Job Abstract

Job ID

2024-2744

# of Openings

1

Category

Youth Counselor

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 25,000 individuals. We do this through 50 programs in 70 locations throughout New York City and Westchester. Our strong belief and commitment to diversity shows 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 downtown Brooklyn.

Benefits

At Rising Ground, we encourage everyone to live a healthier life. When you enroll in health care benefits — medical, dental, and vision care, you and your family can take advantage of each plan’s preventive services, which will help everyone to stay well. Another way to remain healthy is to eat right and keep active. Ultimately, we all benefit when we make the right choices, whether through diet and exercise or health care services. You can also take advantage of other important benefits, including life and accident, disability benefits, the retirement savings plan, and the employee assistance program.

Coaches are paired with up to 15 - 20 young people and work with each of them from 9th grade (or age 14, if they are disconnected from school) to age 21, regardless of their academic status. Coaches build trusting, long-term relationships with young people. Once the relationship between a Coach and young person is established, the overall goal is to support the young person to:

• Graduate high school.
• Persist in a post-secondary setting.
• Build progressive career development experiences in line with their interests, strengths, and academic/vocational plans that will help them navigate onto a living wage career pathway.
• Successfully navigate the transition into adulthood (and into independent living, for those young people who are aging out).
• Work 1:1 with young people to conduct an interest/strength inventory in order to develop individualized academic and career development goals; implementation of measurable steps to effectively assist young people in reaching their desired goals.
• Connect young people to quality schools, programs, resources, and opportunities in line with their goals.
• Collaborate with Case Planners, Tutors, Specialists, guidance counselors, College Specialists, and foster/birth parents, to assist with the youth achieving their goals and ensure their overall well-being.
• Ensure young people who are aging out can access and maintain stable, affordable housing and build independent living skills.
• Re-engage disconnected youth and help them re-enroll in an academic setting.
• Work with the young person and Career Development Specialist to identify potential longer-term career pathways based on the young person’s interests, strengths, and academic/vocational plans.
• Help young people maintain their housing by providing independent living and life skills supports such as budgeting, obtaining a bank account, and advocating with landlords, if needed.
• Understand the importance of the data platform as a relevant way to track the progress of the Coach’s relationship.
• Ability to effectively collaborate in team settings and build relationships with external partners.
• Ability to use Motivational Interviewing techniques.
• Ability to use trauma-informed techniques.
• Ability to facilitate therapeutic peer groups.

• • Accredited Vocational Degree/Associate/Bachelor’s Degree
  • 2+ years of experience working with young people or lived experience is a major plus!
  • Work outside of 9 – 5 office hours and work independently.
  • Ability to work from a strength-based, trauma-informed, youth development lens.
  • Ability to troubleshoot, advocate, and navigate obstacles where there is not always a clear-cut pathway.
  • Strong written & verbal communication, time management, organizational skills, and attention to detail.
  • Willingness to travel within the five boroughs.
  • Bi-lingual preferred.
  • Salary: $45,000.00-$50,000.00