Fair Futures Coach - OSP

Lutheran Social Services of New York•New York, NY

6d•$50,000 - $51,000

About The Position

Builds trusting, long-term relationships with parenting youth in and beyond foster care placement at Our Sisters’ Place (ages 14 – 26). The overall goal of this relationship is to support the young person to achieve their goals and that of their children, to parent safely, graduate high school; persist in a post-secondary setting; build progressive career development experiences in line with the youth’s 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).

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in social work or related field is required.
Minimum of two years’ experience in foster care or related field
Knowledgeable of foster care and assisting youth, children, and families at-risk
Ability to work independently
Ability to think critically and execute good judgement
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.
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
Knowledge of youth resources and services
Ability to facilitate therapeutic peer groups.

Responsibilities

Approach work with a positive attitude, with an ethic of service and integrity rooted in the values, mission, vision, and philosophy of Lutheran Social Services of NY (LSSNY).
Understand that the focus of all LSSNY’s work is for the betterment of those LSSNY serves.
Comply willingly with all organizational policies and procedures and supports all functions that attain and maintain accreditation and compliance with regulatory agencies.
Contribute to organizational excellence at the individual, team, department, divisional, and agency wide levels.
Exhibit integrity, professionalism, and respect both in the workplace and in the communities we serve.
Build positive and productive relationships with youth.
Works with the youth and OSP staff towards quality of the residence's overall environment.
Provide ongoing social/emotional support – including if they leave foster care and achieve permanency.
Promotes positive parenting and connections to related services for pregnant and\or parenting youth.
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, Supervisors, Clinicians, Childcare Workers, birth parents, tutors, specialists, and other providers as needed, to help youth achieve their goals and ensure their overall well-being.
Participate in Family Team Conferences and Treatment Plan meetings.
Connect young people to peer support groups and help them 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 to ensure that housing applications are submitted as early as possible (by age 19 if their goal 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, building credit, and advocating with landlords, if needed.
Document youth goals and progress accurately and timely in CARES4 and Connections.
Other duties as required by direct supervisor or needs of the program/agency.