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SHIPmates – we are so thankful for the wonderful ladies at the New Friends Club of Frederick. Your support means everything to us, and will help SHIP further extend its mission of serving the hundreds of local youth experiencing homelessness.

SHIPmates – today we’re focused upon the impact of trauma (mental, physical, environmental) upon children living in poverty and homelessness. With over 800 local students experiencing homelessness in this recently concluded school year, their future success as they grow in to adults is greatly challenged. Our Frederick County community has come together to advocate for these children, and to help them access resources, services, and love as we work to alter their future.

Please watch the video of Nadine Burke Harris talking about this subject. Click Here

Overview
This position requires an individual that is passionate about serving the disconnected youth of Frederick County. Role will partner with the teachers and counselors of Frederick County Public School high schools to identify and recruit homeless-disconnected youth, and facilitate placement of program participants in to a broad range of community services including social/emotional; physical health; educational; and economic. The objective of the program is to provide personal growth support to homeless high schools within Frederick County Public Schools that will increase their ability to graduate on-time from high school, and thus work to end the cycle of poverty and homelessness.

Overall Responsibilities

• Managing and supporting the daily operations of the New Horizons Program
• Overseeing program activities, effectiveness and grant compliance
• Initiate Needs Assessments of program participants, to then offer counsel with participants to jointly

create a corresponding Service Plan. Expected case load is 100-125 students

• Act as the liaison between academic, counseling, and outside services
• Direct program coordinators on the organization and fulfillment of student Service Plans.
• Expand the network of community resources available for students as required.
• Ensure that required volunteers training is current and documented.
• Assist in the selection and training of New Horizons volunteers and staff as needed.

Expected Activities:

• Proactively network with community service providers to deliver services t homeless students and to identify programs and resources, such as permanent supportive housing, individual or family counseling, educational tutoring, workforce placement, social activities, medical care, mental health care, dental care, legal counsel, substance abuse treatment programs, emergency assistance, and law enforcement intervention.
• Ensure that New Horizons data is current and accurate. This includes obtaining and maintaining accurate documentation related to the volunteers and program participation. This may include: Demographic information, Consent Documents, Volunteer Logs, data collection and Contact Reports. The management of accurate documentation is essential as required by the State of Maryland grant.
• Track, analyze and report on metrics and outcomes. Provide insight and direction on process improvement.
• Travel to participating area schools and community agencies on a regular basis.
• Maintain, manage and is accountable for SHIP Laptop, inventory for transportation vouchers, office supplies, and gifts cards.
• Build Positive, long-term relationships with students, staff, and other community agencies and contacts.
• Model behavior that is consistent with and supportive of, healthy adolescent development.
• Communicate program updates as requested.

NECESSARY SKILLS:

• Experience in the special needs of persons experiencing homelessness, including profiles of expected behaviors, attitudes, and issues facing at-risk youth and their families.
• Excellent counseling skills specifically related to homeless and high risk youth
• Working knowledge of local agencies, associations, community resources and organizations addressing the issues of our homeless youth.
• Excellent documentation skills, written, computer and verbal communication skills.
• Have an awareness of trauma, and chemical dependency signs and symptoms
• Must be culturally competent and sensitive towards diverse ethnic groups, cultural groups and LGTBQ populations

QUALIFICATIONS:

• College degree in Social Work or applicable area of study; LCSW preferred
• Minimum of 3 years of experience working with youth experiencing unstable lives including homelessness
• Must pass a criminal and good driving record background check
• Bilingual skills strongly preferred
• A valid drivers license, dependable automobile, and automobile insurance

Job Type: Contracted, grant funded position.

*Note – this is a contract position to begin mid-August 2017, and is contigent upon the pending award
of a grant. Final candidates must be able to pass a background review that includes a
criminal check and good driving record.

Thank you so very much to the great coordinated efforts of so many, and to the wonderful support of SHIPmates across Frederick County to help make New Horizons Frederick a reality. The Frederick News-Post l fredericknewspost.com Community Foundation of Frederick County Rotary Club of Carroll Creek Frederick County, MD Clark Computer Services, Inc Frederick County Workforce Services FCPS Maryland. We have much work ahead, but with so much support and assistance, we are bound to accomplish our objectives.

Read the full article from the Frederick News-Post