Fair Futures Coach

Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York is a nonprofit organization that has worked to improve the well-being of children, youth, families, and people with developmental disabilities across New York City and Long Island since 1929. Our staff of more than 500 provides prevention services, foster care, residential treatment care, adoption services, medical and mental health services, and programs and services for individuals with developmental disabilities.

A career with Little Flower can be rewarding in so many ways. We are looking for conscientious and caring people who are ready to commit to the work of strengthening families and supporting the well-being of children and adults with developmental disabilities. If you’re looking for a career where you can truly make a difference, we hope you will consider joining our team.  

Summary

Job Description Coaches are paired with up to 15 young people and work with each of them from 9th grade (or age 14, if they are disconnected from school) to age 21, regardless of their academic status. Through the course of their work with assigned youth, coaches’ general functions include the following:

Building relationships with up to 15 young people

Provide ongoing social/emotional support to the youth on their caseloads

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 particular 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

Principle Responsibilities:

ACADEMIC 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

Visit the young person’s school/program 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 (IEPs), 504 Plans, or other special accommodations

Expose students to post-secondary pathways, such college and/or accredited vocational programs, starting in the 9th grade (or as early as possible)
Assist students with post-secondary planning, along with the guidance counselors and/or College Specialists and Career Development Specialists Connect the student to the College Specialist to apply to colleges, opportunity programs, and all forms of financial aid, funding, and scholarships

Provide college persistence coaching, including ensuring students are receiving all of the financial and academic supports they need to succeed each semester

Assist students with planning for apprenticeship and vocational education paths, as appropriate

Collaborate with Case Planners, guidance counselors, Specialists, Tutors, teachers,…