Job description

Focus Forward’s mission is to create pathways to success for youth in the Juvenile Justice and/or Child Welfare systems through effective programs and services.

At Focus Forward, we strive to mitigate these adversities with care, support and programming. We believe supporting young people and their families impacted by county systems will reduce cycles of violence, poverty and incarceration, and improve health, safety and stability for our community.

If your personal philosophy aligns with ours, we encourage you to apply to join our team! We are a local non-profit that is growing every day.

www.focusforward.org

Employment Status:

This position is currently temporary at 40 hours per week through June 2023. There is potential that this may grow into a permanent, full-time position depending on performance and funding.

Description of Duties and Responsibilities: The Program Specialist will assist the Focus Forward’s Pipeline to Opportunity (P2O) program. The program supports young people touched by the juvenile justice system with college pathways. P2O staff, including Academic Mentors support youth in the Fresno County Juvenile Justice Campus facility to enroll in Dual Enrollment or regular college enrollment. The Program Specialist will work with the Education Coordinator, College Admissions, County Probation and Alice Worsley High School Administration to best serve the youth and their support network for a successful transition into the community and higher education. The Program Specialist will take the lead on assessments and case plans and is responsible for supervising Pipeline to Opportunity Academic Mentors in upholding the case plan and reporting on the youth’s progress. With additional funding to support full-time hours, the Program Specialist will also identify, support and provide case management services to youth seeking employment programming with Focus Forward.

Major Responsibilities:

• Develop case plans for youth and their family for a successful matriculation into higher education and their transition from juvenile incarceration to their home in the community.
• Support the Education Coordinator in reaching program goals.
• Supervise and leverage the support of interns and volunteer case managers/mentors.
• Facilitate college matriculation services including college orientation, student portal navigation, and FAFSA application process.
• Coordinate program services with Probation and other agencies that will aide in project implementation.
• Provide ongoing case management, Academic Mentor case management support, and referrals to clients as needed.
• Conduct assessments and aggregate information and/or enter data into system.
• Track all services rendered and client outcomes as outlined in the funding requirement.
• Flexibility regarding scheduling (some classes/workshops will need to be offered on evenings and/or weekends—as needed by clients and/or funders needs)
• Provide support with community referrals to ensure all needs of youth and families are being met.
• Attend relevant trainings, workshops, and community meetings, and out of town conferences as needed.
• Work with Probation, College services, and Alice Worsley Administration.
• Attend and/or facilitate and take notes at routine meetings with partners to discuss progress in the youth’s case plan and barrier reduction.
• Conduct routine client check-ins to build ongoing rapport with clients and ensure attentiveness to clients needs.
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries with juvenile justice youth who have self- reported high criminogenic needs.

Specific/Additional Duties:

• Be responsive, consistent, and reliable with all clients, staff, and partners.
• Maintain up-to-date, well organized and accurate case files and records.
• Be on time and ready to complete tasks on a daily basis.
• Other duties as assigned.

Desired Knowledge/Skills:

• Able to effectively communicate and describe all aspects of program services.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and organizational skills.
• Demonstrated computer skills including, but not limited to using databases, use of Microsoft Office, Social Media, Website and Email.
• Demonstrated Customer Service Skills.
• Able to effectively screen clients for Focus Forward P2O program and services.
• Ability to develop and maintain professional working relationships with management, co-workers, partners, and public.
• Ability to work under pressure and handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Knowledge of available resources within the community for the client population.
• Ability to work with youth, young adults and families who face multiple risk factors, barriers and have had justice and/or child welfare involvement.
• Ability to speak with clients one on one and to speak to large groups of people which may include public presentations and facilitating workshops.
• Ability to think critically and identify opportunities, challenges, needs and prioritization of work to meet mandatory outcomes of program and organization.
• Must exercise good judgement and have experience working on projects with specific goals and outcome measurements.
• Must adhere to all safety and security protocols enforced at the Fresno County Juvenile Justice Campus.
• Must be organized and be able to connect program and client needs to other services, may need to think ‘outside the box’ and brainstorm with staff and partners to fully meet client and family needs.
• Knowledge/experience with program development, meeting grant deliverables and community-based work.
• Have a basic understanding of the child welfare and justice systems and ability to learn to navigate both systems on behalf of youth.
• Bilingual in Spanish/English a plus.

Experience: Experience with Canvas or College Student Portal software, knowledge of FAFSA application process, Dual Enrollment, and general college services. Experience using multidisciplinary approaches and curriculums working both 1-on- 1 and in groups with at-risk youth and families with various cultures and backgrounds to best serve clients. Developing case plans, working in multi-disciplinary teams, using culturally sensitive approaches, maintaining accurate data, implementing intake/needs assessments, conducting home visits, following established curriculums, utilizing community resources, and assessing any needs or barriers affecting participant success. Experience working with Microsoft Office programs including Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s Degree in educational counseling, social work, criminology, sociology, child development or related field. Experience working with at-risk and/or their familiesin the juvenile justice system and one year of case management experience a plus.

Background Clearance Requirement: Employment will be contingent on successfully passing a mandatory background check through Fresno County Probation. This will be completed, passed and clearance will be maintained according to the satisfaction of Probation. An outside background clearance will not be accepted or considered.

Additional Requirements: Must have and maintain CA Driver’s License with reliable transportation with the following minimum coverage: $15,000 per person / $30,000 per accident minimum and property damage liability coverage: $5,000 minimum.

Job Types: Full-time, Temporary

Pay: $18.00 per hour

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday
• Weekend availability

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Work Location: One location

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