Youth Education Navigator - W2 Program en United Migrant Opportunity Services (UMOS)

Earn up to $3,000 in incentive pay during your first year of employment!

Are you a motivated, results-oriented candidate seeking to put your talents, skills, and experience to work as part of a mission-driven, customer-focused organization? If so, we invite you to join UMOS’ diverse and dedicated team of over 1,000 professionals making a positive difference across more than 60 offices in seven states. Whether you are passionate about facilitating early childhood development; providing training and career planning for a parent; aiding a farmworker in accessing basic needs and new opportunities; educating at-risk individuals in HIV prevention; or supporting those fleeing domestic violence or human trafficking, UMOS is the place where you can fulfill your passion for helping families, businesses, and communities build better futures.

Benefits:
To support its team members, UMOS offers highly competitive compensation as well as a benefits package including:

• Paid time off that increases over your years of service.
• 15 paid holidays annually.
• A robust range of insurance covering health, dental, vision, life, short- and long-term disability, and accidental death & dismemberment
• The options to establish either a Health Savings Account or Flexible Spending Account, which can be used to cover deductibles, prescriptions, and other healthcare expenses.
• A variety of support services to promote well-being through the employee assistance program.
• Retirement plan options, including 401(k) and Roth IRA, allowing you to make pre-tax or after-tax contributions. For those participating in the 401(k) Retirement Plan, UMOS annually contributes at least 3% of employees’ eligible compensation.

Youth Education Navigator Job Compensation:

• $19.00 to $23.50/HR (depending on experience).

Youth Education Navigator Job Responsibilities:

• Maintain an up-to-date knowledge and familiarity with job center/workforce programs and services
•  Provides one-on-one session with customers on job center/workforce programs to explain eligibility and registration process and timelines for services.
• Develop and maintain database and binder/booklet of internal and external community resources. Establish and maintain referral system.
• Assist in community or in-house outreach to inform customers of program options, rights, responsibilities, and pertinent information as it relates to program specific eligibility.
• Provide support for educational attainment.
• Develop relationships with the regional high schools.
• Assist youth with re-enrolling in local high school if prior drop out and/or recently moved
• Identify alternative educational options for students outside of the public-school system.
• Assist youth with enrolling and completing GED/HSED, as appropriate o If youth is a teen parent, assist youth in finding suitable childcare options
• Develop and maintain new and existing relationships with educational programs and institutions based on program needs and community trends.
• Mediate and facilitate student disputes (e.g., assisting students with problem-solving strategies) including student social skills groups (non-counseling in nature) for the purpose of enhancing positive student behavior and appropriate social skills. o Provide supportive services, including but not limited to the following: Technology – laptop/tablet, Mobile Internet/Hotspot, Transportation Assistance, Education Attainment Incentive (e.g., gift cards), Basic School Supplies (e.g., notebooks, folders, pencils/pens, backpack, etc), Other materials necessary to attend school (e.g., clothing/uniforms, winter coat, boots), Home School Materials (e.g., desk, lamp, chair, headphones, webcam, whiteboard)
•  Identify connections to supports and services to address specific needs
• Collaborate with case managers and educational partners to assess youth and identify appropriate educational options and supportive resources (e.g., mentoring programs, literacy/ESL programs, tutoring programs).
• Assist students with academic, attendance, and/or behavioral issues and assist parents and students in locating services (e.g., counseling, resource, and intervention referrals) to increase student success.
• Responsible for entering all necessary participant information into the various systems, i.e.: WWP, ECF
• Assist individuals with Disabilities in accessing job center/workforce program services including specialized equipment
• Exercise excellent customer service skills when dealing with customers and use professional judgment in addressing barriers and/or concerns
• Connect youth with resources to assist with vocational training, college or technical school, and/or employment
• Serve as the primary education contact and coordinator for youth and involved staff, partners, and community agencies.
• Identify and connect with resources that provide youth with job readiness services such as occupational interests assessments, career goals and planning, job application process, and soft skills.
• Assist youth with referrals to services to enrich and improve life skills (20%)
• Identify and connect with resources that support youth, such as Boys and Girls Clubs, Youth Build, and other services. o Identify and connect with resources that provide youth with information on basic life skills such as financial literacy, household management, family planning, communication, time management, decision making, and leadership
• Prepares weekly/monthly progress reports on both student participation and learning and submits weekly attendances records as required to case management staff.
• Refer participants to appropriate community resources in addressing identified barriers such as childcare, transportation, legal services, housing, mental health, and other special circumstances as deemed necessary and coordinating with case management staff.
• Attends meetings conferences & workshops as assigned, performs special projects and other related duties related to the Education Navigator position with the focus of supporting families with educational attainment.

Youth Education Navigator Job Qualifications: 

• Minimum of a High School Diploma (or equivalent) supplemented by two years of post-secondary relevant education in human services or related field. Note: additional years of work experience in a relevant field can be substituted for one year of education.
• Minimum two years’ experience in one or a combination of the following: instructional aide, vocational technician, career counseling tech or similar service. Note: additional years of post-secondary education in a relevant field can be substituted for one year of experience.
• Must be familiar with all job center/workforce program functions including eligibility requirements, services and process.
• Experience working with the following preferred: Special Education Programming, Individualized Education Plan Assessment Process, Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, truancy issues, drop-out prevention strategies, alternative school programming.
• Effective oral and written communication skills to include problem solving and decision-making skills.
• Knowledge and understanding of internal and external community resources.
• Knowledge of computer programs and strong organizational skills.
•  Knowledge and working experience in Adult Basic Education field. Required to perform basic math including calculation of fractions, percentage’s and/or ratios; read technical information, compose a variety of documents and/or facilitate group discussions, and solve practical problems. Specific knowledge required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job includes concepts of grammar and punctuation, study skills, test taking strategies, ESL strategies, and other basic education knowledge.
• Knowledge and understanding of the educational needs of the educationally and economically disadvantaged population that is culturally and linguistically diverse.
• Bilingual in English and any other language preferred.
• Must have a car and adequate auto liability insurance and be able to travel and work irregular hours.

Work Environment, Physical, and Sensory Demands:

Physical Demands:
1. Employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, bend.
2. Occasionally required to lift and /or move up to 10 lbs.
3. Frequently required to drive.
4. Frequently exposed to moderate temperature generally encountered in a controlled temperature environment and outside setting.5. Noise level in this work is usually quiet to moderate.

Tools & Equipment Used:
1. iPads, iPhones, laptop computers, projectors, copy/scanner machine, fax machine.
2. Various computer software.
3. Use first aid equipment, fire extinguisher.
Usage varies by position.

Additional Eligibility Requirements:
Employment with UMOS is contingent upon successful completion of a criminal background
check prior to employment.

UMOS is an equal opportunity Affirmative Action employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity orexpression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.