Fair Futures Coach (NSD - Juvenile Justice)

Fair Futures Coaches are full-time, trained professionals who are matched with up to 10-15 young people ages 13 and older who have had experiences with the justice system. Coaches meet young people �where they are� and build trusting relationships with them using an authentic, trauma-informed, strength-based approach, often in partnership with colleagues from our Non-Secure Detention. In addition to providing weekly emotional support, Coaches help young people make progress toward their academic, career development, housing/independent living, and other life goals. When a young person is unsure of their goals/interests, Coaches help them explore and expose them to potential opportunities. They then help young people connect to schools, programs, and opportunities in line with their goals/interests, persist in those settings, and plan/prepare for the next step on their journey. Coaches celebrate young people�s progress; if something doesn�t work out, Coaches help young people reflect and connect to the next opportunity.

Job Title: Fair Futures Coach

Reports To: Program Director

Location: 2207 University Avenue, Bronx, NY 10453

Hours: 35 Hours/Week; Non-Exempt (Position requires staff to be on site. Hybrid schedules may be available based on program needs and at leadership discretion)

Salary: 50-55K annually based on Post Graduate & Relevant Experience/Education

Major Duties:

• Build and maintain relationships with approximately 15 young people at any given time.
• Meet with newly admitted youth within 48-72 hours to begin developing an academic/vocational/educational support plan.

• Provide ongoing social/emotional support work 1:1 with young people to develop academic and career development goals based on their interests and strengths to take measurable steps toward their goals
• Connect young people to quality schools, programs, resources, and opportunities in line with their goals
• Connect young people to peer group support and build positive relationships
• 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 youth be unsuccessful in any school/program setting, Coaches assist young people to reflect on the experience and work with them to set new goals and transition to the next opportunity

• Collaborate with Interdisciplinary team guardians to help youth achieve academic, employment, and vocational goals
• Ensure young aging people can access and maintain stable, affordable housing and build independent living skills.
• Establish, at least twice monthly, face-to-face contacts with the youth and weekly contacts (via phone, text, email).
• Provide weekly, ongoing social/emotional support.
• Build relationships and collaborate with the key adults in the young person�s life to support their goals and well-being, including other agency staff (e.g., Case Planners and Specialists), foster parents, school/program staff, and other significant adult figures.

• Help young people explore their interests and expose them to opportunities in line with their interests.
• Use an online weekly platform to track contacts, young people�s goals, steps taken towards goals, and other key data. Full support will be provided on how to use Care4.

Educational Duties:

• 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?
• 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 participants to post-secondary pathways, such as 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 support they need to succeed each semester;
• Collaborate with all relevant partners, such as Case Planners, guidance counselors, Youth Development Counselors, Social Workers, Tutors, teachers, family members, caregivers, mentors and other additional supports.

Career Development Duties:

• Assist young people in obtaining working papers, if needed.
• Conduct career exploration activities with young people.
• Assist 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 and vocational programs and for assistance with job applications.

• Connect young people, as needed, to agency-based job readiness and/or internship programs
• Provide persistence coaching to young people enrolled in any external program by checking in with them regularly.
• Attend and participate in agency training, ACS training, NYC DOE training
• Keep case records and accurate data information up to date, including but not limited to school visits, home visits, community visits, and visits with parents/guardians by documenting in Connections within five business dates of the event.
• Promote and model the 7 Sanctuary Model commitments and the SELF (Safety, Emotional Management, Loss, Future) Model into daily practice to create a non-violent and trauma-informed culture.

• Complete transitional discharge education/employment, career, and vocational plan.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor�s degree required with two years of experience working with vulnerable youth in a residential setting, or youth involved in the child welfare system preferred.
• Knowledge of the Juvenile Justice & Criminal Justice system.

• Experience working with justice-involved youth.
• Knowledge of the NYC Dept. of Education, including alternative education/vocational programs (Pathways to Graduation, ACCESS-VR, YABC, etc), NYC Dept. of Youth and Community Development programs, and College application process, and
• Experience with providing 1:1 support to youth in care, preferably in a residential setting.
• Ability to be flexible to the demands of the youth in care
• Ability to work autonomously as well as part of a team

• Excellent verbal and written 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; trauma-informed techniques; and to facilitate therapeutic peer groups.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) a plus, but not required
• Proficient in Microsoft Word Office, Connections Citrix, and Excel
• Must have a commitment to work from a strength based and/or youth & family development perspective.