Brooklyn)

SCO Family of Services•Jamaica, NY

16h•Hybrid

About The Position

As part of SCO’s Forward Journey Initiative, the Forward Journey Coach works with youth on a one-on-one basis to develop individualized academic, career development, and housing goals based on youth interests and strengths. Support includes connecting youth to quality schools, programs, resources, and opportunities in line with their goals. Coaches provide ongoing social and emotional support including connecting youth to peer support groups that foster positive relationships. The Forward Journey Coach duties will include, but not be limited to: building relationships with youth and providing ongoing social and emotional support; working 1:1 with youth to develop individualized academic and career development goals (including financial literacy) based on their interests and strengths and taking measurable steps towards their goals; connecting youth to quality schools, programs, resources, and opportunities in line with their goals; helping youth succeed in these settings, navigate any challenges that arise, celebrate success, and plan/prepare for the next step on their journey; collaborating with Case Planners, Tutors, Specialists, Foster Parent, and Parents, as needed, to help youth achieve their goals and ensure their overall well-being; connecting youth to Peer Group supports and building positive relationships; transporting youth to/from school when necessary; completing PYA Tasks including PAT Tool; completing Youth Voice Questionnaire for youth (14-up); facilitating My Journey Groups for youth; facilitating PYA Monthly Workshops; attending and completing all Fair Futures trainings; and inputting child information into all required data platforms and systems. The role also involves re-engaging disconnected youth and helping them re-enroll in an academic setting, assessing the fit between youth and their current academic setting and helping them transfer into a better-fit high school or high school equivalency program, if needed, visiting the youth’s school/program bi-monthly and building relationships with school staff, reviewing transcripts and academic data, providing educational advocacy, and discussing progress towards graduation/HSE obtainment, ensuring young people are attending school and have the supports and resources they need to be successful (e.g., tutoring, IEPs, 504 Plans, special accommodations), exposing and assisting students to post-secondary pathways and planning such as college, accredited vocational programs, and internships starting in the 9th grade (or as early as possible), and maintaining school stability. Additionally, the coach will assist youth with obtaining working papers, if needed, conduct career exploration activities with youth, assist all youth to select at least one career development experience each year that aligns with their interests and academic background, work with the youth and Career Development Specialist to identify potential longer-term career pathways, connect youth to the Career Development Specialist, if needed, for workforce development programs, vocational programs, and job application assistance, connect youth to agency-based job readiness and/or internship programs (e.g., YA WORC or Mentored Internship Program), and provide persistence coaching to youth enrolled in any external program by checking in regularly. The role also includes coordinating with Housing Specialist to ensure youth submit housing applications (by age 18 when appropriate), accompanying youth to interviews and housing visits, when needed, and assisting youth with obtaining furniture, support through the move-in process, and providing continued support with housing stability.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree
Extensive experience working with youth
Excellent communication skills (oral and written)
Strong empathy
Passion for child welfare
Ability to respond to the developmental needs of children across different age groups
Ability to work with families with histories of chemical dependency, mental illness, abuse, and diverse cultural/socioeconomic backgrounds
Ability to work compassionately and without judgment with individuals who identify as LGBTQ+ or are exploring their identity
Strong time management, diligence, resilience, and teamwork experience
Proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel
Valid NYS Driver’s License required and/or timeframe for obtaining one
Commitment to the mission and programs of SCO Family of Services

Nice To Haves

Experience in Education and Foster Care
Experience with CONNECTIONS

Responsibilities

Build relationships with youth and provide ongoing social and emotional support.
Work 1:1 with youth to develop individualized academic and career development goals (including financial literacy) based on their interests and strengths and take measurable steps towards their goals.
Connect youth to quality schools, programs, resources, and opportunities in line with their goals.
Help youth succeed in these settings, navigate any challenges that arise, celebrate success, and plan/prepare for the next step on their journey.
Collaborate with Case Planners, Tutors, Specialists, Foster Parent, and Parents, as needed, to help youth achieve their goals and ensure their overall well-being.
Connect youth to Peer Group supports and build positive relationships.
Transport youth to/from school when necessary.
Complete PYA Tasks including PAT Tool.
Complete Youth Voice Questionnaire for youth (14-up).
Facilitate My Journey Groups for youth.
Facilitate PYA Monthly Workshops.
Attend and complete all Fair Futures trainings.
Input child information into all required data platforms and systems.
Re-engage disconnected youth and help them re-enroll in an academic setting.
Assess the fit between youth and their current academic setting and help them transfer into a better-fit high school or high school equivalency program, if needed.
Visit the youth’s school/program bi-monthly 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 (e.g., tutoring, IEPs, 504 Plans, special accommodations).
Expose and assist students to post-secondary pathways and planning such as college, accredited vocational programs, and internships starting in the 9th grade (or as early as possible).
Maintain school stability.
Assist youth with obtaining working papers, if needed.
Conduct career exploration activities with youth.
Assist all youth to select at least one career development experience each year that aligns with their interests and academic background.
Work with the youth and Career Development Specialist to identify potential longer-term career pathways.
Connect youth to the Career Development Specialist, if needed, for workforce development programs, vocational programs, and job application assistance.
Connect youth to agency-based job readiness and/or internship programs (e.g., YA WORC or Mentored Internship Program).
Provide persistence coaching to youth enrolled in any external program by checking in regularly.
Coordinate with Housing Specialist to ensure youth submit housing applications (by age 18 when appropriate).
Accompany youth to interviews and housing visits, when needed.
Assist youth with obtaining furniture, support through the move-in process, and provide continued support with housing stability.