Educational Support Specialist, Independent Living Program

Description

AGENCY OVERVIEW

Since our founding in 1895 in Marin County as an orphanage – and through subsequent years as Sunny Hills Services – Side by Side has been at the forefront of best practices in child welfare, working with the most vulnerable youth in our community. Today, Side by Side operates in four counties – Marin, Alameda, Sonoma, and Napa – across the Bay Area, reaching nearly 2,000 children, young adults, and family members per year with much-needed services related to behavioral and mental health, early intervention in schools, LGBTQIA+ support, transitional housing for foster youth, and special education. 

Side By Side places high value on individuals with a passion for helping underserved youth and families in a collaborative and inclusive work culture. We strive to work together to create a trauma-informed workplace where we walk the walk of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging principles. 

COMPENSATION

This full-time position has an hourly rate of pay between $32.00 and $33.66 depending on experience.

BENEFITS

• 3 weeks of paid vacation for F/T employees increasing to 4 weeks of vacation after 2 years of service
• 2 weeks of sick leave for F/T employees with 2 additional sick days for direct service staff 
• 10 paid holidays per year and 1 Self-Care Anniversary Day each year
• 100% employer-paid Medical for F/T employees including platinum level Kaiser Permanente insurance, Sutter Health or Anthem options
• Dental and Vision Insurance
• Long Term Disability insurance up to $9,000 per month, plus $50,000 Life and AD&D insurance.  Employees also have the option to purchase additional life insurance at their own cost.  
• 403b Retirement Plan
• Professional development and other learning opportunities including unlimited access to over 1,000 behavioral health courses online. Side By Side is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness certified employer
• FREE Employee Assistance Program including up to 10 complimentary personal counseling sessions per problem, per year for staff and dependents
• Employee recognition program with $1,000 bonus awards
• Employee referral bonus of up to $1,000
• Pet Insurance

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The Independent Living Program provides every eligible youth in care with independent living skills training to assist in the transition to a successful and independent lifestyle. ILP services are currently delivered to youth ages 14-21 by Side by Side and partnered with Alameda County Social Services.

There is an option for this position to become hybrid based on an on-going demonstration of autonomy and continuously meeting program deliverables.

JOB SUMMARY

The Educational Support Specialist works in conjunction with youth’s Case Managers/Coaches and will play a crucial role in supporting youth and families by co-creating academic goals and navigating educational systems, addressing academic challenges, and fostering positive relationships between youth, parents, and educational institutions. The Educational Support Specialist is responsible for maintaining and linking youth to educational support resources, including special education. The Educational Support Specialist also provides periodic trainings for service providers, youth and family members on educational rights and educational advocacy. The Educational Support Specialist attends school IEP/504 meetings with and for youth as needed and they staff the ILP Office.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide client-centered, strengths-based, and culturally responsive educational case management to a designated caseload of ILP-eligible foster and probation youth; helping them finding and maintaining appropriate education educational placement(s).
• These goals will be specific to secondary and post-secondary education.
• Regularly meet and assess the needs of each youth on assigned caseload, support them with achieving their academic goals, including those outlined in their TILP, a