Position: Vocational/Education Coordinator

Supervisor: Director of Residential Programs

Department: Residential Programs

Location: Tucker, GA

FLSA: Exempt

Job Summary

The Vocational-Educational Coordinator will play a crucial role in supporting youth transitioning out of foster care by providing comprehensive vocational and educational guidance. This position involves developing individualized plans, coordinating resources, and facilitating access to educational and career opportunities to ensure successful transitions into adulthood. The Vocational-Educational Coordinator develops relationships with key partners including businesses, post-secondary education institutions, and community programs for the purposes of creating education and employment pathways for young adults. The Vocational-Educational Coordinator works primarily with Wellroot’s residential population, however provides consultation to other programs.

Responsibilities

• Ensure that young adults have access to programming that focuses on the development of life skills, basic academic skills, GED preparation, and vocational skills. Vocational Services include provision of or access to counseling and guidance, referral and assistance to obtain services from other agencies, job search and placement assistance, vocational and other training services, transportation, and on-the-job support.

• Implement the Wellroot Scholarship Program that includes:
• Develop clear communication with scholarship recipients to help maintain Wellroot and other scholarships
• Recruit current and former residents to participate in the scholarship program
• Support non-residential youth that are attending post-secondary education on-campus with connections to resources and services
• Maintain relationships with the Designated Point of Contacts at local colleges who serve as a support for foster youth attending school.
• For youth who are considering dropping-out of school or pursuing a GED, follow the policy outlined in the DFCS Child Welfare Policy Manual 10.13, Educational Needs
• Coordinate school enrollment for all incoming ILP/TLP residents
• Administer the Casey Life Skills Education Assessment and utilize the results to coordinate with the youth, life coach, and transition support team to develop an education and career plan for each youth enrolled in the program to be included in the youth’s Individualized Service and Skills Plane (ISSP)
• Work with the Life Coaches and transition support team to document the youth’s academic progress monthly
• Assist youth with enrolling in post-secondary education (college or trade school); including coordinating with the Georgia RYSE Independent Living Specialist to access services and educational funds
• Plan and implement educational and career related workshops for which include but is not limited to:
• Completing financial aid packets
• Applying for college
• Applying for scholarships
• Resume writing
• Job interviewing
• Keeping a job
• Provide or arrange for tutoring or other academic assistance for children who are not achieving academically (i.e. performing below grade level, failing one or more classes and/or standardize test reveal deficiencies in any academic subject)
• Recruit, train and coordinate volunteer tutors from the community who may be utilized for the educational support to residents
• Provide consultation to other residential programs to enable staff to better assist residents with their education and career goals
• Coordinate and provide support and instruction for those residents suspended from school; to enable those residents to remain current with their assignments during the period of suspension
• Function as a surrogate parent for individual students receiving special education services, as needed
• Responsible for education program area budget management, and utilization of Fostering Success Tax Credit funds.
• Create educational activities (on-site and off-site) for residents during summers and school breaks
  

Requirements

• Must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in the area of behavioral or social sciences, social work, psychology, childhood education, special education, guidance counseling, or related field with two (2) years direct service experience with children and families or a master’s degree from an accredited college or university in the same areas of study with one (1) year of paid work experiences with children and families
• Be familiar with, and perform duties in accordance with RBWO (Room Board and Watchful Oversight) standards and DFCS Child Welfare policy
• Must participate in at least twenty-four (24) hours of annual training. At least twelve (12) hours should be directly related to work with teens including understanding developmental needs of young adults and strength-based assessments
• Minimum two years of work experience in child welfare
• Experience working with transition-aged youth (ages 18-24) preferred
• Excellent Written and Oral Communication Skills
  
  

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing essential job functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions. General office environment: some stress may occur in meeting development deadlines. Uses office equipment and computer approximately 70% of the work day.

• Work in an office setting
• May be required to observe general dress code guidelines
• Sit, stand, walk, bend, lift, move, squat, climb stairs, reach above shoulder level, kneels, push, or pull intermittently during working hours
• Is subject to imposed deadlines
• Has regular contact with clients and their staff, family members, and the general public
• May be subject to hostile and emotionally upset clients, staff, family members, or the general public
• Attend and participate in a variety of educational programs designed to increase knowledge and expertise in the field