Financial Educator - Live Oak

Position Description: The CHI Financial Educator supports CHI families within an intensive and therapeutic financial literacy model. The position engages clients in individual and group settings and promotes work toward establishing personal awareness, healthy decision making, and a positive relationship with money. The Financial Educator addresses the cognitive, emotional, behavioral, relational, and economic aspects of a participant’s life that influence their financial well-being. The position draws from both evidences based and therapeutic financial literacy models. The position is a specialty position and is a part of a larger team that consists of Case Managers and Parent Empowerment Advisor and reports to Special Services Program Manager. The position will office out of the Live Oak property, but will be expected to travel to program locations throughout Austin.

Primary Duties/Responsibilities

• Perform initial Financial Stability Assessment with all incoming participants. Assess participant’s knowledge, self-awareness, attitudes, and behaviors regarding money and readiness to change one’s financial behaviors and situation.
• Establish long-term relationships with participants and design 6 one-hour individualized sessions to establish a Financial Stability Plans that draws from curriculum that addresses both psycho-educational (i.e. habits, triggers, and traps) and skills building (i.e. budgeting, banking, managing credit and debt).
• Facilitate a 6-session group series, Mind Over Money, that that draws from specific curriculum modules designed by the Children’s HOME Initiative and emphasizes changing financial behaviors and developing a healthy relationship with money.
• Draw upon various therapeutic approaches (e.g. Cognitive Behavioral, Motivational Interviewing, Strength-Based, Solution-Focused, and Person-Centered techniques) and incorporate various coaching approaches (e.g. Setting SMART Goals, Participant Determined Outcomes, Credit Reviews, and Debt Elimination Planning) to design effective individual and group sessions.
• Maintain an active client base of between 12 and 20 clients as assigned by the Special Services Program Manager, and a waitlist of pending clients who have completed initial case management requirements and Parent Empowerment Requirement.
  • Attend all virtual introductory meetings scheduled by Case Managers
  • Schedule first financial sessions as needed to maintain required active client list.
• Meet weekly with clients; ensuring that program financial literacy goals are being met; providing support to attain these goals; and helping families identify areas of need and evaluate progress toward financial stability Communicate effectively with a participant’s Case Manager, and Parent/Child Advocate, to ensure an efficient and effective co-coordination of services. Meet on a regular basis with CHI team members to discuss coordination of services, concerns, progress, and evaluation.
• Develop a relationship and engage with Foundation Communities’ Prosper Centers to ensure participants are utilizing all services provided by Prosper Center.
• Attend relevant professional trainings to expand knowledge of therapeutic and coaching techniques.
• Maintain all documentation and case notes timely and in accordance with program policies and procedures.
• Participate in weekly supervisions with Special Services Program Manager to review case files and resolve questions and concerns related to FE program
• Assist in developing topical financial workshops as a need is identified and assist in the facilitation of the workshops.
• Travel to all Austin based Foundation Community family properties with CHI programs to conduct in person meetings, and as needed, to deliver program materials to clients during engagement.
• Work evening and weekend hours to support workshops and MOM groups at all Austin based Foundation Communities family properties.
• Other duties as assigned

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in social work, education, counseling, psychology, or related field.
• At least two (2) years of experience working in a setting providing trauma-informed services to ethnically and socioeconomically diverse and/or unhoused populations.
• Proven ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Background in financial literacy and coaching principles
• Fluent in Spanish or other language

Preferred Requirements

• Training in Money SMART Curriculum, Certified Financial Coaching, Financial Social Work or other financial literacy curriculums
• Background in group facilitation, event coordination, and curriculum planning
• Background in adult education

Travel: This position requires travel between locations, and will require use of a personal vehicle. Typical workdays will start at assigned work location, with anticipated travel to additional properties throughout the day. Travel is reimbursed at the approved IRS mileage rate

Physical Requirements: Requires sitting, standing, keyboarding, lifting (under 40 lbs.), filing, twisting, bending, driving

Compensation $23.00/hour

This position profile identifies the key responsibilities and expectations for performance. It cannot encompass all specific job tasks that an employee may be required to perform. Employees are required to follow any other job-related instructions and perform job-related duties as may be reasonably assigned by his/her supervisor.

Foundation Communities provides an excellent benefits package including employer paid health benefits, 401(k) investment opportunity, Employee Assistance Program, paid vacation, holiday, and sick time.

Foundation Communities is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation & gender identity.