About this role
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.