Early Education Specialist

JOB TITLE: Early Education Specialist

DEPARTMENT: Education and Parent Support Services

LOCATION: Brooklyn/Queens/Brentwood

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES

The Early Education Specialist refers infants and children to Early Intervention and works with designated a designated population to support and advocate for on their behalf to connect them to quality schools,programs,resources,andopportunitiesinlinewiththeirgoals.

Key program components include:

• Community-based- Staff meet youth wherever is best for them (home, school, community).

• Systemicapproach- incorporates multiple aspects of the child/youth’s natural ecology (community, peers, family, school).

• Comprehensive- addressing the full range of a child/youth’s needs and goals (academic, career, housing, relationships).

Early Education Specialists duties will include, but not be limited to:

Overall

• Complete Early Intervention, CPSE, CSE Referrals for Active foster youth ages 0 to age 5.

• Register all new intakes and ensure they are placed in the most appropriate education setting and have the necessary educational tools to perform to the best of their

• Build relationships with youth, foster family, and provide ongoing social and emotional

• Maintain primary school, connect child to quality schools, programs, resources when a change in school is needed and ensure a seamless

• Visit child/youth’s school as needed and build relationships with school staff, review transcripts and academic data, provide educational advocacy, and discuss

• Ensure children/youth are being referred at a timely manner and working in collaboration with Case Planning Teams to complete referrals.

• Work 1:1 with youth to develop individualized academic and career development goals (including financial literacy) based on their interests and strengths and take measurable steps towards their

• Connect youth to quality schools, programs, resources, and opportunities in line with their

• Help youth succeed in these settings, navigate any challenges that arise, celebrate success, and plan/prepare for the next step on their journey.

• Collaborate with Case Planners, Tutors, Specialists, Foster Parent, and Parents, as needed, to help youth achieve their goals and ensure their overall well-being.

• Complete all necessary data entry systems (ex: progress notes and education tabs in connections, ASARA, etc)

• Attend and complete all Fair Futures Input child information into all required data platforms and systems

• This position will be working closely in transporting any youth active in Foster Care to and from school when transportation is needed.

• Other tasks as assigned by Supervisor.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education/Degree: Bachelor’s Degree; Extensive Experience working with Youth

Other skills and requirements:

• Experience in Education and Foster Care (preferred)
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, a strong sense of empathy towards our populations served, and a passion for the field of child welfare.
• Ability to respond to the unique developmental needs of children in different stages of maturation including early childhood, school age, or young adulthood.
• Ability to work with parents and children that have histories of chemical dependency, mental illness, neglect, physical, sexual, and/or emotional abuse, different cultural backgrounds, and varying socioeconomics statuses.
• Ability to work competently, compassionately, and without judgment with individuals who may identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender, or who may be in different stages of discovering or disclosing their sexual orientation or gender identity.
• Strong time management skills, diligence, resilience, and experience working in a unit or team.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel. Experience with CONNECTIONS preferred.
• Valid NYS Driver’s License required and/or timeframe of when one will be obtained.
• Commitment to the mission and programs of SCO Family of Services.
• Bilingual applicants strongly encouraged to apply.