Ability to respond to the unique developmental needs of children in different stages of maturation including early childhood, school age, or young adulthood.
• Ability to work with parents and children that have histories of chemical dependency, mental illness, neglect, physical, sexual, and/or emotional abuse, different cultural backgrounds, and varying socioeconomics statuses.
• Ability to work competently, compassionately, and without judgment with individuals who may identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, or who may be in different stages of discovering or disclosing their sexual orientation or gender identity.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Strong time management skills, diligence, resilience, and experience working in a unit or team.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel. Experience with CONNECTIONS preferred.
• Valid NYS Driver’s License required.
• Commitment to the mission and programs of SCO Family of Services.
• Bilingual applicants strongly encouraged to apply.

We respectfully ask for a minimum 2-year commitment to this role, given the importance of young people having consistent, caring adults in their lives, and the significant investment our team will make into supporting and developing Coaches.