Youth In Transition Coordinator ***REPOST***

The Office of the Child Advocate (OCA) is a State agency, housed within the judicial branch, charged with safeguarding the welfare of Delaware’s children.  It has 25 full-time employees, six casual/seasonal employees and twelve contractors. OCA operates out of all three counties, representing approximately 550 children in or who have aged out of DSCYF custody through its attorneys and Court Appointed Special Advocate program.  It also monitors over 900 serious child abuse cases through its Office of the Investigation Coordinator (IC), and provides intensive reviews of children who have died or almost died from abuse or neglect through its Child Abuse and Neglect (CAN) Panel. It manages post-secondary scholarships for youth who have experienced foster care.  It provides staffing to the Child Protection Accountability Commission (CPAC) and its numerous committees and workgroups.  Finally, it manages, generates and analyzes data for the entire child welfare system.

Please Note: The location for this job is located in the City of Wilmington. Address: 900 N. King Street, Wilmington, DE 19801

To support OCA in accomplishing its duties, the Youth in Transition Coordinator performs the followings tasks:

•        Administering the scholarship application process for the Ivyane Davis Memorial Scholarship Fund and Chafee ETV Program;
•        Preparing reports related to the scholarship activities and regularly reviewing the scholarship application process, policy and procedure to determine if updates are needed;
•        Working directly with students to complete the scholarship application together with all needed documentation;
•        Assisting students with their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and all other aspects of the college or trade school application process;
•        Collaborating with Independent Living Providers, who support youth, ages 14 and older, in out-of-home placement, to promote the scholarship opportunities and college and trade school readiness, and to coordinate the application from students and to determine the appropriate awards;
•         Preparing and issuing award letters to students;
•        Maintaining regular contact and oversight with students during the academic year and monitoring student progress throughout the school year;
•         Staffing the CPAC Youth in Transition Committee, which administers the scholarship program, and the interview and award panel, which reviews the applications, conducts student interviews, and selects the award recipients at least annually based on the established eligibility criteria;
•         Supporting Delaware’s Youth Advisory Council, HOPE, by attending meetings, sharing input and providing guidance to youth;
•        Coordinating with the educational institutions attended by the students regarding payment and academic progress;
•         Maintaining a comprehensive database of the allocations and outcomes;
•        Working with the Administrative Office of the Courts to ensure the timely release of award to a variety of institutions and providers; 
•         Proposing changes to the State regulations regarding these scholarship funds; and,
•       Understanding how federal grants operate in order to comply with the federal Chafee requirements.

• Possession of a Bachelor's degree
• knowledge of instructing, tutoring, or mentoring individuals or groups. 
• knowledge of interviewing to obtain facts, exploring issues, and identifying courses of action. 
• Experience in establishing and maintaining effective professional relationships with individuals and community agencies. 
• Experience working directly with youth or vulnerable populations. 
• Experience in document processing which includes reviewing and evaluating records for completeness and conformity with laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies, and procedures; resolving deficiencies; interpreting information; and tracking and monitoring activities. 
• Experience in using standard computer software programs for word processing, spreadsheets, or databases. 
• Ability to communicate courteously and effectively, both verbally and in writing. 
• Possession of a valid Delaware Class D driver's license or its equivalent. 

• A satisfactory criminal background check is required as a condition of employment 
• A satisfactory Child Protection Registry check is required as a condition of employment 
• Direct deposit of paychecks is required as a condition of employment. 

Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities in all phases of the application and employment process.  To request an auxiliary aid or service please call (302) 739-5458. TDD users should call the Delaware Relay Service Number 1-800-232-5460 for assistance.

The State of Delaware is an Equal Opportunity employer and values a diverse workforce. We strongly encourage and seek out a workforce representative of Delaware including race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.