Middle School Education Specialist

LOCATION: Brooklyn, NY

REPORTS TO: Supervisor

DEPARTMENT: Bridges to the Future

SCHEDULE: Full Time / Hybrid

 

$1,000 Hiring Incentive

AGENCY BACKGROUND:

MercyFirst is a not-for-profit human and social service agency that has been serving children and families in need since we were founded by the Sisters of Mercy/Hermanas de las Misericordia in 1894. Today our agency continues to address the emotional and physical needs of children and families in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and across Long Island through innovative treatments and life-changing interventions. We provide community-based prevention and family foster care services, group homes in the community for struggling children and families within the child welfare and juvenile justice systems, and short-term residential services for unaccompanied migrant children. Each year, MercyFirst serves more than 3,000 children, teenagers and families overcome enormous obstacles, re-imagine their futures and develop the full potential.

PROGRAM BACKGROUND:

The Bridges to the Future program supports our foster care youth as they prepare for the future. The program provides teens and young adults with skills and testing to secure viable jobs, scholarship assistance to attend college or vocational school, obtain and maintain affordable housing in the community, and life skills coaches to guide them during the challenging transition from foster care to adulthood.

 

POSITION SUMMARY:

• Provide educational assistance and support for children/youth from early education/intervention to the start of the middle school/high school years who are placed in the family foster care program.
• Assist case planners and parents with the referral process to the Committee of Special Education.
• Provide individualized assistance with the middle school and high school application process to all 5^th and 8th grade students in collaboration with the families and agency staff.
• Provide educational advocacy and ensure that students are receiving the necessary support services in IEP meetings and/or educational meetings.

• Submit referrals and coordinate with Office of Pupil Transportation to arrange bussing for eligible youth.
• Serve as agency liaison to case planners, families, the NYC Department of Education, ACS Education Committee, Advocates for Children, schools and to other outside organizations with whom the agency collaborates in order to meet the needs and to promote the educational best interests of children in care.
• Utilize Department of Education data to track, report, and monitor the educational status of children with casework teams, parents and resource parents in order to support best educational practices and planning.

• Support families with applying for enrichment programs such as Summer Rising, after school programs etc.
• Promote educational achievement by ensuring that each child is placed in the proper educational setting, i.e. early intervention, early education, regular education, special education, and gifted and specialized educational programs.
• Coordinate referrals for free to low-cost tutoring services for children in need in their communities and for private, and in-home tutoring services where such services are not available.
• Monitor provision of in-home tutoring services and track progress and outcomes of student participants with students, families and the tutoring company.
• Complete administrative responsibilities, including timely entry of educational information in CONNECTIONS, Care4 platform, submission of billing and other monthly program reports.
• Other related duties as assigned by supervisor or administrator.

 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field (Social Work, Psychology, Mental Health) and a minimum of 2 years of related work experience with at-risk or child welfare system-involved youth or Associate’s or accredited vocational degree with a minimum of 3 years of related work experience with at-risk or child welfare system-involved youth
• Excellent communication skills (verbal and written)
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Outlook, some knowledge of Excel
• Ability to file documentation accurately
• Ability to engage with clients
• Understanding and willingness to commit to the agency’s Mission, core values, Sanctuary Commitments and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB).

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Connect youth with quality schools, programs, resources, and opportunities that are in line with their goals and provide educational advocacy.
• Collaborate with case planners, tutors, educational specialist, housing/employment specialist, care managers, teachers, guidance counselors, birth parents, foster parents, and any additional supports in the youth's life.
• Assist, encourage and support the youth in reaching their identified goals within their educational journey.
• Complete administrative responsibilities, including weekly entry of contacts, steps taken towards goals and other key data in CONNECTIONS and Fair Futures on-line Platform.
• Other related duties as assigned by supervisor or administrator.

 

BENEFITS/PERKS:

• A comprehensive health insurance package including medical, dental and vision plans for you and your family
• 403B retirement benefits
• Employer-paid life insurance and long-term disability insurance
• Generous paid time off (vacation, personal, sick, 12 paid holidays)
• Free employee assistance program through National EAP
• Insurance discounts for our staff and their families
• Trainings to support professional and personal development
• Employee wellness program
• Employee recognition activities

 

Salary Range:
$50,000 - $53,000 per year

Hiring Incentive - $1,000 after 500 worked hours

 

MercyFirst is an inclusive, anti-racist, multicultural organization and an Equal Opportunity Employer who welcomes prospective employees from diverse backgrounds for all levels at the agency. We strive for a workforce that is reflective of the communities we serve, and do not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, religion or creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, disability, age (18 and over), military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, marital status, partnership status, care giver status, pregnancy, genetic information or predisposition or genetic characteristic, unemployment status, status as a victim or witness of domestic violence, sex offenses or stalking, consumer credit history, or any other status protected by federal, state, and/or city law. This includes, but is not limited to, employment actions against and treatment of employees and applicants for employment.