Staff Associate, ASPIRE Middle School

Job Description

Job Description

Family & Children’s Agency (FCA) is a nonprofit human service organization that is committed to increasing the social and emotional well-being of our clients – people throughout Fairfield County. Our Agency builds better lives by offering more than 30 programs that meet needs across all ages, delivering services to more than 13,000 people each year. Our clients reside primarily in Norwalk, Wilton, Darien, Westport, Weston, New Canaan, Stamford, and Greenwich. Our Home Care and Foster Care programs provide assistance to residents throughout Fairfield County, and the Adoption program is both nationwide and international.

Our Mission is to partner with individuals, families, organizations, and communities to build better lives.

FCA is proud to currently offer a hybrid working model to our employees. Employees enjoy a wide array of benefits that make up our competitive compensation package. We are proud to offer generous employer contributions to our medical plans, continued education credits offered at no cost, annual tuition reimbursement stipend, employer paid Life & LTD policies, FSA and Dependent Care, 401K with a match and a generous vacation and time off policy to include Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth! We also offer employee discounts to multiple organizations, events, and your cell phone plan. Our benefits don't stop there - we offer an EAP program, paid for CEUs and clinical supervision, summer Fridays and employee appreciation events, along with wellness incentives and challenges!

The Aspire Program’s  mission is to improve the lives of Norwalk’s at-risk middle school youth by enabling their successful transition into high school and increasing their ability to be productive, independent young adults.  

The program meets five days a week during the school year from 3:00-5:30 pm and for six weeks during the summer from 8:30-4:30 at the Ben Franklin Center and is open to Norwalk middle school students who meet the program criteria.  The program focuses on academic support, enrichment, life skill activities, as well as gender-based life skill and leadership development groups for all participants.  

The ASPIRE part-time classroom leader works as part of a team to provide after-school services to middle school students and their families. The staff associate is responsible for leading and managing a classroom. This includes providing academic support and delivering life skills and enrichment programming. The staff associate must attend weekly staff meetings and be able to execute lesson plans.

• Provide direct supervision of students in the Aspire program, ensuring their physical and emotional safety while in the program.
• Implement discipline techniques and classroom management.
• Develop positive relationships with students and adhere to a strengths-based, restorative care perspective.
• Interact professionally and appropriately with students, parents, staff, and volunteers.  
• Participate in and evaluate the effectiveness of activities and events.  
• Manage and maintain the Evolv database of student/client information including intake information and on-going documentation such as progress notes, academic grades, and other outcome information.   
• Maintain a chart on each student on case load in the program including intake information and on-going documentation such as progress notes, academic grades, and other outcome information.   
• Assist students on caseload with goal setting and service planning.  Provide individual support to students and their families, attending school meetings and referring families to outside resources as necessary.
• Ensure school communication and academic needs of students on case load is communicated Aspire staff.
• Oversee organization and maintenance of program space/classrooms, storage closet, and supplies.
• Assist with on-site support and supervision of volunteers and work study students assisting within the program.   

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS:

• Associates Degree with a minimum two years’ experience working with youth in an educational or social service setting with demonstrated classroom management skills. 
• Must have awareness of the cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of clients served and an ability to work well with low-income families.
• Dependable, organized, consistent, flexible, and patient.
• Self-reflective & open/receptive to feedback & guidance
• Computer proficiency (Microsoft Office – including Outlook, Word, Excel)
• Clean driving and criminal record.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: ( Indicate what skills, degree, certifications, licenses, etc. are NOT required but are desirable.)

• Bachelor’s Degree in Education, Social Work, or other related degree.
• Bi-lingual (English/Spanish)
• Skilled in Middle School Math and Science 
• Knowledge about the Norwalk community and resources available. 
• First Aid and CPR (adult and child) certified (can be obtained once hired).

  SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Supervision of students in the program at all times.