Academic Specialist/Mentor

Description

• Provides mentorship and advocacy services to youth ages 16 and 24 with a consistent caseload of 30 youth.
• Assists with recruiting and retaining 30 youth.  
• Works with each youth to develop an Individualized Service Plan to address areas for improvement such as housing, academics, social emotional learning, counseling referrals, life skills, etc. 
• Works with Job Developer to support employment opportunities, site visits, and retention efforts.
• Ensures files remain up-to-date and in compliance.
• Completes employability skills checklist, conduct all Illinois WorkNet modules, & ensure pre/post assessment.
• Assist in-school youth to improve educational outcomes.
• Provide information and referrals to internal and external resources
• Re-engage out-of-school youth in educational activity.
• Collects, reviews, and analyzes all transcripts for youth to determine GED or High School Diploma track.
• Utilizes Labor Market Data and information to help guide youth in career and education goals.
• Works to assist youth to determine what factors put them at risk of engaging in or becoming victims of aggressive behavior and other anxieties.
• Helps to determine what methods each youth should use in order to avoid risk-taking factors and reach their goals.
• Works in collaboration within the targeted communities to cultivate relationships with local community resources.
• Reaches out and re-engage youth that have inconsistent attendance, work with families to bring resources to the home, and connect with programs.
• Conducts Home visits.
• Support outreach events, referral systems, and programs facilitated by other departments within agency. 
• Transporting students in vehicle to and from program related activities may be required.
• Implements other services requested by SGA or funder.
• Maintain detailed record of activities to regularly track impact of outreach efforts and to facilitate appropriate reports to funders and government agencies. 
• Enters daily attendance, case notes into ILWorknet.
• Coordinates with the Job Developer to provide ongoing program support and implementation.
• Conducts required reports and data material to SGA such as the Employability/Life Assessment, TABE Test etc.
• Ability and experience in short and long-range planning and strategy Detail oriented with the ability to multi-task and self-direct your work 
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Attributes/Skills Required/Sought:
• Tuesday - Saturday Availability
• Must be Bilingual 
• Experience working one on one with youth involved in the juvenile justice system.
• Ability to display sensitivity and responsiveness to cultural differences present in the service population.
• Experience/Education Required/Sought:
• Bachelor’s Degree in social work, criminal justice or related field, preferred
• Experience working with teens and young adults, preferred
• Experience working in neighborhoods on Chicago’s south and west sides.
• Experience working with individuals dealing with factors that put them at-risk of becoming victims of aggressive behavior.
• Evening and weekend availability required.
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 Full Time Employee Benefits Package: 

• Health Insurance (HMO and PPO options)
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Short & Long-Term Disability
• Flexible Spending Account
• Employee Life Insurance
• 403b Retirement Plan 
• RTA Commuter Benefit

Time Off Eligible after 90 days

• 10 days accrued vacation 
• 10 days accrued sick 
• 2 Personal days