Job Description

At Treehouse, we work to create opportunities for young people in foster care to thrive. We believe that every young person impacted by foster care determines their own future and can build the life of their dreams. Treehouse seeks to hire passionate individuals who understand the power of young people, celebrate diverse voices and challenge themselves to do better. We are committed to providing opportunities for staff to learn and grow with the organization during an exciting time as we expand our services and reach statewide. Treehouse values work-life balance and prioritizes the health of our staff. Benefits include medical, dental, vision and life insurance plans with 100% employer-paid premiums; a retirement plan with 3% employer match; and paid leave that includes 9 holidays, generous PTO and two weeks of staff appreciation days off. The salary for this position is set at $25.61 per hour or $53,268.80 per year. The salary range for this position is $53,266 - $72,996. Generous PTO of 4 weeks Healthcare Benefit plan options include 100% covered preventive care 2 Weeks off (separate from PTO) for Staff Appreciation Weeks 403B Retirement Plan Matching The company covers 100% of payroll taxes for state family medical leave Free convenient parking Dog Friendly Office Space Summary: The Education Advocate provides academic advocacy services for students in foster care focusing primarily on school enrollment, academic support, and discipline. This position works directly with caregivers, parents, school staff, and social workers and is responsible for building and maintaining strong relationships with community partners. In addition, the Advocate facilitates trainings and provides coaching to build capacity and knowledge around education law, advocacy skills, and foster care. We are hiring 5 Educational Advocates: Pierce County (ESD 121) (2 open positions) King County (ESD 121) Whatcom County/Skagit County/Island County/San Juan County (ESD 189) Chelan County/Douglas County/Grant County/Okanogan County (ESD 171) Essential Functions: Manage an assigned caseload of youth, using established case procedures. Responsible for improving educational outcomes for youth experiencing foster care by providing educational planning and advocacy, as well as social-emotional development coaching to youths’ support network. Ensure each youth’s educational rights are upheld under federal and state law. Responsible for systematically evaluating educational needs and reviewing educational history as needed for youth on caseload. Responsible for providing educational planning details and support to caregivers, parents, youth, social workers, school staff and other service providers. Responsible for attending and scheduling meetings on behalf of Treehouse with schools, caregivers, parents, social workers and other service providers in the local community. Responsible for serving statewide cases remotely as needed. Responsible for conducting training sessions for staff, caregivers, parents, social workers, and community partners both virtually and in person. Responsible for conducting training sessions for Treehouse staff, including onboarding and capacity building. Responsible for scheduling and facilitating interagency meetings, negotiating services, facilitating transportation plans, assisting with credit transfer or retrieval, negotiating disciplinary appeals, etc. Responsible for maintaining complete, accurate and updated case records for each youth, in program database. Responsible for reporting on case progress to supervisor and team on established schedule. Responsible for providing timely feedback, communication, and reports to social workers, parents, and caregivers. Responsible for providing advocacy outcome stories to represent organizational mission upon request. Expected to work from within the assigned Department of Children Youth and Families (DCYF) offices at least 1x/week. The amount of office time will be determined by the Regional Manager and may vary depending on the area served and the needs of the region. Provide outreach to designated DCYF offices as assigned by department’s outreach plan. Other duties as assigned. Working Conditions Full-time Monday to Friday 8:00am to 5:00pm Occasional evenings and weekends. Frequent early morning/late running school meetings (before and after school) Frequent work-day travel to attend meetings on behalf of youth and to build relationships with schools, caregivers, social workers, parents, and other service providers Travel requirements vary per assignment and will change depending on the needs of the Educational Advocate’s caseload. Overnight travel 1-3 weeks a year for training, meetings, conferences, and retreats. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: High school diploma or GED equivalent Demonstrated understanding of federal and state education law, including special education. Ability to deploy critical thinking, problem-solving, conflict resolution, and emotional intelligence when communicating on behalf of Treehouse. Demonstrated commitment to racial equity and the ability to effectively engage in candid conversations about diversity, equity, inclusion and justice. Experience facilitating meetings and presentations virtually and in person. Experience providing support services to youth, parents, and caregivers from diverse and traditionally underserved populations, including students of color, low-income students, or students with disabilities. Must thrive while working independently both within and outside an office setting while maintaining relationships with coworkers and managers. Ability to maintain records and data to support effective evaluation processes and analysis, and use program data to inform decision-making and service delivery strategies. Strong organizational skills, ability to multi-task and prioritize tasks to meet deadlines. Reliable transportation, current driver's license and minimum WA State driver insurance coverage required. Demonstrated ability to build working relationships with individuals of various ages, cultures, socioeconomic backgrounds, and abilities. Ability to set boundaries and utilize support services to manage the personal impact of working with youth who have experienced trauma. Ability and aptitude with Microsoft Office Suite and other technology necessary for successful day-to-day functioning in a business environment. Knowledge of educational and community resources available to promote educational attainment for youth. Clear nationwide criminal background check and driving record background check. Preferred Experience Prior experience facilitating trainings virtually and in-person to an audience of 5 to 100 people. Prior experience facilitating and coordinating multiple parties with varying perspectives through complex situations. Prior experience navigating special education evaluations and education plans. 2+ years’ experience providing advocacy of and support of youth experiencing foster care or other vulnerable student populations. Physical and Mental Requirements: Mental Requirements – Ability to reason logically and make sound decisions, to consider alternative and diverse perspectives, to communicate effectively both orally and in writing, to remain poised under all circumstances, and to interact effectively with people in a positive manner that creates confidence and trust. Physical Requirements – Extended periods of stationary work, working with a computer, talking with a phone, working with office equipment, moving between various work areas. Ability to drive a vehicle. #J-18808-Ljbffr Treehouse

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