College Readiness Counselor – United Friends of the Children – Los Angeles, CA

Job Title – College Readiness Counselor

Reports to – College Readiness Manager

Organization Overview

United Friends of the Children empowers current and former foster youth on their journey to self-sufficiency through service-enriched education and housing programs, advocacy and consistent relationships with a community of people who care. By building relationships with youth over an extended period, UFC’s programs focus on commitment and consistency. UFC has two direct service departments: Housing and Education. Our Pathways Housing Program provides students with housing and support services as they seek to obtain stable and secure housing and employment. Our Education Programs consist of the College Readiness Program and the College Sponsorship Program. The College Sponsorship Program provides academic, personal and financial support to foster youth to help them graduate from a four-year college or university.

Position Overview

The College Readiness Counselor carries a caseload of up to 35 former foster youth in grades 7-12. Utilizing a Tuesday to Saturday work schedule, the College Readiness Counselor builds meaningful relationships with his/her students and families in order to ensure they receive the best possible guidance and support in their journey to college.

From Tuesday-Friday the College Readiness Counselor will work from the downtown UFC office and will travel to various locations within a designated service area of Los Angeles County to provide onsite visits to foster youth. Saturdays, the College Readiness Counselor will work from workshop/event locations throughout Los Angeles County.

Duties and responsibilities

Case Management

Responsible for providing year round academic planning to 35 middle and high school students in their homes or at school sites.
Responsible for communicating regularly with students and their caregivers via phone, email or text regarding their progress towards their individualized goals and academic status.
Regularly monitor students’ academic progress to ensure they successfully complete high school and are eligible for and accepted to four-year colleges/universities.
Refer students to community-based support services and academic enrichment opportunities as needed.
Track and document all service efforts made on behalf of students in UFC’s database within a week of each effort’s occurrence.
Continually expand and update professional and technical knowledge within the education, foster care, and case management fields.

Outreach and Resource Development

Help create and implement innovative outreach strategies to ensure program growth.
Cultivate relationships and serve as a liaison/advocate among middle and high school staff, ILP coordinators, social workers, foster parents, group homes workers, and community partners to increase awareness of the needs of foster youth to ensure the students’ success.

Program Implementation and Development

Act as a lead facilitator and/or participant in the execution of student academic and personal development workshops.
Assist with coordination of monthly events.
Analyze caseload outcomes and tends and work with Education team to improve program model and service delivery.

Other

Other duties as assigned.

General UFC Responsibilities

Act as a role model within the organization to uphold and implement UFC’s organizational values.
Embrace program evaluation that leads to excellence and impact.
Build effective and empowering partnerships with the youth and community.
Create a fun and exciting environment that inspires learning and innovation.
Communicate openly, honestly and with humility across all groups.
Work together as one organization.

Required Qualifications

Minimum of a BA degree in a related field.
1 or more year of case management experience.
Demonstrated experience working with middle and/or high school students
Balances multiple competing priorities.
Establishes and cultivates respectful relationships with people from diverse backgrounds.
Holds self accountable, sets high expectations for self and others, works both independently and collaboratively and relates tasks to organizational values.
Conveys thoughts and ideas clearly, listens well, communicates in a solution-orientated manner and incorporates others’ views into work.

Preferred Qualifications

Master’s Degree in a related field.

Direct reports

None

Other

Has a reliable personal automobile.

How to apply

Please send your resume, cover letter, and salary history to eduinbox@unitedfriends.org.

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