Education Advisor; EXTENDED

Position: Education Advisor (28286) EXTENDED
This position is Part-Time and will be working in Marion, IL; must be willing to commute and work in Marion, IL.

The Education Advisor provides problem resolution, subject matter expertise, advocacy, and guidance for educational wellbeing of children and youth in foster care (youth in care). The education advisor possesses extensive knowledge and skills that help youth navigate the complex network of education (general and special education) and child welfare. The education advisor also serves as education resource for youth in care, caregivers, child welfare caseworkers and administrators, school and district personnel, Guardian ad Litem (GAL), court personnel, etc.

POSITION IS LOCATED IN THE MARION, IL, AREA.

Position Summary

This position is Part-Time and will be working in Marion, IL, must be willing to commute and work in Marion, IL.

The Education Advisor is responsible for providing the following:

* Educational technical assistance to resolve individual youth issues

* Planning for youth's educational needs to be identified and addressed

* Interdisciplinary training to build capacity in the field for meeting educational needs of youth in care

* Partnership development between and among educational institutions, child welfare agencies, and other organizations that impact youth in care

* Systems intervention and strategic planning

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Educational Technical Assistance for Individuals

* Guides caregivers, youth in care, education personnel, child welfare professionals in Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and Purchase of Service (POS) agencies, POS education liaisons, court personnel, community agencies in their roles in the intervention and resolution of educational issues.

* Resolves issues that affect the education of individual youth involved within the Illinois foster care system.

* Provides consultation on handling educational issues.

* Provides direction, support and resources in assessing and dealing with the youths' educational needs to youth, caregivers and professionals including: child welfare caseworkers and administrators, school and district personnel (teachers, administrators, social workers, etc.), Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), Guardian ad Litem (GAL), POS education liaisons, attorneys, community providers, etc.

Educational Planning for Youth

* Engages in planning to ensure appropriate educational services for youth.

* Develops intervention plans to address behaviors that mitigate school engagement and educational achievement.

* Provides strategic education planning for youth relocating to new schools and/or school districts.

* Develops and coordinates appropriate education plans for children and youth transitioning from one education level to another (preschool, elementary, secondary and post-secondary).

* Advocates for youth's best educational interests in school planning teams, such as Individualized Education Programs, 504 Plans, etc.

* Provides educational expertise in non-school planning teams such as Clinical Intervention Placement Preservation (CIPP), child and family teams, etc.

* Provides other guidance and recommendations to navigate educational issues and develop appropriate plans.

Developing Collaboration Across Systems

* Initiates and sustains collaborative relationships with local school staff and administrators and school district personnel that facilitate educational advocacy on behalf of youth in care.

* Promotes communication and fosters collaboration between caregivers and school.

* Fosters collaboration between caseworkers and school around youth's education.

* Develops and implements collaborations to address the education of youth in care between DCFS and representatives from other state agencies (such as the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE)), and between DCFS and medical facilities, community organizations, etc., as needed.

* Collaborates with early intervention and early childhood to provide successful interventions, resources, and enrollment for children in care.

* Supports DCFS in its efforts to monitor and improve educational outcomes through collaboration with DCFS administrators, Administrative Case Review, dually involved specialists, Agency Performance Team, etc.

* Works collaboratively to develop strategies to promote educational wellbeing of youth in care.

Training & Professional Development/Building Capacity

* Develops and conducts training on evidence-based education best practice, state and federal educational laws, DCFS educational policies and protocol, etc.

* Builds capacity within child welfare through coaching and training caregivers and youth in care.

* Builds capacity among DCFS and POS staff and administrators, POS educational liaisons, GALs, CASA and other court personnel through training and resources.

* Provides professional development to school and district personnel on educational needs and challenges of youth who have been abused and neglected and/or in foster care.

* Plans, organizes and promotes…