Youth Advocate (YES)

COOK INLET TRIBAL COUNCIL, INC.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title:          Youth Advocate (I/II/III), YES

Department:    YES

Reports To:     Program Manager

Supervises:      None

FLSA Status:   Non-Exempt

Pay Grade:       N3 (I), N4 (II), N5 (III)

Job Type:         Regular, Full-Time

AKBCU:            No       ICPA: Yes

General Functions:

The Youth Advocate position supports the YES Department and works under the assigned Program Manager(s). This position supports youth and assists with academics, socio-emotional transitions from elementary to middle and middle to high school and is a Point-of-contact for resources. This position works within a multidisciplinary team to foster a partnership between families, educational resources, academic counseling, and other resources for students and families for appropriate academic and social services. This position works within a support system to students in transitions from village to urban life.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Youth Advocate I 

• Represent CITC to partners in the community by serving as a point-of-contact regarding participant management. 
• Provide leadership to participants in matters relating to CITC programs and social services within the Native community.
• Obtain assistance for students by making referrals to educational resources, arranging appointments, establishing rapport with in-school staff and other educational agencies.
• Facilitate youth success by monitoring each student's educational support plan's progress, conducting an overview of past week's accomplishments and barriers.
• Follow up on educational referrals and advising parents of the youth's status.
• Ease the transition from a rural to urban school system and district wide transfers by providing school linkages, advocating on the youth and family's behalf, and facilitating parental involvement opportunities.
• Reinforce 'parents-as-advocates' by respecting parent's values, learning about the family, and providing relevant resources, school information, and community updates to keep families informed.
• Educate students by providing information and resources, including career and post-secondary planning, setting high standards for academic achievement, home-school communication, the importance of family involvement in education, and other relevant training as needed.
• Transport students, as needed, to class sites, on field trips, cultural camps, or other locations within the State of Alaska.
• Prepare reports by collecting, analyzing, and summarizing data and information. 
• Maintain a cooperative working relationship and provide written and oral communications with parents, staff, and other personnel.
• Maintain operations by following CITC and ASD policies and procedures.
• Participate in quality reviews.
• Maintain confidentiality according to regulations, procedures, and FERPA.
• Other duties as needed and assigned.

Youth Advocate, II

• Perform all duties/responsibilities of a Youth Advocate I with a higher level of proficiency and responsibility.
• Develop, compile, and update community resource guides and materials.
• Create Youth Advocate resource manuals.
• Assist with the development and regular updates to CITC and department-approved communication venues (social media, company website, etc.).
• Compile and distribute activities calendar for youth and families.

Youth Advocate, III

• Perform all duties and responsibilities of a Youth Advocate I and II with an advanced level of proficiency
• Acts as a resource, mentor, and trainer for all Youth Advocates in the department.
• Orient new staff to the department, YES systems, and processes.
• Provides training and education to other employees as needed.
• Answers questions according to standard procedures and best practices.
• Act as the Lead Youth Advocate for the department and work across programs to provide consistent youth services.
• Makes meaningful improvement to services, programs and processes, and organizational effectiveness that creates new value for participants and employees.

Job Specifications: 

• Demonstrated ability to utilize a variety of communication styles to maintain contact with families/students.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team environment.
• Demonstrated knowledge of community services, CITC services, ASD services, and a referral agent.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with families/students and advocate for their needs.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently while maintaining efficiency and accuracy.
• Exceptional time management, organization, and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise good judgment and make sound decisions that reflect CITC's Mission and Values.
• Demonstrated familiarity with educational and social services resources.  
• Demonstrated ability to compile and summarize data in spreadsheet, database and word processing formats.
• Self-motivated and able to work under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Knowledge of Alaska Native/American Indian educational issues, and unique and specialized needs. 

Minimum Core Competencies: CITC Values, Respectful Leadership, Professionalism, Emotional Intelligence, Problem Solving/Critical Thinking, Communication Skills 

Minimum Qualifications:

Youth Advocate, I

• Associate degree in counseling, Education, or a related field.  Relevant experience may substitute for the education requirement on a year-for-year basis. 
• One (1) year experience working with Alaska Native families and knowledge of their values and belief systems. 

Youth Advocate, II

• Bachelor's degree in counseling, Education, or a related field.   Relevant experience may substitute for the education requirement on a year-for-year basis.
• Three (3) years' experience working with Alaska Native families, and knowledge of their values and belief systems. 

Youth Advocate, III

• Bachelor's degree in counseling, Education, or a related field.   
• Five (5) years' experience working with Alaska Native families, and knowledge of their values and belief systems.

Minimum Qualifications at all Levels:

• Knowledge of the Anchorage School District policies and practices.
• Continued employment status will be contingent upon receipt of a satisfactory state and federal criminal background check. 
• Valid Alaska driver’s license and insurable under CITC’s automotive insurance, which requires a driver to be at least 21 years of age and have had a driver’s license for at least three years. 

Disclaimer:

The information provided in this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by incumbents within this job. It is not designed to be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications and working conditions required of employees assigned to this job. Management has sole discretion to add or modify job duties or to designate other functions.

4/23/2024 - A.G.