Educational Advocacy Regional Coordinator - Region 3

Treehouse is seeking a full-time (40-hours per week) Educational Advocacy Regional Coordinator in Everett, covering Snohomish county.  This innovative, fast-paced direct service position will work to improve the educational outcomes for youth in foster care by providing effective educational planning and advocacy for youth, and training to youth, caregivers, and social workers.  The successful candidate will have a Bachelor of Arts degree, or commensurate experience in a related field such as social work or education, will have experience with diverse populations and will have 2 or more years of professional experience with advocacy and with youth, preferably youth in foster care.  Ability to travel within a seventy-five-mile radius of office site in Everett is required.  This position functions on an 11- month year with a four- six week furlough during July.  Salary Range $28,800 - $32,640, depending on experience. Benefits offered. 

Treehouse is an Equal Employment Opportunity organization.

To apply, please send a cover letter referencing job title and resume to jobs@treehouseforkids.org (send as attachment) or Treehouse Human Resources, 2100 – 24th Avenue South, Suite 200, Seattle, WA  98144.  No calls, please.

POSITION OBJECTIVES

• Improve the educational outcomes for youth in foster care by providing effective educational planning and advocacy for youth, caregiver and social workers.
• Provide advocacy training to youth, caregivers, social workers and community partners.
• Effectively collaborate with community partners to increase awareness and knowledge around the educational needs of youth in care.
• Accurately track all efforts and outcomes of the work for program evaluation purposes.

AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY

Direct Service Advocacy

• Review the educational history of referred youth, locate missing educational records as necessary and able.  Provide CA with any written records no later than 10 days after receipt.
• Systematically evaluate and define the educational needs of identified youth through interviews with the youth, social worker, caregiver, school staff, and other service providers. 
• Engage in child specific advocacy which might include: scheduling and facilitating inter-agency meetings, negotiating services for a child, facilitating transportation plans, assisting with credit transfer issues, assisting with disciplinary appeals, etc.
• Ensure that youth’s rights are upheld under federal and Washington State education law.
• Provide youth’s social worker with an Education Summary within 10 days of case closing.
• Ensure that 25-35 % of cases are Direct Advocacy.

Consultation Advocacy

• Identify children whose referring educational concern can be addressed by the CA social worker, child’s caregiver and/or birth parent or other significant person in the child’s life.
• Provide the adult or youth with written materials to assist in their ability to advocate. 
• Coach the social worker or caregiver about advocacy steps in person, by phone or email.  Provide support at meetings if necessary.
• Ensure that 65-75 % of cases are Consultation Advocacy.

General Advocacy Responsibilities

• Advise youth about course selection, self-advocacy, and exploring post-secondary options.
• Ensure caseworker referral of youth to community resources and activities to support their educational goals, emotional development, and future orientation.
• Open and close youth cases appropriately, ensuring that no case goes beyond 30 days with no contact without strong rationale. 
• Track all direct and consultation advocacy in the database, including intake assessment, efforts, and semester assessments with outcomes.
• Maintain ongoing communication with the caregivers and social workers of all open cases, returning emails and voicemails within one business day. 

Information & Referral Advocacy

• Assist Educational Advocacy Program Manager in seeking and recording local and state resources to address children’s needs for alternative education settings, tutoring, mentoring, and enrichment to share with social workers and caregivers. 
• Track all Information & Referrals in the database, separating those for specific youth from those more general.  Pursue outcome information for those that are youth-specific.

Training

• Present trainings to caregivers, social workers and community partners in conjunction with the Educational Advocacy Training Expansion program.
• Communicate about all trainings with Training Coordinator, and participate in train-the-trainer activities as requested.

Reporting & Program Evaluation

• Complete all intake assessments, efforts, and semester assessments with outcomes in accordance with contract requirements and program procedures within Treehouse timelines.
• Assure accurate program evaluation for contract and programmatic needs that meets all Treehouse timelines.
• Implement the program evaluation strategy established for the program, following all policies and protocols set forth.
• Submit success stories for each reporting period, two times a year.
• Respond to Educational Advocacy Program Assistant’s communications regarding caseload, waitlist and reporting within two business days.

2010 DELIVERABLES

• Serve an ongoing direct and consultation caseload of 40-50 children and youth. Year end cumulative for youth served should be between 100 – 150.  Provide a minimum of 80 Information & Referrals to caregivers, social workers and community providers annually.
• Provide 2-4 trainings annually.  Participate in the Training Expansion Program’s workshops as requested.
• Complete all database tracking requirements within the given timelines.
• Provide staff with all reporting information requested within given timelines.
• Provide outreach to all Children’s Administration field offices under your geographic jurisdiction. 
• Collaborate with Children’s Administration Education Lead and social workers for improved educational outcomes for youth.
• Partner with local community providers serving youth to better serve youth.

Position reports to:  Educational Advocacy Lead Coordinator

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree or commensurate experience in a related field, such as social work or education.
• 2 or more years of professional experience with advocacy and with youth, preferably youth in out of home care.
• Demonstrated understanding of federal and state education law, including special education.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate and coordinate services with community agencies in a professional manner.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain successful working relationships with agency staff, youth, and volunteers.
• Ability to successfully manage time and prioritize workload.
• Demonstrated ability to work with individuals of diverse social, economical, and cultural backgrounds.
• Ability and aptitude with Word, Excel, and database management programs.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Transportation and the ability to travel within a seventy-five mile radius of office site is required.