Program Coordinator – Fostering Adulthood

Are you undeterred by rebellious teens and young adults who may ignore your texts and defy all reasonable advice? Do you have X-ray vision that can see the trauma and pain that hides behind stubbornness and self-sabotage? Does the idea of a young adult who ages out of foster care without support stir up a sense of injustice inside of you?

If so, you may be the perfect fit for our role as Youth Transitions Coordinator for Fostering Hope. Our innovative program helps youth from foster care to beat the odds and become successful adults. We use a Trauma-Informed approach that bucks many of the common assumptions about how a program should operate. Our program is rooted in science but resembles family. We measure a youth’s progress in years, not weeks or months. We track small victories, knowing what they are leading to. And we capture lots of data so we can show the rest of the world what’s possible with time and love (like a graduate rate of 88%!).

This person will work on a team of three who specialize in working with about two dozen teens and young adults in foster care who will not or did not find permanency. The ideal candidate is highly relational. They have the desire and ability to build lasting relationships with teens/young adults who have experienced trauma and to help coach nonprofessional volunteers, work supervisors and others to do the same. Relational stability matters to the participants; ideally, the candidate is able to stay in this position at least two years.

These Core Beliefs inform how we interact with all our participants:

  • We do everything in the context of safe, supportive relationships that build trust over time.
  • We are not a program; rather we are reproducing the experience of a supportive family.
  • We aim to create a safe place for our young adults to fail and learn from their choices and experiences.
  • We ask/empower participants to guide both their individual goals as well as the direction of everything we do.
  • Our freedom to work with participants beyond their mid-twenties allows them to lead the process.

Key Responsibility: Create/maintain an environment where participants can develop competency in relationships, employment, housing and transportation. As a member of the care team, grow and sustain a pre- and post-emancipation support system that supplements that of the child welfare system and utilizes the aid of community volunteers. The Coordinator monitors the activities and progress of a group of youth in the process of building their capability to live independently and connected to the community.

The role will change as the program matures and relationships form with the participants. Initially, it will require working one-on-one with young adults to offer a safe, stable, nurturing relationship that anchors them as they navigate through the challenges of emerging adulthood. As the Coordinator solidifies connections with volunteers, community resources and foster parents, the role will change from direct implementation to recruiting, training and facilitating volunteers from communities of faith to accompany and guide the young adults, brokering the community network of resources as needed.

Qualifications/Experience

  • Professional training in human services (social work, vocational rehab, psychology). Criminal justice and ABA-only experience doesn’t transfer well.
  • At least 3 years experience in working with youth who have experienced trauma in their backgrounds.
  • Ability to focus on the relationship as the provided service
  • Familiarity with or openness to supporting faith-based volunteers in meaningful service
  • Experience in strengths-based support/mentoring/coaching/training

Characteristics:

  • Knowledgeable about the impact of trauma on a teen/young adult’s beliefs and performance
  • Ability to see oneself as the instrument for bringing about change in the relationship with others. Seeks to increase awareness of impact on others.
  • Utilizes a trauma-responsive, positive youth development approach.
  • Ability to maintain emotional calm and others’ perspectives during challenging situations
  • Can articulate needs and challenges–and work with a team to create solutions.
  • Can provide direction and organization despite chaotic circumstances
  • Ability to work weekends and nontraditional business hours

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $44,000.00 per year

Benefits:

  • Dental insurance
  • Flexible schedule
  • Health insurance
  • Paid time off

Schedule:

  • 8-hour shift
  • Weekends as needed

Education:

  • Bachelor’s (Preferred)

Experience:

  • professional training in human services: 3 years (Preferred)
  • working with youth who have experienced trauma: 3 years (Preferred)
  • support/mentoring/coaching: 3 years (Preferred)

Work Location: Multiple locations

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