CTTP-Education/Vocational Specialist

Basic Function/Overall Responsibilities: To provide educational support and assistance within the CTTP Program in concert with Case Planners to ensure educational stability and advocacy, where warranted.

Principal Assigned Responsibilities:

• Identify all school-aged children upon placement and determine if support from the Education Support Specialist is warranted.
• Communicate findings and resolutions of all academia-related meetings to the client’s identified treatment team.
• Disseminate the LDSS 2999 form upon placement and upon every change in school district, as indicated.
• Coordinate and/or attend all academia-related meetings, to include: CSE evaluations and re-evaluations, disciplinary hearings, teacher conferences, etc.
• Monitor application of all IEPs and ensure they are appropriate and adhered to across milieus.
• Keep abreast of changes to NYSED regulations and legal requirements.
• Develop and maintain list of clients placed outside their school district of origin, to include their date of placement in foster care, dates of any Education School Stability Act (ESSA) meetings had and the outcome of said meetings.
• Forge and maintain a professional relationship with local school districts.
• Obtain and record physical copies of all assessments, evaluations, plans and report cards for all school-aged clients.
• Make contact with school staff to monitor individual clients’ needs and successes in conjunction with the identified Case Planner.
• Facilitate 1:1 meetings with clients who are identified as struggling academically or behaviorally in school to determine their needs, strengths, and potential strategies for success.
• Coordinate individual and group tutoring program with community resources.
• Coordinate after school and summer enrichment programming available to all school-aged clients.
• Plan and facilitate educational recreation trips for identified clients.
• Work in partnership with appropriate colleagues to:
• locate and/or facilitate college nights/fairs in the community
• locate and/or facilitate job fairs in the community assist with college and/or job application process assist in coordinating educational youth empowerment events
• Attend outside trainings to continue to grow as a professional.
• Develop individualized life skills goals and objectives, based upon the assessment and within the framework of the child’s Treatment Plan and service plan.
• Provide individual and group training in life skills to address needs essential to gaining and maintain employment, fostering community integration, and productive use of leisure time.
• Provide mobility training to teach youth about accessing transportation, independent travel and movement within the community.
• Provide financial literacy instruction to CTTP youth including but not limited to personal budget development and management.
• Use structured intervention techniques and evidence-based curriculums to help youth learn skills required to function as an active, positive member of his/her community.
• Assist in the implementation of a discharge/aftercare program for all youth that accurately reflects issues defined in the discharge criteria relating to life skills and promotes successful outcomes.
• Assist youth in appropriate expressions of emotions or desires, compliance, assertiveness, acquisition of socially appropriate behaviors, and reduction of inappropriate behaviors.
• Provide crisis intervention support and counseling in a friendly and compassionate manner.
• Attend service plan review, Committee on Special Education and any/all planning meeting(s) related to CTTP youth.
• Attend weekly Staff meetings.
• Active participation in program and agency-wide quality assessment and improvement activities in accordance with the agency’s on-going Quality Improvement Program.
• Participate in agency-wide committee’s/focus groups to ensure program improvement.
• Complete transition plans for eligible youth.
• Interface with local businesses to build positive relationships and viable internship and/or employment opportunities for CTTP youth.
• MOBILITY–COMMUNICATION – building vocabularies, developing effective language expression, teaching listening skills, and using augmentative communication devices.
• BEHAVIOR SHAPING AND MANAGEMENT – training or assisting in appropriate expressions of emotions or desires, compliance, assertiveness, acquisition of socially appropriate behaviors, and reduction of inappropriate behaviors.
• Provide crisis intervention support and counseling in a friendly and compassionate manner.
• Other associated tasks as assigned by supervisor.

Education and Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree, preferably in human services or a related field, required for positions with Uniform Case Record (UCR) documentation responsibilities.
• Minimum of one-year successful human service experience in a behavioral health setting, preferably working with children.
• Case Management experience preferred.

Required Knowledge, Skills Abilities and Competencies:

• Commitment to following and embracing the Seven Commitments of our Sanctuary Model.
• Understanding of basic needs and development issues of children in a way that promotes growth and respects individuality.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Excellent interpersonal and collaboration skills.
• Strong Organizational skills.
• Strong work ethic.
• Ask age and developmentally appropriate questions and actively listens to the client’s responses.
• Develops a warm, positive, nurturing relationship with each client.
• Follows mandates reporter requirements regarding child abuse and neglect.
• Practices infection control, including appropriate handwashing procedures.
• Valid New York State Driver’s License.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The House of the Good Shepherd is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. HGS encourages applications from individuals of all backgrounds and identities, including people of color, LGBTQ individuals, veterans, and those with disabilities. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access throughout the hiring process.

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