Community Coordinator - Students in Temporary Housing (STH) Coordinator OCS (SAM) [P#008959AAA] [Multiple Vacancies]

Position Summary: The New York City school system is the largest in the country, composed of approximately 1.1 million students and 75,000+ teachers in over 1,800 schools.  Each year there are over 100,000 students who are homeless and placed in temporary housing, including those living doubled up, or in shelter, foster care, and domestic violence safe housing. Research indicates that students in temporary housing face unique academic challenges and are more likely to be chronically absent than their housed peers.

 

The NYC Department of Education (DOE) created the Office of Community Schools (OCS) to develop and implement one of the pillars of the education agenda of Mayor de Blasio and Chancellor Porter. Community Schools are places where children have opportunities to learn, gain skills, create joy, and have the experiences that ignite curiosity and allow children discover their passions and talents. Community Schools are committed to bringing equity and using a “whole child, whole community” approach – looking holistically at students, families, and communities to ascertain their most pressing needs and decide together which services will best address those needs.  OCS seeks to increase the capacity of schools and community partners providing tailored social services, healthcare, expanded learning opportunities, and similar in-school supports. 

 

Reporting to the school principal, with support from the STH School Based Liaison, the STH Coordinator will identify and facilitate supports to housing-unstable students alongside team members inside the school, such as social work and guidance staff, attendance team members, health and mental health providers, teachers, school safety officers, and other personnel. The Coordinator will interact with the Office of Community Schools STH Regional Manager for STH specific resources and guidance. Coordinators will also interact with other DOE offices and City agency partners, including the DOE Office of Pupil Transportation, shelter staff, Borough/Central Offices, and other City agencies.

 

The STH Coordinator will be an integral part of a borough-based team that facilitates and monitors services provided in shelters and schools, ensuring consistent adherence to DOE’s polices and federal laws and regulations regarding Students in Temporary Housing. This includes compliance with the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act and Chancellor’s Regulation A-780. Performs related work.  

 

Reports to: School Principal

 

Direct Reports: N/A

 

Key Relationships:  School principal and school leadership, school health, mental health and attendance team members, STH Regional Manager, colleagues in the Department of Homeless Services, Human Resources Administration, Administration for Children’s Services, and other agencies, Office of Pupil Transportation staff, and community-based organization (CBO) partners.

 

Responsibilities                                

• Serves as a liaison for families and students with shelter-based staff, school administrators, guidance counselor(s), attendance teacher(s), the Office of Pupil Transportation, and other support personnel, facilitating referral to school- and shelter-based supports (e.g., access to public benefits, attendance improvement and academic achievement, mental health supports, and other needed services).
• Collects, organizes, and synthesizes information on assets and needs of the school and its students affected by homelessness.  Using this information, participates in the school-based Pupil Personnel Team and Attendance Team meetings to help identify students at risk or living with homelessness to coordinate tailored, data-driven, culturally relevant, trauma-informed strategies and supports.
• Connects school communities to other community resources including but not limited to: medical, mental health, employment and training programs, food pantries, public assistance, SSI and SSDI, childcare, transportation, legal assistance etc.
• Acts in alignment with school leadership, identifies supports and resources from community and citywide partners to expand supports, resources and information for students and families.
• Resolves escalated student or family challenges, particularly regarding student transportation, school placement and registration, mid-year transfers, documentation of housing status, and other related issues.
• Conducts shelter, hotel or home site visits with families to share information about important services and supports and ensure that basic necessities (e.g., school material, transportation and supplementary educational services) are readily available.
• Facilitates trainings for school, hotel,  and shelter-based staff on using trauma informed approaches to recognize support and refer students affected by housing instability to coordinated services.
• Facilitates trainings and presentations to families at PTA meetings, school forums, parent teacher nights and other events so families are aware of available resources.

• Records and monitors information in relevant data systems to ensure accurate transmittal and to improve referral to tailored supports. 

Qualification Requirements:

Minimum

1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and two (2) years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to the duties described above; or
2. High school graduation or equivalent and six (6) years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to the duties as described above; or
3. Education and/or experience which is equivalent to “1” or “2” above.  However, all candidates must have at least one (1) year of experience as described in “1” above.

 

Preferred

• Strong skills in relationship management and project implementation. 
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• An understanding of the complexities of systems that homeless students and their families face, and of the intersections of issues, including trauma, mental health, and domestic violence.
• Background in social work or understanding in trauma informed best practices.
• Knowledge of McKinney Vento regulations and their application to school environments. 
• Familiarity with community-based programs serving homeless youth and families and related youth development programs.
• Experience working in school-based settings, with knowledge about trauma informed strategies, nonprofit student support services, and youth development approaches.
• Ability to work effectively with school aged youth, educators, families, and communities from a wide range of cultural, social, and economic backgrounds.
• Understanding of the social-emotional needs of students in temporary housing and of trauma-informed practices.
• Bilingual skills depending on needs of school.
• Strong facility with Excel; moderate knowledge of other Microsoft Office applications, e.g., Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to work collaboratively and demonstrate strong relationship-building skills.

School Location Vacancies:

04M075

06M540

08X119 

10X085

12X318

30Q127

30Q112

32K123

07X031

08X123

09X070

10X056

12X341

19K328

19K292

32K123

32K274

Salary

$60,733 (New Hire Rate)

$69,844 (Incumbent - 2 years of full-time continuous City service)

 

Application:

Please use this online form to apply no later than October, 31, 2024.

If you are having any issues with the application, feel free to email STHInfo@schools.nyc.gov. Questions are welcome, but applications will not be accepted at this email.

NOTE: The filling of all positions is subject to budget availability.