Coach

ABBOTT HOUSE•Village of Irvington, NY

1d•$57,000 - $60,000•Onsite

About The Position

A Job Coach is paired with up to 15 young people and works with youth (9th grade (or age 14, if they are disconnected from school) to age 26, regardless of their academic status. A coach builds trusting and long-term relationships with youth and works with them, even after they leave foster care and achieve permanency. The goal of a Job Coach is to encourage youth to graduate high school and pursue further education, building progressive career development experiences in line with their interests, strengths, and academic/ vocational plans. A Job Coach will successfully navigate the transition into adulthood (and into independent living, for those young people who are aging out).

Requirements

A Bachelor's degree
At least two years of experience working with at-risk or system-involved young people
Regularly required to stand; walk, use hands and fingers, handle, or feel objects; reach with hands and arms; talk and listen, and taste or smell
Frequently required to walk
Occasionally required to keep balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl
Must be able to use a computer and learn software programs
Required to operate a fax, copier, scan, and other office equipment
Needs to be able to speak, read and write fluently in the English language
Must be able to write in the English language using correct spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc.
May frequently lift 0-25 lbs., occasionally lift 25-50 lbs., and rarely lift over 50 lbs.
May frequently push/pull 0-25 lbs. of force, occasionally push/pull 26-45 lbs. force, and rarely push/pull over 45 lbs.
Will be required to sit, stand and walk throughout the work day
May occasionally stoop
May occasionally kneel
May occasionally crouch

Responsibilities

Build relationships with up to 15 young people
Provide ongoing social/emotional support
Work 1:1 with young people to develop individualized academic and career development goals based 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
If a youth is not 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
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 (IISE) 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 all relevant partners, such as Case Planners, guidance counselors, Specialists, Tutors, teachers, family members, and caregivers
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
Work with the young person and Career Development Specialist to identify potential longer-term career pathways based on the young person's interests, strengths, and academic/vocational plans
Connect the young person to the Career Development Specialist, if needed, to explore workforce development programs, vocational programs, and for assistance with job applications
Connect young people, as needed, to agency-based job readiness and/or internship programs (e.g., YA WORC or the Mentored Internship Program)
Provide persistence coaching to young people enrolled in any external program by checking in with them regularly
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 people's 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 move in and obtain furniture
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