Location: Dekalb,IL, USA
This position is part-time and will be working out of Marion, IL. This position is a Contract Appointment.
The Education Advisor provides problem resolution, subject matter expertise, advocacy, and guidance for educational wellbeing of children and youth in foster care (youth in care). The education advisor possesses extensive knowledge and skills that help youth navigate the complex network of education (general and special education) and child welfare. The education advisor also serves as education resource for youth in care, caregivers, child welfare caseworkers and administrators, school and district personnel, Guardian ad Litem (GAL), court personnel, etc. POSITION IS LOCATED IN THE MARION, IL AREA. POSITION IS VIRTUAL (WORKING FROM HOME) BUT COVERS MARION AND THE SURROUNDING AREA.
Position Summary
This position is part-time and will be working out of Marion, IL. This position is a Contract Appointment.
The education advisor is responsible for providing the following:
* Educational technical assistance to resolve individual youth issues
* Planning for youth's educational needs to be identified and addressed
* Interdisciplinary training to build capacity in the field for meeting educational needs of youth in care
* Partnership development between and among educational institutions, child welfare agencies, and other organizations that impact youth in care
* Systems intervention and strategic planning
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Educational Technical Assistance
The education advisor is responsible for providing educational technical assistance to resolve issues individual youth in care face. The education advisor also guides caregivers, youth in care, education personnel, child welfare professionals in DCFS and Purchase of Service (P0S) agencies, POS education liaisons, court personnel, community agencies in their roles in the intervention and resolution of educational issues.
* Resolves issues that affect the education of individual youth involved within the Illinois foster care system
* Provides consultation on handling educational issues
* Provides direction, support and resources in assessing and dealing with the youths' educational needs to youth, caregivers and professionals including: child welfare caseworkers and administrators, school and district personnel (teachers, administrators, social workers, etc.), CASA, GAL, POS education liaisons, attorneys, community providers, etc.
Educational Planning for Youth
The education advisor is responsible for educational planning to ensure youths' needs are met. They use their educational expertise in the development of plans and services that directly affect the youth served.
* Engages in planning to ensure appropriate educational services for youth
* Develops intervention plans to address behaviors that mitigate school engagement and educational achievement
* Provides strategic education planning for youth relocating to new schools and/or school districts
* Develops and coordinates appropriate education plans for children and youth transitioning from one education level to another (preschool, elementary, secondary and post-secondary)
* Advocates for youth's best educational interests in school planning teams, such as Individualized Education Programs, 504 Plans, etc.
* Provides educational expertise in non-school planning teams such as CIPP, child and family teams, etc.
* Provides other guidance and recommendations to navigate educational issues and develop appropriate plans
Developing Collaboration
The Education Advisors initiates, fosters, promotes and sustains collaborations internally and externally with individuals across various disciplines, agencies and organizations. They are responsible for building collaborations between and among caregivers, schools, school districts, agencies and community that benefit the education of youth in care.
* Initiates and sustains collaborative relationships with local school staff and administrators and school district personnel that facilitate educational advocacy on behalf of youth in care
* Promotes communication and fosters collaboration between caregivers and school
* Fosters collaboration between caseworkers and school around youth's education
* Develops and implements collaborations to address the education of youth in care between DCFS and representatives from other state agencies (such as ISBE), and between DCFS and medical facilities, community organizations, etc., as needed
* Collaborates with early intervention and early childhood to provide successful interventions, resources, and enrollment for children in care
* Supports DCFS in its efforts to monitor and improve educational outcomes through collaboration with DCFS administrators, Administrative Case Review, dually involved specialists, Agency Performance Team, etc.
* Works collaboratively to develop strategies to promote educational wellbeing of youth in care
Training in the Field
The education advisor is responsible for developing and providing training and resources on state and federal education laws, DCFS education policies, educational research and best practice that apply youth who experienced abuse/neglect and are in foster care. They build capacity of educators, DCFS and POS staff, POS educational liaisons, caregivers, youth in care and others.
* Develops and conducts training on evidence-based education best practice, state and federal educational laws, DCFS educational policies and protocol, etc.
* Builds capacity within child welfare through coaching and training caregivers and youth in care
* Builds capacity among DCFS and POS staff and administrators, POS educational liaisons, GALs, CASA and other court personnel through training and resources
* Provides professional development to school and district personnel on educational needs and challenges of youth who have been abused and neglected and/or in foster care
* Plans, organizes and promotes education training sessions
* Provides updates and resources on changes in federal and state rules and regulations pertaining to education, DCFS educational policies, procedures, protocols and initiatives
Systems Intervention
The education advisor is responsible for providing systems to intervene on and prevent issues that mitigate against educational success of youth in care, and operate as part of the NIU Educational Access Project for DCFS
* Identifies trends that affect children's educational process; and communicates and works with Center director and other designated administrators to resolve problems
* Assists in systems intervention activities and develops initiatives that address problematic trends
* Provides strategies for sustainable planning to address educational needs of youth
* Prepares and maintains documentation of clients served, work performed, and all other required documentation and reports
* Reports to supervisor and/or designee
* Operates as part of the NIU EAP team and adheres to NIU policies and employment guidelines, (and DCFS' when appropriate)
Minimum Required Qualifications (Civil Service)
CREDENTIALS TO BE VERIFIED BY PLACEMENT OFFICER
* Any one or combination totaling three (3) years (36 months) from the categories below:
* Coursework in social work or behavioral sciences, or closely related field as measured by the following conversion table or its proportional equivalent:
* 30 semester hours equals one (1) year (12 months)
* Associate's Degree (60 semester hours) equals eighteen months (18 months)
* 90 semester hours equals two (2) years (24 months)
* Bachelor's Degree (120 semester hours) equals three (3) years (36 months)
* Progressively more responsible work experience in social service/ counseling at a paraprofessional level under qualified supervision.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) (Civil Service)
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs)
* Working knowledge of human nature.
* Ability to interview individuals to determine their physical, social, and/or possible psychological needs.
* Ability to organize, prepare, and maintain records, reports, files, and correspondence.
* Ability to obtain services necessary to meet participants' needs.
* Ability to establish effective working relationships with program participants and staff.
Specialty Factors (Civil Service)
None
Preferred Qualifications (Civil Service)
* A Master's degree in education or other related fields and at least 5 years of experience in education or educational advocacy.
* Bachelors degree and 7 to 10 years of experience in education, and/or educational advocacy.
* Demonstrated professional work experience in education or educational advocacy.
* Demonstrated work experience applying State and Federal laws in a social services or educational setting.
Minimum Required Qualifications (SPS)
N/A
Additional Requirements (SPS)
N/A
Preferred Qualifications (SPS)
N/A
Physical demands/requirements
* Travel required
* School/DCFS meetings may require work outside normal business hours