At Covenant House Alaska we are in the people business. We provide holistic services to young people who come to us from circumstances beyond their control. Our people provide absolute respect and unconditional love to youth who deserve a chance to be the best version of themselves. When you join our team, you become part of a massive movement to interrupt the path to chronic adult homelessness. The pay is competitive, the benefits package is best in class and the experience is life changing. We look forward to meeting you.
Position Summary
All Covenant House Alaska program staff work as advocates and allies for youth experiencing homelessness and human trafficking.
The Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) Specialist will provide a broad range of case management support to homeless and at-risk youth who are behind in school credits in danger of dropping out of high school, or in need of guidance in gaining skills for employment. The JAG Specialist will support the JAG afterschool program, which includes providing wrap around case management, connecting students to resources and supports to help overcome challenges in order to stay in school and be successful in working toward their other goals, delivering JAG competencies through mentorship, project based learning, and employer engagement. The JAG Specialist will provide and ensure high-quality trauma-informed service delivery in case work and all aspects of youth care. The JAG Specialist will work with students attending the Benny Benson Day and Evening Classroom at Covenant House Alaska, as well as other Covenant House Alaska youth wanting to engage in job skills development.
Essential Functions
- Demonstrates a clear understanding of the Covenant House mission, philosophy, history, tradition(s) and the underlying values upon which the Agency is founded to the staff, students and the community we serve.
- Support the JAG afterschool program which provides leadership development, employability skills training, guidance counseling, and build connections to work based learning opportunities, and education completion support.
- Plan, advertise, and facilitate JAG meetings and events.
- Under the direction of Covey Academy leadership, build connections with community partners to coordinate program guest speakers and create off-site career exploration and pathway opportunities.
- Track JAG progress with data entry and stay up-to-date with organization communications on a consistent basis.
- Continue assisting students in finding and maintaining quality employment and/or post-secondary educational programs during follow-up phase after completionof the JAG program.
- Establish intentional contact with JAG program students on a weekly basis, either virtually, by phone, or in person to provide academic, personal, and professional support in achieving their goals.
- Serves as a liaison between students, staff, and Covey Academy partners
- Assist in the coordination, control, and completion of special projects as requested.
- Maintain a positive and professional working relationship with the general public, including placement agencies and families of the students we serve.
- Attend the annual out-of-state JAG National Training Seminar and other potential JAG related conferences.
- Actively participate in all staff meetings and trainings
- Assist with student field trips to include chaperoning and providing transportation.
- Demonstrate an enthusiastic commitment to the job and the students we serve.
- Maintain a high level of ethical standards
- Performs all other duties as assigned
Education
High School Diploma or equivalent required; Associate’s Degree in Education, Human Services, Psychology, Sociology or related field preferred.
Experience
Experience working with adolescent or disadvantaged populations preferred; experience in youth workforce and internship experience preferred.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required
- Understand and comply with all Agency policies and procedures; including Child Protection Policies.
- Is approachable, relatable, builds rapport well, and practices active listening with individuals of varied cultural backgrounds, embracing differences in behavior and lifestyle choices.
- Knowledge of community social service resources to assist students with needs related to housing, employment, education, and social-emotional well-being.
- Knowledge of crisis intervention and ability to address conflict between students exhibiting challenging behaviors; able to respond quickly and safely while continuing to be a settling influence in crisis situations and emergencies.
- Maintain confidentiality while understanding and complying with requirements of mandated reporting, duty to warn, Title IX, ADA,HIPAA, FERPA and other limits to confidentiality.
- Willingness to utilize training opportunities in support of personal and professional growth, competence development, and to increase overall capacity to serve youth every day.
- Well-developed verbal and written communication skills.
- Proficient with standard computer operating systems. Ability to navigate Microsoft Office Suite, online databases, and other programs and websites as required.
- Willingness and ability to work outside of normal business hours as well as Holidays and weekends as needed.
- Organizational abilities and level of responsibility conducive to ensuring team and student safety, keeping supplies inventoried and stocked, and tracking and reporting on grant-funded activities.
- Able to articulate successes and challenges experienced by students to inform program development and effectively communicate with CHA staff, community partners, funding sources, and others.
- High degree of sensitivity to and respect for diversity and cultural issues involved in working with individuals of varying ethnicities and income.
- Understand best practices in the areas of prevention, recognition, and response to suspected and identified victims of human trafficking.
- Willingness to engage with partner human trafficking service agencies and law enforcement.
- Understand the intersectionality of youth homelessness, mental health, substance misuse, human trafficking, and poverty.
- Willingness to see past differences in behavior and functioning and ability to passionately advocate for the right of all student to be valued, supported, and housed.
- Leadership skills and ability to tactfully and effectively coach team members.
- Willingness and ability to attain a CPR/First Aid Certification.
- Acceptable driving record assessed through CHA’s Drivers Acceptability Matrix
- Have a good driving record.
- Pass federal, state, and local background check investigations.
Working Conditions
- Position works in Youth Engagement Center, Classroom and within the Covey Academy residential and educational building.
- Noise level is mild to moderate, consistent with office and residential environments.
- Must have the ability to communicate information and ideas so others will understand. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
- Must have the ability to observe details within close range.
- Must be able to remain in a stationary position for extended periods of time.
- Must be able to move within the office to access files and office equipment.
- Consistently operates a computer and related office machinery.
- Must be able to ascend/descend stairways to monitor the space within a two-story building with and possibly without the assistance of an elevator
- Occasionally moves items up to 40 pounds while ascending/descending stairways to assist residents moving in and out of the building.
Covenant House is an Equal Opportunity Employer