Intermediate Educational Specialist – Housing Programs

The Whole Child envisions a society that embraces children as its most precious resource and that is actively committed to their safety, emotional well-being and ability to thrive at home, school and play. Through our mental health, housing, nutrition and parent enrichment programs we empower families to create nurturing environments that give children of all ages the skills, support and security they need to build emotionally healthy lives and become caring, responsible adults.

We believe that not only does every child matter but, every aspect of the child matters – the whole child. Our commitment to children extends to the entire family unit, whom we empower to create nurturing families.

Throughout our 60-year history, The Whole Child has been a leading advocate on behalf of high-risk children, innovating and expanding best practices, raising awareness, and aligning systems to benefit children and their families. Today The Whole Child delivers an array of comprehensive services to over 9,000 children and their families annually at six locations. We focus on low-income families with children ages 0-21 years old in high-risk communities throughout Southeastern Los Angeles County (SPA 7).  The Whole Child not only serves the direct needs of the community, but also uses its influence and resources to advocate for social inclusion and equity for all children and families in southern California.

About the role:

The Intermediate Educational Specialist (EDS) helps parents and teenage children wanting technical/trade education navigate the trade school, community colleague system and attain employment-bound training.

The Whole Child is seeking a dynamic, motivated and diverse candidate to engage and educate our homeless student aged population.  Successful candidate will collaborate, communicate and work as professionals with both students & parents, staff and faculty of various community colleges and trade schools.  Candidates will build relationships with local community colleges, trade/vocational schools to help our population gain access to services/resources.

Applicants with a demonstrated commitment to teaching and mentoring a diverse student population are strongly encouraged to apply

Minimum qualifications:

  • Masters in counseling, rehabilitation counseling, counseling psychology, guidance counseling, educational counseling, social work, or career development
  • Or equivalent

AND

  • Have a notion of ethnic minorities, or persons handicapped by language, social or economic disadvantages.

Knowledge and skills

  • Strong interpersonal, communication skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.
  • Knowledge of academic and/or vocational education curricula.
  • Skill in the use of personal computers and related software applications.
  • Program planning and implementation skills.
  • Knowledge of principles and procedures related to student advisement and/or related services.

Duties

  • Provide comprehensive academic advisement and counseling services to students from a wide range of cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.
  • Be culturally responsive in interactions with students, parents, staff, and community members who span a diverse range of languages, nationalities and ethnicities, socioeconomic levels, ages, identities, abilities and educational experiences.
  • Administer, evaluate, interpret tests and their results, and make recommendations for educational plans.
  • Oversee and encourage college and training search through internet.
  • Handle career planning, higher education exploration and study skills workshops.
  • Oversee and record participant status as per service plans.
  • Counsel and offer resources to students to support them overcome education barriers.
  • Evaluate individual participant and determine training needs.
  • Draft reports as per program director and supervisor’s directions.
  • Manages and facilitates program activities, to include classes, trainings, conferences, seminars, and/or other special projects.
  • As appropriate to the nature and objectives of the individual role, provides student advisement and support services, coordinates curriculum, and serves as a student liaison and advocate with faculty and staff.
  • Coordinates student registration for special educational programs.
  • Performs miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.

For consideration in the selection process, all interested applicants must submit along with their resume, the following:

Letter of interest that describes your interest in the position and detail why the you are a good fit for the position.