Goodwill Industries of SELA Hiring for Life Skills Coach(Region: Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard, & Plaquemines Parishes) at New Orleans Full Time

Essential Functions :

Provides Independent Living Skills preparation and Transitional Services to youth 14-23 years of age, referred by Department of children and Family Services and Office of Juvenile Justice in the region of responsibility, according to the Chafee Foster Care Independence Program (CFCIP).

Responsibilities :

This job requires substantial knowledge of coaching and mentoring to build successful program participants who possess creativity, leadership ability and oral and written communication skills. The Life Skills Coach is responsible for identifying risks and consultatively develops preventative strategies; assist youth in learning life skills and development and implementation of a leadership framework.

• Assist youth in the transition to self-sufficiency; provide education and training necessary to obtain employment, housing, and to maintain permanent connections; preparation for and entry into postsecondary training and educational institutions; and personal and emotional growth and support.

• Provide services to include planning for specific and individualized in-home activities and homework assignments for youth to practice the skills they are learning in the program.

• Maintain contact with youth in foster care after service delivery and those that have aged out of foster care at a minimum of quarterly to maintain a supportive relationship and continue to provide services when needed and to potentially survey the youth for National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD).

• Administer Pre and Post Casey Life Skills Assessments and send results to case workers within 30 days of program entry and prior to any adjustments to the youth’s service plan. Post assessments are completed when goals within the service plan are achieved and at completion of the final instructional session with the youth.

• Provide support to youth, DCGS, OJJ, and tribal case managers and foster caretakers in understanding the Casey Assessment results and suggestions on how to use assessment in service planning.

• Attend case planning meetings for youth served ages 14-17, in person.

• Provide experiential, “hands on” skill-based training or provider facilitated activities within the youth’s natural living environment to assess and augment the life skills training.

• Assist youth with coordination and linkage to community services; knowledge and understanding of available programs and community resources.

• Provide youth 14-17 receiving transitional or preparation for transitional services in home planning services a minimum of quarterly to include the youth and the youth’s placement provider/caretaker.

• Provide outreach and in-home support and services to youth who are unable to attend due to behavioral issues, illness, or other challenging conditions defined by the case worker or caretaker.

• Services shall be arranged and delivered in a manner that does not conflict with youth’s family contacts as well as academic and extra-curricular activities.

• Provide case management services to 18–23-year-old young adults to include a minimum of (1) successful phone contact per month, provision of rental utility deposits for initial set up for those experiencing a housing disruption and establishing a new housing situation a minimum of (2) times, assistance in completion of application and/or enrollment forms, assistance with access to transportation, and a defined work plan to include life goals, action steps, and responsible parties.

• Participate in DCFS case planning and development of the Youth Transition Plan.

• Develop with each youth individualized service plans to meet specific, physical, emotional, social, health developmental, educational, vocational, and other identified needs within (30) days of admission to the program. Must be completed on the DCFS Youth Transition Plan Document contained within the youth’s case plan.

• Maintain individual case records which include assessments, service plans, program updates and detailed documentation of services delivered including dates, types of services, and details regarding activities participated in.

• Provide a summary of all assessments, services, progress of the youth and ongoing plans meeting the needs of the youth to the case worker every 6 months in preparation for case planning meetings for the youth with recommendations for ongoing skill development with the youth.

• Maintain all information in youth’s record privileged and confidential.

• Keep the Program Manager informed of unusual and/or crisis situations as they arise.

  Skills and Abilities :

• Must have excellent organizational skills and be able to complete projects efficiently and independently.

• Must have excellent communication skills including verbal, phone, word processing, email, and internet.

• Must have good public relations skills and the ability to work with employees and the public.

• Must establish and maintain effective working relationships with, and among, all personnel.

• Must be able to read, write and communicate clearly in English.

• Must be able to work occasionally long or extended hour, including weekends.

• must be able to function in a hectic work environment with occasional periods of high stress.

• Must maintain strict confidentiality of all information.

  Requirements :

• Minimum of BA or BS degree is required and one year experience in criminal justice, social work, employment counseling, placement, human services, or public administration.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

• Must be proficient in operating a computer and experience with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), and other social media applications.

• Must provide own transportation.

• Must be able to clear DMV check.

• Must possess valid operator’s license and maintain current vehicle registration, liability insurance and vehicle inspection.

• Must be ambulatory.

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