Self-Sufficiency Coach, ACHIEVEability

Posted by on December 04, 2011

Self-Sufficiency Coach – Counselor! Organizer! Motivator! Guide!

Posted on: November 22, 2011

Self-Sufficiency Coach: Organizer! Motivator! Guide!

The bottom line is helping families achieve results for the benefit of themselves and for the good of society.

Help break the cycle of poverty for low income, single parent, formerly homeless families. Be a self-sufficiency coach at ACHIEVEability. If you are an organized, hardworking, multi-tasking, outcomes-driven and smart individual with a passion for making a difference, who craves variety and intensity, and who values education and accountability, this may be the job for you.

ACHIEVEability is an award-winning nonprofit organization that provides comprehensive and intensive support and challenge for families so that they can break the generational cycle of poverty, maximize their potential and achieve self-sufficiency. Education is the locus of our approach. Families at ACHIEVEability pursue college or vocational/technical career training while being employed, developing life skills, repairing credit if necessary, building assets and broadening their horizons through travel, cultural experiences and sports events.

Responsibilities:

Helps families identify and build on their strengths, talents and assets
Helps families overcome obstacles to holistic and lasting self-sufficiency
Helps families envision goals and map concrete steps for achieving those goals, with a focus on the areas of education, parenting, finances and employment and personal development
Helps families make and track progress with their plans and remain engaged and compliant with ACHIEVEability’s program requirements
Documents progress
Guides families when they traverse unfamiliar territory or different situations
Motivates families when progress slows or is at a standstill
Challenges families when they are not giving their best effort
Celebrates families when they succeed with baby steps or major accomplishments

In the context of a structured goal plan for each family, you will work with families to do whatever it takes to help them help themselves. On one day you may be helping a parent obtain financial aid for college, helping another parent make her budget work and repair her credit, sharing with another parent some tips on cleaning her refrigerator, then preparing case notes and ending the day by doing a workshop on workplace etiquette. Then on another day, you might chaperone a group of children to a baseball game, while in the back of your mind thinking of plans for the summer family field trip and the possible sources of support for that activity. You will work with a team of ACHIEVEability staff as well as network with outside resources so that you can help families maximize their chances of success.

Specific tasks include the following: interview and assess prospective participants; provide ongoing assessments of each participant’s skills and needs; assist participants in identifying and securing resources; conduct home visits; assist participants with developing and adhering to budgets and debt reduction plans; assist with recertification matters; assist in developing organizational policies regarding participant issues; organized and facilitate workshops and group meetings; conduct home inspections and complete inspection reports; meet weekly with participants who are dealing with specific issues; document contacts with participants in their files and on the database; develop and maintain links with other professionals in other self-sufficiency areas and complementary programs.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree, preferably with experience or training in psychology, social work or human services
Critical thinking and problem-solving skills
Passion for helping the disadvantaged, even it means providing tough love
Excellent interpersonal skills; Strong motivational skills
Strong sense of responsibility, initiative, follow through and accountability
Excellent organizational, administrative and time management skills
Excellent math and language skills
Computer skills in word processing, spreadsheets, e-mail, Internet and databases
Ability to successfully pass background checks (criminal, child abuse, drug test, college transcripts, college diploma)
Valid driver’s license, auto insurance and registered vehicle available for use at work
Ability and willingness to work evenings and on Saturdays
Comfortable working and doing home visits in West Philadelphia

E-mail to employment@achieveability.org the following items: (1) your resume (2) a cover letter indicating (a) your interest in the self-sufficiency coach position and the reason for your interest, (b) your philosophy about helping families in need, (c) where you heard about this position, (d) your salary requirement and (e) the names and contact information of 3 references. On the subject line of your e-mail, please indicate: Self-Sufficiency Coach – YourFirstName YourLastName.

http://www.idealist.org/view/job/8zG2C5NGSz5P/