Job Title: Student Advocate

Department: Pathways to Success

Supervisor: Pathways to Success Sr Program Manager

FLSA Status: Exempt 

Range: $43,000

 

Position Summary: The primary purpose of the Student Advocate is to monitor selected students with a history of absenteeism and to provide support to improve attendance and grades at school.  The target group of students will have 10 or more absences from school during the previous or current semester.  The Student Advocate will work very closely with students, parents, school counselors, school personnel and other adults (both within and outside of the school building) to reduce the barriers to improved attendance.

The program rests on three strategies: 1) advance academic achievement of students through regular visits and monitoring of attendance, grades and credits; 2) work with a particular focus on supporting parental engagement and development of parental advocacy skills; and 3) The ultimate goal is to ensure that the students we serve increase their school attendance, increase academic achievement and that the parents of these students are engaged and active in their child’s education.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Contacts and meets with youth on a regular basis to monitor and provide support for improved and regular attendance;
• Assesses youth problems and diagnoses barriers to success on an ongoing basis; assists with identifying and connecting with resources to help overcome social, emotional, and economic needs in order to keep the youth in school, on time, and on track academically;
• Maintains and records communication with youth and adults and facilitates timely correspondence and the exchange of accurate information;
• Communicates with key adults in the youth’s life regarding attendance;
• Develops an action plan based on the individual student’s needs and family needs;
• Obtains release of information from parents of selected students in cooperation with school personnel;
• Coordinates all services with the school and other organizations/community resources;
• Provides coaching, case management, referrals, and follow-up with youth, parents, other adults, and community organizations; review and revise the action plan, as needed.
• Coordinate and facilitate skill-building activities for students and family nights for the youth and their families
• Upload individual identifiable data to the LCM’s data collection system;
• Attends required trainings, orientations, and ongoing professional development.
• Attends school meetings with administrators, counselors, and attendance staff
• Visits families at home, when needed, to provide support with the Family Strengthening Coach.
• Works with the Senior Program Manager to ensure that data is accurately collected and reported as required by grant agreements.
• Promotes all program activities at schools, with community organizations and other partners;
• Seeks out opportunities to remain current in knowledge of relevant educational research, trends in the fields of education, youth development and parental engagement.
• Works together with the Senior Program Manager to represent the Latino Center of the Midlands at various community meetings, coalitions and groups;

Preferred Qualifications and Experiences:

• A Bachelor of Arts degree;
• Strong desire to work with students and their parents to improve the educational outcomes for low-income families and communities;
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to work as part of a team, communicate effectively both orally and in writing, receive and provide feedback;
• Ability to facilitate positive, appropriate, and healthy connections between youth and adults;
• Ability to understand and work with special needs populations and services such as the juvenile justice system and social and behavioral/mental health.
• Professional manner that exemplifies attention to detail, confidentiality, patience, and a positive attitude toward work;
• Data entry and proficient use of Microsoft Word and Excel;
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

No certificates, licenses, registrations required.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to sit.  The employee is frequently required to walk and talk or hear.  The employee is occasionally required to stand. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

The Latino Center of the Midlands acknowledges and honors the fundamental value and dignity of all individuals. The LCM believes in creating and maintaining an environment that respects diverse traditions, heritages, and experiences and the commitment to equitable treatment and elimination of discrimination in all its forms at all organizational levels and throughout all programs.

The Student Advocate must be able to pass a criminal background check and drug test before commencing employment.