The Unaccompanied Children Program provides temporary residential care and other supportive services to Unaccompanied Children (UC) who are under legal custody of the Federal Government. Working in collaboration with the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement, the POH program provides a safe and nurturing environment for 439 youth as well as therapeutic and educational services and other supports that youth need to achieve success through an array of strength-based and targeted interventions as well as link them with family members and/or other sponsors in the United States so they are able to move forward with their lives and thrive. 

This position will require intensive individual and group life skills training to UC ages 12 to 17 years old who are placed in the Basic Shelter Program. Transitional Foster Care Program and the Long-Term foster Care Program. For children placed in the TFC and LTFC program in the community, IL skills must be provided where the children reside. The life skill coach requires the ability to teach Life Skill Training on daily living skills, self-care, career planning, community engagement, communication skills, housing and money management, job readiness, post 18 planning, among others.

Rising Ground 

Founded as an orphanage in 1831, Rising Ground has been at the forefront of evolving community needs. Driven by the belief that each of us can thrive when life has hope and opportunity, Rising Ground provides caring support and proven paths to positive change, helping children, adults, and families rise above adversity, and each year, Rising Ground is a positive force in the lives of more than 25,000 individuals. We do this through 50 programs in 70 locations throughout New York City and Westchester. Our strong belief and commitment to diversity shows not just through our work with supported persons but is integral to the building of a strong staff that reflects the communities we serve. Rising Ground is headquartered in downtown Brooklyn. 

Benefits

At Rising Ground, we encourage everyone to live a healthier life. When you enroll in health care benefits — medical, dental, and vision care, you and your family can take advantage of each plan’s preventive services, which will help everyone to stay well. Another way to remain healthy is to eat right and keep active. Ultimately, we all benefit when we make the right choices, whether through diet and exercise or health care services. You can also take advantage of other important benefits, including life and accident, disability benefits, the retirement savings plan, and the employee assistance program.

• Tutor and mentor youth as needed
• Attend Treatment Team Meetings as requested
• Document all service provided on a monthly basis
• Run monthly IL groups with all children in the LTFC program
• Ensure that materials are available for the execution of each IL training 
• Complete and update as needed a comprehensive IL program curriculum 
• Ensure that program curriculum includes community involvement activities
• Create an acknowledgment system for program participation and completion
• Track results of IL skills and compare them with the current scores of each child’s life skill assessment
• Network with community-based organizations to provide supplementary services and experiences for the POH children
• Visit children placed in the LTFC program on a weekly basis to follow up and assist in their development of IL skills
• Ability to work effectively with children with developmental disabilities, learning disabilities and emotional disturbances
• Ensure that IL training dates and programming is shared with the Treatment Team and that youth are informed and encouraged to participate
• Facilitate individual and group Life Skills training to all youth in the POH program. Training must be tailored to meet each individual youth’s needs and current ability.  For this the Life Skill Assessment for each youth must be completed
• Other duties as assigned by the direct supervisor or Program Director

• Master’s Degree in social or related field preferred
• Two years experience in a related program for adolescent population
• Must complete Therapeutic Crises Intervention Training (TCI)
• Effective verbal and written communication skills
• Bilingual English/Spanish

Annual Salary $51,999.95