Senior Advocate Counselor

The Senior Advocate Counselor will work across four Manhattan Suspension sites focusing on supporting students who are attending a site due to issues in their home school. Students may be struggling academically, behaviorally, and/or exhibiting issues of trauma and loss.

Working in partnership with school staff, the Senior Advocate Counselor provides supportive mentoring services, including attendance outreach, and case management with the goal of developing an individualized plan for each student to support students in reaching their academic and social emotional goals.

Ongoing supervision, support and guidance will be provided by a senior-level Program Manager.

The Senior Advocate Counselor position is a temporary position (April – June), 28 hours per week, and will be supervised by a Program Manager. If funding supports, position may be extended.

How You'll Be Making a Difference

• Responsible for a caseload of students across four schools (it is anticipated that the caseload will consist of approximately 25 students), including maintaining attendance and educational progress, providing students and families with continuous feedback and resources to meet the needs and ensure academic success.

• Provides individual and group mentoring to identified students on a weekly basis

• Facilitates communication between students, families, and school staff
• Completes required documentation in a timely manner
• Provides crisis support, conflict mediation and social-emotional support
• Completes regular assessments and provides resource referrals in support of school-based services (with support of the site manager)

• Facilitates milieu services in common spaces, such as classroom, cafeteria, and afterschool push-ins

• Conduct home visits accompanied by NYC Public School employee or Wediko, NY staff.

• Cultivates and maintains positive and effective relationships with Wediko team, school and school administrators, and other Community Based Organizations

• All functions and task responsibilities are subject to change, as deemed necessary by Site Manager and Program Manager based on needs of assigned site

Qualifications

• Associate degree in social services, i. e. Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, Counseling, etc. preferred

• A minimum of 2 years plus experience in a school setting
• Bilingual Spanish a plus
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to approach challenges in a collaborative, supportive, and creative manner

• Commitment to working from a strengths-based perspective
• Commitment to ongoing learning and development, with proven use of supervision to improve practice

• Excellent organization and prioritization skills
• Flexible schedule and willingness to work school hours and participate in home visits

Valuing Diversity

We are committed to excellence in diversity, equity, and inclusion, while simultaneously creating a culture that supports those values. We believe the differences we bring enhance our ability to provide exceptional service and care to diverse children, families, and communities. Moreover, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging align with our values and our mission to help vulnerable children and their families build permanent, positive change.