Youth Transition Coordinator

Job Title: Youth Transition Coordinator Department: Independent Living Reports to: Executive Director/ Program Manager FLSA Status: Hourly Position Description: Central Washington Disability Resources (CWDR) is an Independent Living Center; a non-residential, private, non-profit, consumer-controlled, community-based organization providing services and advocacy by and for persons with all types of disabilities.
Established in 1981 and serving residents in Kittitas, Yakima, Grant, Chelan and Douglas Counties for 39 years.
CWDR provides empowerment and assistance to individuals with disabilities to achieve their maximum potential within their families and communities.
Also, serving as a strong advocacy voice on a wide range of national, state and local issues CWDR works to assure physical and programmatic access to housing, employment, transportation, communities, recreational facilities, health and social services.
CWDR services include Emergency/Disaster Preparedness, Advocacy, Information & Referral, Peer Support, Assistive Technology, Benefits Assistance, Independent Living Skills Training and Evaluation, Transition, and Youth specific programming.
CWDR believes in equality, inclusion, and choice; any person with a Disability, Older Adult, or Veteran who may benefit from CWDR services or programs is eligible regardless of the type of disability, race, creed, nationality, or age.
In the performance of their respective tasks and duties, all employees of CWDR are expected to conform to the following: * Perform quality work within deadlines with or without direct supervision.
* Interact professionally with other employees, consumers and community members.
* Work effectively as a team contributor on all assignments.
* Work independently while understanding the necessity for communicating and coordinating work efforts with other employees and organizations.
Position Purpose The Youth Transition Coordinator will be responsible for providing Independent Living/Transition Services to students with disabilities in secondary, post-secondary, non-traditional, or alternative education programs (between the ages of 14 and 24) within the 5 counties CWDR serves.
The youth transition coordinator will engage students with disabilities in career exploration and pre-employment activities assistance in accessing secondary education or trade school opportunities.
This includes working with students from diverse populations including but not limited to cross-disability populations, English language learners, multicultural populations, LGBTQ identified students and students with mental illness or substance abuse disorders.
*Responsibilities* Essential Functions: * *Consumer Advocacy: *Advocate for youth and young adults as they transition from K-12 onto secondary education paths, employment, this could be through pre-employment services.
Assisting youth and young adults around their rights as an individual with a disability and advocating for what will help them live, travel, work and thrive independently in a community of their choice.
* *Community Outreach: *Collaborate and create relationships within the CWDR, 5 county coverage area with k-12 schools, higher education institutions.
Attend community events targeted towards youth and young adults.
Provide transition workshops within the community or schools.
* *Data Management: *Maintaining monthly required reports (such as PART calls, Time Sheets, Mileage Logs); recording consumer contacts/information data into CIL Suite; making and returning phone calls in a timely manner (24 hours); performing organizational tasks as needed to ensure efficient office standards; use of office equipment: (copy machine, fax machine, computer).
* *Miscellaneous Duties: *Taking directions and being accountable to supervisor; participation in CWDR staff meetings, events, and other duties as assigned; ability to travel independently throughout the community; performance must reflect compliance with the agency Ethics document; confidentiality of consumer information.
*Qualifications* Education and/or Experience: * Minimum of one to two years’ experience in providing services to individuals with disabilities.
Additional experience may substitute for education on a case by case basis.
* Recommended Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services, Organizational Leadership, or related field required.
* Must have an understanding of commitment to the concepts and philosophy of independent living and self-determination of person with disabilities.
* Knowledge of Olmstead, Americans with Disabilities Act, Rehabilitation Act and WIOA.
* Personal experience as a person with disability and/or with skills necessary to establish effective peer relationships.
Key Competencies: * *Time Management: *Thinks strategically, prioritizes competing demands, and plans ahead.
Completes work within deadlines, completes consumer goals in a timely fashion including follow-up to assure the goals undertaken are accomplished quickly.
Able to be flexible and stay focused in hectic environments with many competing priorities.
* *Team Player: *Awareness and commitment to accomplishing department and agency goals.
Respectful and works co-operatively with others.
Sensitivity to the needs of other staff and consumers and behaves in a manner to improve the overall functioning of the agency.
Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
* *Communication: *Ability to provide information in accessible formats – culturally, linguistically, adaptively, in groups, and individually, as needed so others will understand.
Effectively communicates with people from diverse backgrounds, including, consumers, media, community members, staff and management both in written and oral form.
Listens carefully and asks questions appropriately to delineate issue(s) and empower consumer regarding options.
Possess excellent public speaking skills with the ability to present information in clear and articulate, logical and organized manner.
Ability to read and comprehend information written in English; such as, instructions, correspondence, memos, safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
* *Clerical & Technical: *Working knowledge of MS Office applications including basic spreadsheets and databases.
Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
* *Mathematical Skills: *Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret graphs.
* *Computer Skills: *To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of, and possess intermediate skills, to utilize Microsoft Office software including basic spreadsheets and databases.
Internet knowledge required.
* *Certificates, Licenses, Registrations: *Must be First Aid/CPR/AED certified within 30 days of hire.
* *Other Qualifications: *Knowledge of Federal, State and local agencies serving people with disabilities.
Understanding of service delivery systems, especially those that provide critical supports for independent living.
Commitment to the policies of consumer participation in the decision-making process and consumer involvement in program development and implementation.
Able to independently navigate and move through the community to attend meetings and appointments; responsible for own transportation.
Bi- lingual preferred but not required.
Other duties as assigned by supervisor and management.
*Working Conditions* *Work Environment: *This position is primarily performed in an environmentally controlled indoor office environment.
However, the employee may occasionally be exposed to various weather conditions or extreme cold and heat due to travel.
On occasion, this position may be required to perform work in a variety of settings such as consumer homes or other community locations that may or may not be accessible.
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate, occasionally loud.
*Work Context: *This position is constantly dealing with the public, either by phone or in person.
It requires self-control, maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations and stress tolerance, accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Due to the nature of the work and the small office environment, the position requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
This position requires attention to detail and thoroughly completing tasks.
Frequent changes and interruptions require adaptability/flexibility to be open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
This position requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
*Physical Requirements: *While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear.
The employee is frequently required to sit.
The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
The employee is occasionally required to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close range, distance, color, peripheral, and depth perception.
*Supervisory Responsibilities* None Employees must be able to perform the essential functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation.
CWDR gladly considers requests for reasonable accommodation(s) and will make every effort to make such reasonable accommodation(s) as will enable an otherwise qualified person with a disability to perform the essential functions of this position.
Non-Discrimination: CWDR provides equal opportunities for all people regardless of race, color, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or sexual orientation, religious creed, physical or mental disability, age, marital status, military & veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.
All applicants must pass Criminal History Background Investigation.
Job Type: Full-time Pay: From $17.
50 per hour Expected hours: 40 per week Benefits: * Flexible schedule * Paid time off Schedule: * Monday to Friday Ability to Relocate: * Ellensburg, WA 98926: Relocate before starting work (Required) Work Location: In person