Education Support Specialist

Summary

This position is part of the Family and Youth Housing Program at Simpson Housing Services.

The goal of the program is to provide stable housing and effective support services to homeless families and youth in transition.

This position provides education support and advocacy services to families with school-aged children as part of the Children and Youth Services Department.

This mission of the CYS department is to break the generational cycle of homelessness by partnering with parents to support children’s academic success, stability, and well-being.

The major duties of this position include case management through regular home visits, facilitating opportunities for parents to increase their sense of self-efficacy as advocates in their child(ren)’s development, and working with parents and community members to ensure that young people’s strengths and needs are being recognized and addressed.

Services will be provided in participant homes, in area shelters, at Simpson Housing sites, and in schools.

Participant populations may include those with chemical abuse challenges, criminal histories, and/or supportive parenting challenges.

Employee may provide back up for other Youth Team members during periods of absence or during times of increased workloads.

The Education Support Specialist works to assist families in reaching the following goals:

1. Improved child(ren)’s school attendance and grades
2. Improved child(ren)’s social and emotional wellbeing
3. Increased parental involvement in education
4. Increased parental sense of self-efficacy in advocating for children’s needs
5. Increased connection to community support for children’s needs

Responsibilities

Provide child-focused case management to families with school-aged children (K-12)

• Provide 15 hours of direct service per week that amplifies parents’ role as their child’s first, best advocate
• Meet with incoming families with school-aged children and provide time-limited case management around school enrollment, transportation, school supplies, school readiness and expectations, etc.
• Provide time-limited services to support goal-planning and connection to resources to facilitate academic success, emotional wellness, and enrichment opportunities

Provide support to increase parental self-efficacy

• Provide goal-focused, short-term case management around IEP meetings, 504 plans, McKinney-Vento access, and parent-teacher conferences
• Facilitate connections to internal and external programs, as driven by parents, that further family’s goals of achieving long-term housing stability independent of Simpson
• Build and maintain connections with schools and relevant community partners; assist parents in building relationships with these partners as appropriate
• Support parents to build and/or maintain positive parenting practices and parent-child relationships throughout all developmental stages

Work as part of an effective team to meet goals of program

• Provide consultation, training, resources to family advocates, with support from CYS Manager
• In cooperation with other CYS team members, design and implement activities, discussions, and/or small-group workshops for parents on relevant topics.
• Communicate and coordinate services with all team members (Children and Youth Services and Family and Youth Housing Tea
• Attend weekly team meetings, other required meetings
• Demonstrate willingness to engage in courageous conversations
• Assist with planning and implementation of Family Housing workshops and other family outings as requested

Complete accurate and thorough documentation and recordkeeping in a timely manner:

• Maintain case files on families served, including case notes, resources provided, signed data privacy, intake and discharge summaries, release of information, and other relevant information
• Record complete and accurate case notes within 24 hours of each service provided
• Collect data as needed for reporting program objectives
• Maintain accurate records including employee time sheets and travel expenses
• Participate with funding reports, grant writing, and site visits
• Other duties as assigned

Provide positive representations of SHS through public relations and networking:

• Develop and maintain positive working relationships with staff, volunteers, participants, and other stakeholders
• Network with providers of similar services
• Participate in professional meetings, workshops, and staff meetings

Demonstrate essential knowledge, abilities, and skills:

• Ability to build rapport and trusting relationships in a short period of time
• Ability to be reflective in intentional, time-limited relationships
• Ability and willingness to not overstep the parent’s role
• Ability to center family needs and goals rather that provider needs and goals
• Ability to identify and reflect a parent’s strengths and capabilities back to them, and a willingness to uplift parents as leaders in their families
• Ability to work very well independently, with excellent skills in teamwork and collaboration
• Ability to be flexible and manage time
• Ability to think critically and be creative and resourceful
• Knowledge of Harm Reduction and Trauma-Informed Care and commitment to that model
• Ability to commit to ongoing personal and professional work identifying and dismantling white supremacy culture
• Ability to communicate effectively, positively, and professional with participants, providers, family members, and others
• Ability to work with individuals from very diverse backgrounds
• Ability to perform non-traditional tasks while meeting participant needs
• Ability to maintain confidentiality
• Ability to adhere to a standard framework of boundaries in all interactions with participants, volunteers, staff, and public

Job Requirements:

• Minimum two years of experience working with parents in a community setting required; experience navigating a school system preferred
• Commitment to transformational services, whole-family services, and anti-racist work
• Driver’s License and car required

Desired:

• Knowledge of child development, K-12 education policy and practice, and family systems desired
• Experience and/or training in working with low-income families, diverse populations, and unhoused persons desired
• Experience with Critical Time Intervention model desired
• Knowledge of mental health, chemical dependency, physical or sexual abuse is desired