Advocate Counselor

Position Summary

East Brooklyn Community High School is a small Department of Education transfer high school that works in partnership and collaboration with SCO Family of Services to address the needs of the whole student. EBCHS is a school for students who have struggled in traditional high school causing them to fall behind and are looking for a new start.

The position of advocate counselor is an SCO Family of Services position. SCO advocate counselors work with students and families to help overcome barriers and empower students to take charge of their education.

EBCHS enrolls fewer than 200 students and pairs each student with an advocate counselor who has a caseload of no more than 28 students. Many of our students have struggled with attendance and overall school engagement.

Advocate counselors support every student's social-emotional wellness and re-engage students on their path to academic success.

Advocate counselors provide one-on-one support to help students build coping skills and teach self advocacy skills that go beyond high school helping students create post-secondary plans that lead them to career opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Recruit students, conduct intake assessments and interviews

• Engage students’ families and assist with identified needs

• Provide student and family referrals to community resources

• Work in a collaborative team, including participation in staff meetings, retreats, staff development in order to support student progress

• Monitor and document student attendance and academic progress

• Conduct attendance outreach, including home visits

• Provide individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, conflict mediation and assistance as needed

• Identify obstacles that are preventing student success and developing intervention plans with students/families to overcome those obstacles

• Plan and facilitate groups with students

• Work with students to explore and develop a post-secondary plan

• Support the Internship Coordinator

• Document all work and keep case records on all students on caseload as required

• Develop and implement student enrichment activities and after-school electives

• Other duties as required

• SCO Family of Services is an equal employment opportunity employer

The Advocate Counselor serves as the primary person in guiding students through the academic, social and personal expectations that are involved in achieving a High School diploma and establishing realistic post-secondary plans. The Advocate Counselor serves as liaison to outside resources and partner to Department of Education staff.

Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree in related field required. MSW preferred.

Two years working with at risk youth

Group work experience preferred.

School-based experience preferred