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. The Pathways Program provides transition-aged youth with housing and support services as they seek to obtain stable and secure housing and employment. The Education Department consists of two programs. The College Readiness Program provides seventh through twelfth grade foster youth with academic counseling and support to help them graduate from high school and attend a four-year college. The College Sponsorship Program provides academic, personal and financial support to foster youth to help them graduate from a four-year college.
Position Overview
Reporting to the Career Development Manager, the Career and Education Counselor carries a caseload of up to 42 former foster youth between the ages of 18-24. The Career and Education Counselor’s primary objective is to build meaningful relationships with his/her youth in order to provide them with the support and guidance necessary to reach their educational, career, and personal goals
The Career and Education Counselor will work standard business hours Monday-Friday (except Tuesdays from 12-8) and weekends and evenings as necessary. The Counselor will be based out of UFC’s downtown office but will work remotely multiple days per week from UFC’s housing sites across LA County.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Career and Education Support
Provide career and educational guidance, planning, and placement support to Pathways youth and alumni
Assist CDM with administrative functions of Pathways internships (internship applications, bi-weekly timesheets, purchase orders etc.)
Assist with the administration of career and education assessments for program participants
Provide UC and CSU transfer information and transfer assistance
Provide GED and high school diploma preparation assistance
Offer vocational training referrals
Provide financial aid application assistance
Assist Career Development Manager (CDM)with creating, planning and facilitating Career workshops, Career Assessment Exams, Life Skills sessions, and Career Trainings for Pathways youth and alumni
Assist CDM with program expansion activities (including outreach, counseling, workshops, and internship placements
Assist in community college admissions and course planning process
Create and facilitate various educational workshops including study skills, financial aid and defining and establishing educational goals
Complete and submit career and education notes into ETO data system
Refer program participants to on-site tutoring
Documentation and Outcomes
Track and document all service efforts made on behalf of youth in UFC’s database within a week of each effort’s occurrence.
Continually expand and update professional and technical knowledge within the social work, foster care, career and education fields.
Using a strengths-based and solutions-focused approach, track youths’ progress towards achievement of the Pathways Program milestones and work with the Pathways Team to develop interventions for youth as problems arise.
Analyze career and education outcomes and trends and work with Pathways team to improve program model and service delivery.
Program Selection
Work closely with the Intake Coordinator during the application and review of potential resident candidates.
Participate in review of potential candidates to determine their appropriateness for the Pathways program.
Other
Other duties as assigned.
General 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, community and each other
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
B.A. or B.S. degree required
Extensive work experience with at-risk youth and/or young adults required
Familiarity with foster youth population an advantage
Ability to work collaboratively and cooperatively as a member of a multi-disciplinary service team. Conveys thoughts and ideas clearly, listens well, communicates in a solution-oriented manner and incorporates others’ views into work.
An understanding and sensitivity to issues concerning former foster care youth from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
Strong problem-solving and crisis intervention skills.
Establishes and cultivates respectful relationships with people from a variety of different backgrounds.
Holds self accountable, sets high expectations for self and others, works both independently and collaboratively and relates tasks to organizational values.
Preferred Qualifications
Master’s Degree in a related field.
Other
Extensive travel in L.A. County required. Must have valid California Driver’s License and an insured and reliable vehicle.
How to apply
Please email cover letter, resume, and references to tlpinbox@unitedfriends.org (Please reference job title in subject line.)