What are the responsibilities and job description for the Academic Specialist/Mentor position at SGA YOUTH & FAMILY SERVICES NFP?
Description
- Provides mentorship and advocacy services to youth ages 16 and 24 with a consistent caseload of 30 youth.
- Assists with recruiting and retaining 30 youth.
- Works with each youth to develop an Individualized Service Plan to address areas for improvement such as housing, academics, social emotional learning, counseling referrals, life skills, etc.
- Works with Job Developer to support employment opportunities, site visits, and retention efforts.
- Ensures files remain up-to-date and in compliance.
- Completes employability skills checklist, conduct all Illinois WorkNet modules, & ensure pre/post assessment.
- Assist in-school youth to improve educational outcomes.
- Provide information and referrals to internal and external resources
- Re-engage out-of-school youth in educational activity.
- Collects, reviews, and analyzes all transcripts for youth to determine GED or High School Diploma track.
- Utilizes Labor Market Data and information to help guide youth in career and education goals.
- Works to assist youth to determine what factors put them at risk of engaging in or becoming victims of aggressive behavior and other anxieties.
- Helps to determine what methods each youth should use in order to avoid risk-taking factors and reach their goals.
- Works in collaboration within the targeted communities to cultivate relationships with local community resources.
- Reaches out and re-engage youth that have inconsistent attendance, work with families to bring resources to the home, and connect with programs.
- Conducts Home visits.
- Support outreach events, referral systems, and programs facilitated by other departments within agency.
- Transporting students in vehicle to and from program related activities may be required.
- Implements other services requested by SGA or funder.
- Maintain detailed record of activities to regularly track impact of outreach efforts and to facilitate appropriate reports to funders and government agencies.
- Enters daily attendance, case notes into ILWorknet.
- Coordinates with the Job Developer to provide ongoing program support and implementation.
- Conducts required reports and data material to SGA such as the Employability/Life Assessment, TABE Test etc.
- Ability and experience in short and long-range planning and strategy Detail oriented with the ability to multi-task and self-direct your work
- Other duties as assigned.
Requirements
- Attributes/Skills Required/Sought:
- Must be Bilingual
- Experience working one on one with youth involved in the juvenile justice system.
- Ability to display sensitivity and responsiveness to cultural differences present in the service population.
- Experience/Education Required/Sought:
- Bachelor’s Degree in social work, criminal justice or related field, preferred
- Experience working with teens and young adults, preferred
- Experience working in neighborhoods on Chicago’s south and west sides.
- Experience working with individuals dealing with factors that put them at-risk of becoming victims of aggressive behavior.
- Evening and weekend availability required.
