SELF Empowerment Coach, Building Wealth and Health Network

Posted by Drexel University on December 11, 2017

Center for Hunger-Free Communities, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health

The Center for Hunger-Free Communities, established in 2004, is a research, service and policy/advocacy center of Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health in Philadelphia, PA. The Center for Hunger-Free Communities offers the same multi-faceted research and action that has characterized the work on hunger and poverty at Drexel with the goal of developing innovative, empirically-tested solutions to the challenges of hunger and economic insecurity.

Our Mission:
At the Center for Hunger-Free Communities, we address hunger in all its forms by engaging in partnership with families, researchers, policymakers, and community leaders to:

• Find solutions to hunger and poverty based on science and the human experience.
• Report on the health consequences of hunger and poverty to ensure accountability and enable action.
• Engage those who have experience with poverty as full partners in developing research, policies, and programs that promote health.
• Establish and support opportunities to build peace, nourishment, and a sense of shared community through our research, testimony, and action.

We are committed to freedom and justice through fighting against all forms of oppression, exclusion, and discrimination – including but not limited to racism, classism, sexism, transphobia/homophobia, and ableism – in the world, in our communities, and in ourselves.

About the Building Wealth and Health Network (The Network):
The Network is an official TANF demonstration project that seeks to investigate how access to conventional banking, financial literacy, group savings and group support may improve the economic security of low-income parents. The goals of this project are to improve economic security for low-income parents, make a positive impact on family health and well-being, and to transform the existing welfare system.

Posting Summary:

The Center seeks a qualified social worker to join the Building Wealth and Health Network team as a SELF Empowerment Coach to co-facilitate the Network’s Financial SELF Empowerment sessions.

The Financial SELF Empowerment sessions take place multiple times per week with 12-15 members in each session. The curriculum blends financial literacy (discussion on basic financial terminology, tools, goals and skills, access to banking, credit and debt management and asset building) and the Sanctuary® Model’s trauma-informed tool called S.E.L.F (Safety, Emotion, Loss, and Future). Each Financial SELF Empowerment session is led by two Coaches – the SELF Empowerment Coach leads the Sanctuary® Model SELF curriculum sections and the Financial Empowerment Coach leads the financial literacy curriculum section. Together they co-facilitate the entire session. We are seeking a SELF Empowerment Coach to complete the team.

In addition, the SELF Empowerment Coach meets with participants, referred to as members, as needed in a one-on-one setting to identify and address members’ needs, including providing support during emergencies or crisis management. The SELF Empowerment Coach works with members and the Center’s Resource Specialist to make a plan to address the identified needs, connect members with other agencies/organizations to meet identified needs, and document and track each case. The Coach also encourages members to do the above for each other and create opportunities for connection and peer support among the group.

Essential Functions:
– Co-facilitate various Financial SELF Empowerment sessions each week in the field.
– Provide one-on-one case management, support and referrals to members as needed.
– Offer and receive support from the other SELF Empowerment Coach and Resource Specialist to identify avenues to address Network members’ needs.
– Ensure accurate, timely and complete documentation in computerized and other file record systems.
– Communicate effectively with Network Program Team to help problem solve in order to support members.
– Provide feedback about the Financial SELF Empowerment curriculum for groups as needed, based on feedback from the members, facilitators and others.
– Write in-depth summaries detailing activities within each cohort and reflecting on the experiences and reactions of the group and coaches.
– Collaborate with the coaching team to update and adapt components of curriculum topics as identified by members and staff.
– Implement groups and other activities consistent with the Network’s mission, research protocol and strategic plan.
– Attend trainings on the Sanctuary® Model, trauma theory, financial literacy, group facilitation and others as identified.
– Assist with outreach, recruitment and retention of Network members.
– Participate in staff meetings, Sanctuary® meetings, strategic planning, and other meetings as required.
– Provide occasional backup to other coaches, e.g. conducting additional groups during colleagues’ vacation or illness.
– Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:
The Center seeks a dynamic individual who is committed to ending poverty and hunger in the US. This person should have experience in the social services sector and group facilitation.
– Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, social services, public health or equivalent degree required. Licensed Clinical Social Worker a plus.
– Three years of experience in social services, particularly clinical social work with one-on-one case management experience.
– Minimum of two years of experience facilitating groups, especially psychoeducational groups.
– Familiarity with the Sanctuary® Model and its SELF Group curriculum, or other trauma-informed approaches, preferred.
– Able to enthusiastically facilitate discussion and connect with individuals in a group environment. Creative and active facilitation style is a plus.
– Basic knowledge of public welfare system and its history in the United States, including TANF, SNAP, WIC, etc.
– Knowledge of the history of racism in the United States.
– Excellent organizational skills.
– Excellent public speaking, written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills.
– Flexibility and willingness to adapt role as needed, especially as the project evolves.
– Able to work in a fast-paced, dynamic, collaborative environment.
– Proficient in Microsoft Office suite. Computer literate and able to enter data accurately in electronic data management system.
– Must be able to work independently and work with minimal supervision in the field.
– Able to adhere to confidentiality laws and handle sensitive information.
– Provide ethical and sound judgment when advocating and servicing clients from under-resourced environments.
– Experience working with under-resourced and diverse populations.
– Ability to work a flexible schedule and some non-traditional hours (evening or weekend).
– Basic knowledge of financial management tools and terminology, and/or experience with financial services industry a plus.
– Previous experience with grassroots organizing a plus.
– Bilingual (Spanish/English) a plus.

The Center employs the Sanctuary Model in its implementation of programs. The Sanctuary Model is an evidence-supported, trauma-informed practice designed to facilitate the development of structures, processes, and behaviors on the part of staff, clients and the community-as-a-whole that can respond to the wounds of traumatic experiences and extended exposure to adversity of program members.

The ideal candidate should be familiar with and trained in the Sanctuary® Model or similar trauma- informed approaches. In the Network, we have adapted different tools of Sanctuary® to fit our program, so the candidate should also be flexible in their implementation of the Sanctuary® Model.

Supplemental Information:
This is a full-time position that will be located in the Center for Hunger-Free Communities at Drexel’s School of Public Health. The position will be supervised by The Network Project Manager, Falguni Patel. This position is grant-funded with potential for extension pending additional support. Pay commensurate with experience.
Drexel University offers an attractive benefits package including tuition remission, a generous retirement package with matching funds (up to 11 percent) and an opportunity to join a talented team of professionals directly helping the University achieve its record growth and quality reputation.

Drexel University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and is proactively committed to diversity and inclusion in all of its policies, practices and services. We are especially interested in qualified candidates who can contribute to the varied diversity and excellence of the academic community, and all of its complements.
Background investigations are required for all new hires as a condition of employment, after the job offer is made. Employment will be contingent upon the University’s acceptance of the results of the background investigation.

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