PURPOSE OF POSITION: To manage education and career resources, in conjunction with clinical interventions offered through Residential Programs, to promote positive youth development. Provide supervision and support to the After School Programs, Post-Secondary Options, Career Resources and Education Resources team on the Walsh campus and actively collaborate with other department co-workers.
ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS:
- Master's degree in education, psychology, social work, sociology, special education, or a related field.
- Desire and ability to lead and manage teams, individuals and financial resources.
- Experience with adolescents, ideally in a community, residential or educational setting.
- A valid Illinois driver's license, ability to drive a van, maintain a clear driving record, and retain driving approval through the department of Children and Family Services.
- Regular and predictable attendance.
- Willingness to be flexible with hours based on the needs of the program and youth.
- Ability to work both independently and as an active team member.
- Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
- Maturity and sensitivity to cultural and individual differences.
- Ability to maintain professional demeanor while exercising judgment and discretion in work.
- Ability to read and interpret documents such as operating and maintenance instructions, procedure manuals, and professional journals.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel, as well as the ability to become proficient in other software packages and programs.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality.
- Ability to attend required Agency trainings and maintain necessary training compliance. Flexibility to attend daytime trainings or sessions outside of regularly scheduled hours.
- Commitment to the mission, values, and goals of the Agency.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Education Resources
- Develop, implement, manage and monitor all operational, administrative and programmatic processes and activities related to education planning for youth.
- With Vice President and Directors, identify new elementary and high schools (private, charter, CPS, therapeutic, alternative), and update and maintain database for use by Education Resources Coordinators as new schools are identified.
- With Vice President and Directors, create presentations to introduce identified new school options to the department
- Establish professional relationships with area schools where residential youth can be enrolled
- Ensure that youth's educational needs are assessed in a trauma-informed manner.
- Ensure holistic education treatment to support, and develop academic and social-emotional skills for youth in collaboration with program treatment team
- Identify educational resources (both for internal and external use by Youth) to be utilized by program and youth as supplemental resources during the school year and summer months.
- Actively collaborate with youth's treatment team to ensure matriculation to next grade level
- Advocate for specialized academic supports, i.e. 504 Plans, IEP's, paraprofessionals to support youth's academic progression
After School Programs & Tutoring
- Collaborate with the After School Programs (educational and enrichment programs and Craft Cottage) team to plan and execute programming to enrich youth.
- Knowledge of After School Programs resources and offerings for each program and how these will provide support to educational progress and interpersonal development of youth
- Ensure successful implementation of Executive Functions program.
- Ensure ASP offerings support the overall treatment plan for youth
- Collaborate with community resources to develop consistent partnerships for individual youth and entire Walsh Campus enrichment.
- Communicate effectively across departments, as necessary, regarding need for new tutors and any on-going tutor challenges that may be addressed during the application process moving forward.
- Ensure that the tutoring program effectively meets the educational needs of youth.
- Plan and execute Summer Enrichment program.
PSO & Career Resources
- Develop, implement, manage and monitor all operational, administrative and programmatic processes and activities related to career and post-secondary education planning for youth.
- Oversee implementation of Financial Literacy and Job Skills Training.
- Ensure consistent career readiness programming with West Loop Campus (Career Cruising, job skills activities, etc)
- Support youth as they develop job skills, attain on campus or off-campus work/internships, and develop aspirations for career development.
- Oversee payroll for all Mercy Home youth employment.
- Support and implement the policy and philosophy of the program and Agency, which includes a commitment to personal and professional growth, i.e., training.
- Collaborate with the Post-Secondary Options & Career Resources team to assess Youth needs related to job skill development and establishing pathways to sustainable employment
- Serve as a collaborative resource to the team to drive selection and completion of college, post-secondary and financial aid applications for each student, as well as associated employment and internship opportunities.
Administrative
- Provide quality supervision to all direct reports.
- With Vice President, oversee hiring and onboarding process for Coordinators.
- Ensure safe and timely transportation to schools. Plan school routes and communicate with drivers.
- Consistent communication with Residential Programs and department's management teams.
- Manage day to day operations of Education and After School programming at the Walsh Campus by assessing and identifying opportunities for Youth's treatment and co-workers responsibilities. Ensure that the co-workers, supplies, and materials effectively support the youth.
- Ensure holistic treatment to support, and develop skills for academic and behavioral youth. In collaboration with program treatment team.
- Consistent evaluation of Walsh Campus Education & Career interventions to ensure delivery of program components are encompassed in Youth's treatment.
- Collaborate with the Post-Secondary Options team to plan and develop practical post-secondary options for youth, and to facilitate youth exploration toward Post-Secondary Options.
- Prepare accurate, timely reports in Blueprint.
- Purposefully analyze data relating to educational progression, i.e report cards, progress reports, conferences etc.
- Purposefully analyze Woodcock-Johnson 4 testing and online learning tutorial program progress and use data to support educational goals of each youth.
- Oversee budget through tracking expenses, fulfilling reports, managing petty cash for the department.
- Participate in Residential Programs, Education & Career Resources strategic planning meetings and other committees as needed.
- Employ all aspects of de-escalation and behavior management techniques as outlined in CPI protocol.
- Learn, align with, and execute the treatment philosophies, modalities and practices of the Agency.
- Actively engage in learning and integrating developmentally appropriate, attachment-informed, and trauma-responsive theory and practice consistent with the Mercy Model of Care Framework.
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