FFC-Educational Advocate

Job Description

Job Description

About Rising Ground

Founded as an orphanage in 1831, Rising Ground has been at the forefront of evolving community needs. Driven by the belief that each of us can thrive when life has hope and opportunity, Rising Ground provides caring support and proven paths to positive change, helping children, adults, and families rise above adversity, and each year, Rising Ground is a positive force in the lives of more than 72,000 individuals annually. We do this through 101 programs across 138 sites, throughout New York City and Westchester. Our strong belief and commitment to diversity is shown not just through our work with supported persons but is integral to the building of a strong staff that reflects the communities we serve. Rising Ground is headquartered in New York City.

About the Role: 

The Education Specialist provide educational advocacy, conducts academic performance monitoring, and makes referrals to quality tutoring and extracurricular activities. The Education Specialist also provides individualized assistance with the middle school selection processes to all 5th grade students and their families. The Specialist will ensure that the list of middle schools the student is submitting. are quality, best-fit schools

What You’ll Do

• Follow up regularly with Tutor Coaches regarding the students’ performance, needs, and any concerns.

• Connect students to afterschool and summer extracurricular activities.

• Consistently update the Care 4 platform with contacts, tutoring updates, and any relevant information regarding students, for example: how students are progressing academically, the outcome of IEP meetings, middle school application and/or promotion in doubt.

•Work with elementary age students and their families, providing educational advocacy and ensuring students are receiving the supports/services they need to succeed.

• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with schools; provide advocacy on behalf of students.

• Work with Case Planner, foster parent, birth parent/caregiver and tutor to address educational concerns.

• As needed, request referrals for IEP evaluations and behavioral/academic supports within the school

• Negotiate with DOE staff to ensure the implementation of recommended and appropriate educational services.

• Ensure school stability if a student is relocating homes.

• Collect, review, and track NYC DOE monthly data on attendance, grades, promotion status, school enrollment, tutoring history, etc.

• Use data to identify struggling students.

• Work with Case Planners and parents to ensure improved attendance, and/or provide additional academic supports.

• During the Middle School application process, the Education Specialist will ensure that when applying for middle school, the list of schools the student is submitting are quality, best-fit schools, and will record this list of schools in the online platform.

• It is the responsibility of the Specialist to try to guide the process as much as possible. This includes establishing trust, explaining why the process is so important, and providing information/guidance when a selection may not be appropriate.

Your Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree and knowledge of child welfare system
• 1 year of experience (preferred)
• Good verbal and written communication skills are essential.
• Computer proficiency, knowledge of Connections
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) a plus

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Benefits Offerings includes:

11 Paid Holidays

Paid Sick Time

Paid Vacation

Paid Personal days

Insurance Coverage

Medical -3 plan options

Dental - 2 plan options

Vision - 1 plan option

Supervisory Responsibility

No