Mission:
We galvanize entire communities to ensure that every child finds belonging and travels their best journey from birth to career attainment.
Vision
A robust economy with vibrant and sustainable communities where every individual thrives.
LaunchNW
LaunchNW is an initiative of Innovia Foundation that challenges our community to
come together to ensure every child has the opportunity and support to access their post-high school education or career of choice and meet their full potential.
With a promise scholarship as an incentive, LaunchNW is working with community partners to collaboratively engage and provide wraparound supports for students and families. We are uniting businesses, educational entities, nonprofits, government and communities behind this vision and expectation. A disruption to business as usual, LaunchNW is a transformational investment in the future of our region.
Position Summary:
The LaunchNW Student and Family Support Specialist will work within the Catholic Charities Family Haven and serve as the primary onsite support for youth and residents accessing family, education, workforce stability services. They will coordinate with the school-based City Connects Project Coordinator, and family haven case managers and program staff, by addressing barriers that originate in the home environment. This position will also be tasked with connecting students to opportunities that exist for them within the community and ensure they have the resources necessary to pursue those opportunities. This is a one-year position, with the possibility of extension based on available funding.
Duties & Responsibilities
· Serve as the primary liaison between the elementary school and families residing at one of the Catholic Charities Family Havens, fostering strong communication and collaboration to support student success.
· Provide onsite support to youth and families by addressing barriers to academic engagement, including housing instability, transportation, attendance challenges, and access to basic needs.
· Collaborate regularly with the City Connects Project Coordinator, Family Haven case managers, and program staff to align services and ensure coordinated, wraparound support for students and families.
· Identify student and family needs through ongoing assessment, relationship-building, and communication, and develop individualized support strategies.
· Connect students and families to community-based resources, such as tutoring, after-school programs, mental health services, healthcare, and basic needs supports.
· Support students in accessing educational and enrichment opportunities, ensuring they have the tools, materials, and guidance necessary to participate successfully.
· Advocate for students and families within the school system and community agencies to ensure equitable access to services and opportunities.
· Monitor student progress in areas such as attendance, behavior, and academic engagement, and adjust supports as needed in collaboration with school staff and families.
· Facilitate family engagement by organizing workshops, meetings, and informational sessions that promote student success and family well-being.
· Maintain accurate and confidential records of student and family interactions, services provided, and outcomes in accordance with organizational and program requirements.
· Promote a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment for all students and families within the Family Haven and school community.
· Participate in team meetings, professional development, and program evaluation to support continuous improvement of services.
· Participate in training and apply EMPath’s Economic Mobility Pathways Framework in practice.
· Other duties as assigned.
Position Qualifications:
Required:
· Bachelor’s degree in education, counseling, social work, or other related fields.
· Experience working in a school environment and/or group home
· Ability to work collaboratively with a diverse staff, a diverse student body and families, as well as a team of professionals
· Evidence of culturally competent practices.
Preferred:
· Fluency in a second language, such as Spanish
· Experience with an organization that uses data to guide practice
Skills/Abilities:
· Strong computer/technology skills
· Expert user in Excel and experience utilizing Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Outlook, PowerPoint)
· Strong interpersonal and relationship building skills, with customer service orientation to serve students, school colleagues, community members, and other constituent groups
· Strong organizational skills that reflect ability to streamline, perform, and prioritize multiple tasks, with a critical eye for detail.
· Excellent written and verbal communication skills
· Capable of high-quality performance and meeting deadlines in a quick-moving work environment
· Resourceful team player, with the ability to be effective independently
· Excellent data management skills
· Ability to collect, interpret and report on data in consultation with LaunchNW staff
· Ability to identify and implement solutions for improvement
· Ability to handle confidential, proprietary and sensitive information requiring judgment and discretion
· Self-directed with excellent organizational skills, creativity and ability to manage and balance multiple tasks and priorities to drive projects in a motivated, results-oriented way
· Demonstrated ability to interact respectfully, forge strong relationships, and work collaboratively with people of diverse backgrounds, perspectives, styles and cultures, within both private and public sectors
· Ability to attend and participate in activities outside core business hours (early morning, evening, occasional weekends)
· Live within the LaunchNW community that they are leading
Physical Abilities:
Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to:
· Sit for prolonged periods of time;
· Walk and climb stairs;
· Operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard;
· Utilize verbal and written communication to exchange information;
· Clearly see 20+ feet, with or without corrective lenses and differentiate between colors;
· Occasionally stand, stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist;
· Lift, carry, push, and/or pull up to 20 pounds.
Mental & Other Skills/Abilities:
· Adaptability ability to adapt to changes, delays or unexpected events in the work environment; ability to manage competing demands and prioritize tasks; ability to change approach or method to best fit the situation.
· Dependability ability to follow instructions, both in written and verbal format; ability to respond to management direction; ability to complete tasks on time or notify the appropriate person with an alternate plan when necessary.
· Interpersonal Skills: ability to develop and maintain positive working relationships and teamwork both inside and outside the organization while effectively handling internal pressure.
· Judgment: ability to make prudent and timely decisions; ability to exhibit sound and accurate judgment; ability to explain reasoning for decisions.
· Language Ability: ability to read, and write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals; ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from management, staff, clients, customers, and the general public.
· Problem Solving Ability ability to identify and/or prevent problems before they occur; ability to formulate alternative solutions to problems when necessary; ability to transfer learning from past experiences to new experiences of similar nature.
· Quality Management ability to complete duties, on time and with precision; ability to edit the accuracy and thoroughness of one’s work as well as the work of others; ability to constructively apply feedback to improve performance, ability to generate ideas to improve and promote quality in work.
· Reasoning Ability: ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral or diagram form; ability to work through problems involving multiple variables.
Work Environment:
The employee is exposed to typical office environment conditions and noise levels.
To apply, please submit a cover letter and resume to Lauren Garske, Director of Post High School Success via email at [email protected] or via mail at 818 W. Riverside Ave., Ste. 650 Spokane, WA 99201
Pay: $55,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
