Educational Advocate - Grant, Adams

About Treehouse:

Treehouse is a rapidly growing nonprofit with a 30-year history of addressing the academic and other essential support needs of children, youth, and young adults experiencing foster care. Our services operate throughout Washington State, and we are an emerging leader in the national foster care conversation.

Nationwide only about half of youth in foster care graduate from high school. That’s why Treehouse partners with youth in care statewide as they set and achieve goals to earn their diplomas and make plans for the future.

Join a team that is passionately committed to youth succeeding. With a mission of giving kids and youth in foster care a childhood and a future, we provide education-focused coaching. We partner to offer experiences and essentials that foster community connections, exploration, and growth. We fight for systems changes and join forces to pass landmark reforms that reduce inequities responsible for unjust barriers.

Well-loved, community-based, and fiercely optimistic, Treehouse is uniquely positioned to partner with youth, schools, organizations, caregivers, social workers, and funders. Together, we improve outcomes from childhood through high school graduation and beyond, including a successful launch into adulthood.

We welcome alumni of care and encourage qualified individuals of every race, national origin, religion, age, ability status, veteran status, sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity and expression to apply.

The Position:

Treehouse currently has an opening for an Educational Advocate on our Educational Advocacy Team. This is a regular, full-time, non-exempt position.

Essential Functions:

Manage an assigned youth caseload, using established case procedures. Procedures include:

• Improve educational outcomes for youth in foster care by providing educational planning and advocacy.
• This position works primarily with caregivers, social workers, and school staff (not directly with youth).
• Review educational history and systematically evaluate educational needs of each youth on your caseload through interaction with caregivers, social workers, school staff, and other service providers.
• Demonstrate commitment to racial equity and social justice and ability to effectively engage in candid conversations about diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.
• Provide advocacy around school enrollment and continuity, appropriate education services, and appropriate discipline.
• Work closely with appropriate individuals/groups to help ensure each youth’s educational rights are upheld under federal and Washington State law.
• Acquire consent forms and collect school records.
• Frequent travel inside coverage area (Grays Harbor, Pacific, and Thurston Counties) to attend meetings on behalf of youth and to build relationships with schools, caregivers, social workers, and other service providers within those communities.
• Serve statewide cases remotely as needed to eliminate waitlists.
• Conduct training sessions for caregivers, social workers, and community partners.
• Provide caregivers and social workers with resources to support student's education and social-emotional development and address other needs.
• Schedule and facilitate interagency meetings, negotiate services, facilitate transportation plans, assist with credit transfer or retrieval, negotiate disciplinary appeals, etc.
• Maintain complete, accurate, and updated case records for each youth in program database.
• Use the program database as a case management tool to monitor and record efforts on a daily basis.
• Report on case progress to supervisor and team on established schedule.
• Provide timely feedback, communication, and reports to social workers and caregivers.
• Provide recommendations on success stories to represent organizational mission upon request.
• Work from within the local Department of Children Youth and Families (DCYF) office and provide outreach and support to other DCYF offices in the area
• Must be physically located within the hiring region and available to attend in-person meetings, as needed.

Additional Functions:

• Attend all-staff and team meetings.
• Support overall Treehouse operations as an ambassador for the mission.
• Attend trainings and workshops as requested.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education, General Education, School Counseling, or Social Services related field or equivalent work experience helpful.
• Minimum 2 years’ experience providing advocacy and support to youth. Foster youth or youth from other vulnerable populations are preferred.
• Demonstrated understanding of federal and state education law, including special education.
• Experience providing support services to youth and caregivers from diverse and traditionally underserved populations, including students of color, low-income students, or students with disabilities.
• Ability to set boundaries and utilize support services to manage personal impact of working on behalf of at-risk youth.
• Must thrive working remotely while maintaining relationships with coworkers and managers.
• Knowledge of educational and community resources available to promote educational attainment for youth.
• 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.
• Ability to work occasional evening and weekend hours.
• Consistent attendance and punctuality are needed.
• Demonstrated ability to build working relationships with individuals of various ages, cultures, socioeconomic backgrounds, and abilities.
• Ability and aptitude with Microsoft Office Suite and other technology necessary for successful day-to-day functioning in the business environment.
• Reliable transportation, current driver's license, and at least minimum WA State driver insurance coverage required. Ability to travel within a seventy-five-mile radius of office site is required.
• Must clear nationwide criminal background check and driving record background check.

Physical and Mental Requirements:

• Mental Effort – Requires attention to detail, interacting with others in-person and through email, using critical thinking and listening skills, active participation at meetings.
• Physical Requirements – May include long periods of sitting, working on a computer, walking to various work areas, going up and downstairs, talking on the phone, working with other offices/computer equipment, attending meetings, and sitting at desk or table while listening, talking and taking notes.
• Working Conditions – This position primarily works remotely and independently at a DSHS office and will hold meetings in multiple schools and public settings. Frequently visits and attends meetings in a business office environment.

Priority deadline for applications is November 28. Screening will begin November 29 with interviews scheduled to take place the week of December 6-10

As of October 18, 2021, Treehouse staff are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. If hired, you will be required to submit proof of vaccination by October 18th. People are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose in a two-dose series or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine. Staff may make requests for a reasonable accommodation based on a medical disability or for sincerely held religious beliefs. Philosophical, political, scientific, or sociological objections to vaccination will not be considered for an exemption or accommodation.

This position pays $20.32 per hour, non-exempt. Treehouse also offers a generous paid time off plan, free medical, dental, vision, and 403(b) plan.

To apply, please provide your resume and cover letter through Treehouse’s Careers site explaining how you meet the required skills and abilities.

If you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our online application system, you may request an accommodation by contacting the People & Equity department at jobs@treehouseforkids.org.

The job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment. Treehouse reserves the right to revise or change job duties and responsibilities as the need arises. Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills, and experience required.