Academic Coach + Community Advocate
About this Role
The role of the Academic Coach will assist students, patients, and clients in areas of academic achievement, personal or social development, and career exploration so that each individual can identify personal goals, strengths, weaknesses, and interests and grow to become a well-adjusted and productive young adult into adulthood.
The Community Advocate will work with various local schools and organizations to identify, evaluate, and develop strategies to address the needs for children with cancer and their families. They will also be responsible for researching potential resources available to the community, providing information to schools and community members, and coordinating community events to bring people together. The Community Advocate will also serve as a liaison between community members, businesses, schools and other organizations, ensuring that the needs of children with cancer are being met.
The Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer’s mission is to erase the effects of pediatric cancer and optimize each child’s quality of life through essential specialized intervention beginning at the time of diagnoses and continuing throughout survivorship. The foundation provides all services at no cost to the families.
Key Responsibilities
Academic Coaching
- Assesses the needs, strengths, and weaknesses of patients and clients through a variety of means including one-on-one assessments, conversations, or interviews; standardized or aptitude testing; small group activities; and observations.
- Collaborates with patients and clients to identify career aspirations and academic goals; provides information and answers questions related to college applications and career choices.
- Assess needs of children and families for well-being
- Assists patients and clients with academic planning, accountability, and/or organization.
- Teaches a variety of skills including social skills, study skills, and test-taking skills.
- Counsels’ patients and clients with personal, social, disciplinary, and behavioral issues.
- Collaborates with teachers to identify ways to improve the achievement and social development of students.
- Promptly notifies appropriate authorities of any reports or suspicions of abuse, or neglect.
- Collaborates with other educators, clinical team, parents, and students to develop, review, renew, and/or modify Individualized Education Plans or 504 plans for patients and clients.
- Providing supervision, guidance, and instruction for students in their social, academic, and personal lives
- Assisting students living with disabilities to meet their academic goals.
- Planning and organizing individual and group programs using multi-disciplinary approaches with other clinical team members.
- Assisting with homework and other study-related issues
- Referring students to scholarship, fellowship, internship, research, and other academic and employment opportunities
- Proactively identifying methods for growth, development, and mentorship
- Developing other guidance and counselling programs as needed
- Conducting individual and group counseling sessions to advise and assist students with academic and vocational development.
- Evaluating students’ attributes and assisting them in realizing their objectives.
- Developing and implementing counseling strategies with contemporary methods of mentoring.
- Identifying behavioral problems and acting appropriately to remedy the situation.
- Paying attention to societal and cultural differences in all patient and matters.
- Assess the need, design, and implement programming for AHF.
- Assist in current family programming, such as Teen Night, Young Adult Night, and much more.
- Assessing the development of students and highlighting their sense of accomplishment.
- Completing evaluations, analyzing results, and providing purposeful feedback.
- Cooperating with parents, clinical staff, and external partners.
- Arranging and scheduling orientation with patients and clients.
- Schedule tutoring for students K - collegiate
Community Advocacy
- Provides support to empower clients to advocate and build self-confidence through direct services.
- Attends client appointments off site for IEP, 504 Meetings.
- Completes case notes and maintenance of required reports and outcome measures, including ongoing data analysis for quality service delivery.
- Works with Clinical Liaison to maintain and update directory of local community resources.
- Contact local resources such as other community-based organizations (CBOs), schools for potential education engagements.
- Attend community events and resource fairs as an exhibitor and/or presenter to provide outreach and education.
- Works in developing workshops and trainings to educate the public on the Austin Hatcher Foundation and psychosocial needs for children with cancer and their families.
- Maintains confidentiality and privacy standards in accordance with agency policies and applicable regulations and laws including HIPAA.
- Perform other duties which may be assigned.
Other Roles
- Participate in approved family programs.
- Participate in approved patient therapies.
Requirements
Required Skills/Abilities:
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Thorough understanding of developmental expectations for students of different ages.
- Thorough understanding of assessments and aptitude tests and ability to properly interpret the results.
- Superior interpersonal skills with persons of all ages and across diverse backgrounds.
- Thorough understanding of warning signs of abuse,neglect, or other crimes.
- Ability to work well with a variety of other personalities.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite or related software.
Guidance Counselor Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in counseling or related (essential).
- 5 years of work experience as a counselor in an academic environment.
- Analytical thinker with strong problem-solving and conflict-resolution skills.
- Motivational leader who displays sound judgment and attention to detail.
- Detail-oriented with excellent time management skills.
- Confident interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
- Perceptive intuition and decision-making skills.
- Remarkable professionalism and solid work ethic.
- Intermediate IT skills.
