Position Summary

Under the general supervision of the Instructional Leadership & LCAP, the Director of Foster and Homeless Youth Education Services is responsible for facilitating the implementation of laws and mandates under federal and state legislation with respect to foster and homeless youth students. The director is to provide guidance, technical assistance and professional development to the Local Education Agencies (LEAs) in order to build their capacity in providing services for their foster and homeless youth students; facilitation of the county-wide  Foster Youth Education Executive Advisory Council; coordinating the efforts of foster and homeless youth liaisons; developing collaborative relations between the county offices of social services, mental health, public health, probation, tribal entities, group home staff, and other relevant agencies to ensure appropriate educational placements for at-risk, homeless and foster youth; supervision of staff and student interns;  implementing data gathering systems related to student academic progress, and completing mandatory compliance reports.

Examples of Duties and Responsibilities

Responsible for coordinating activities as outlined in the HCOE Foster and Homeless Youth Plans for Services; acts as a lead liaison for coordinating services to foster youth and homeless students throughout Humboldt County; attends specialized trainings in delinquency and truancy prevention programs; coordinates, conducts, and/or participates in in-service training for school district, agency, and high education staff; coordinates the services provided by regional and higher education staff assigned to support foster youth; coordinates and supervises alternative activities for identified youth; mentors HSU social work interns when assigned; coordinates referrals of at-risk, foster and homeless students and their family members to counseling services as needed; refers students to job training programs when appropriate; coordinates the activities and meetings of the Foster Youth Education Executive Advisory Council; develops and maintains a data collection system to monitor attendance and academic progress of foster youth and homeless students as required by law; periodically attends regional and state-wide meetings and represents Humboldt County’s foster and homeless education program; assists partner agencies in monitoring/evaluating individual program components related to homeless youth, foster youth, and other at-risk youth; provides support to local LEAs as defined by law; keeps abreast of proposed and current legislation and advises Superintendent and the Foster Youth Advisory Council of the potential impact on Humboldt County; attends all required meetings; completes required reports; monitors and maintains compliance on any contracts executed on behalf of the HCOE; researches, prepares and submits grant requests as authorized by the Superintendent; monitors program expenditures and adheres to all legal requirements; and performs other duties as needed.

Employment Standards

Education and Experience

Baccalaureate Degree from an accredited college/university in Psychology, Social Work, Education or closely related field/emphasis area and a minimum of five (5) years of successful, full-time direct experience with at-risk youth in an educational environment.  Some successful supervision, coordination or lead experience also required.

Knowledge of:

• The broad spectrum of issues related to the at-risk youth population in American society with particular understanding of homeless, foster, and probationary youth;
• Supervision strategies for HCOE staff members and student interns;
• Current trends, issues and responses to the issues of chronic absenteeism and dropout prevention;
• Laws relating to child abuse and neglect, compulsory school attendance, homeless youth and foster youth;
• Individual and group social service resources available in Humboldt County;
• Delinquency Prevention strategies including trauma informed practices and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS);
• At-risk youth and family support services, including those in early childhood education (ages 0-5), and the K-12 and higher education levels;
• Relevant portions of the Education Code and Penal Code;
• Current trends, issues and alternatives to enhance successful school experiences for at-risk youth, foster youth, English Language Learners and homeless youth;
• Techniques for good public relations and public speaking;
• Moderate computer word processing and data file management programs.

Ability to:

• Speak to small and large groups with poise, confidence and clarity;
• Coordinate the activities of multiple individuals serving similar roles in support of students and in accordance with project funding requirements;
• Manage program budgets;
• Use a computer for producing written correspondence and for maintaining data files;
• Relate well and to work cooperatively with a variety of agency and school representatives, at-risk teens and community organization members;
• Work without direct supervision;
• Communicate with tact, courtesy and with sensitivity toward the audience and the content of the message;
• Draft technical reports which would meet state audit standards;
• Problem solve with groups and facilitate/conduct advisory meetings;
• Follow oral and written instructions;
• Adapt to changing work demands;
• Manage task priorities to meet deadlines, including the monitoring of grant funding and data reporting;
• Work effectively under varying degrees of stress;
• Read and comprehend fine print and technical/legal language in contracts, spreadsheets, and text files;
• Meet requirements and standard provisions for school-based employment working with at-risk youth and sharing of confidential information;
• Communicate effectively via telephone, computer, and in person;
• Lift/move materials, possibly arranging tables and chairs for meeting room set-up.

Management Schedule A | Class 6
Updated 5/18/2021