Fair Futures Coach

Location: Northern

# Fair Futures Coach## Overview Salary Range $45,000.00 - $50,000.00 Salary/year Position Type Full Time## Description 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 neededQUALIFICATIONSThe 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
*…