Educational Advocate

LifeSolutions Counseling, part of the Optum family of businesses, is seeking an Educational Advocate to join our team in South Bend, IN. Optum is a clinician-led care organization that is changing the way clinicians work and live. 

As a member of the Optum Behavioral Care Team, you’ll be an integral part of our vision to make healthcare better for everyone. 

Explore opportunities at Optum Behavioral Care. We’re revolutionizing behavioral health care delivery for individuals, clinicians and the entire health care system. Together, we are bringing high-end medical service, compassionate care and industry leading solutions to our most vulnerable patient populations. Our holistic approach addresses the physical, mental and social needs of our patients wherever they may be - helping patients access and navigate care anytime and anywhere. We’re connecting care to create a seamless health journey for patients across care settings. Join our team, it’s your chance to improve the lives of millions while Caring. Connecting. Growing together.

Educational Advocates are equally teachers and caseworkers. They collaborate with students and families in the school, home, and community settings. They connect the disparate elements of a child's educational experience while simultaneously working to develop the skills required for successful participation in all parts of life. Educators' interventions are high-quality, family-centered, and culturally competent. All interventions are focused on keeping children in school, improving academic performance, and educating parents about how to be involved in the process.

Primary Responsibilities: 

• Provide academic assistance for students with extreme academic and behavioral needs in individual and group settings and within the school
• Developing creative and interactive curriculum to better identify and excite individual learning styles
• Building students self-esteem by instilling an active sense of responsibility, initiative, and self-advocacy in the classroom
• Maintain working relationships with school personnel and referral sources by promptly responding to all communication requests
• Administer standardized assessments to identify age-appropriate treatment plan goals and objectives
• Provide school and home-based truancy termination services to children and families to support them in achieving their treatment goals
• Attend case conferences and administrative meetings to advocate for student rights and ensure appropriate educational placement
• Maintain detailed records following agency protocol
• Serve as an active member of a treatment team
• Attend required supervisions and meetings offered by Keys Counseling
• Meet KPIs expected for face-to-face contacts and client services

You’ll be rewarded and recognized for your performance in an environment that will challenge you and give you clear direction on what it takes to succeed in your role as well as provide development for other roles you may be interested in.

Required Qualifications:

• Valid driver’s license and the ability to use a private car to transport oneself and others in compliance with state policy concerning minimum car insurance coverage

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Teaching License or Certificate 
• Experience providing in-school and home-based services
• Experience working with the juvenile probation population
• Knowledge of Special Education and the implementation of IEPs

Diversity creates a healthier atmosphere: OptumCare is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action employers and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. 

OptumCare is a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.