RAMP (Regional Access & Mobilization Project)
Location
Rockford, IL | United States
Job description
What we are looking for in this position:
We are looking for an advocate to reduce barriers for youth with disabilities, spread awareness, and prepare students with disabilities to realize there are no limits to what they can do. This Youth Education Advocate will work with youth with disabilities and their families to ensure that they are receiving the support and services they need to succeed in school. The Youth Education Advocate will help students and families understand the rights of students with disabilities in the education system, advocate alongside the student and family, and work in conjunction with educators to make educational experiences accessible for students with disabilities. This position also requires an understanding of the principles of the Independent Living (IL) Philosophy and a genuine desire to carry out this philosophy. If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, please apply!
The position will spend a lot of time conducting the following activities:
- Working one-on-one with students and their families to support them in their goals.
- Building a connection between students/families and school personnel.
- Working with and advocating for families and children with disabilities.
- Networking in the community .
- Searching for outreach opportunities to promote Youth Education Advocacy services.
- Attending school meetings with students/families.
Job Location: Based in either Winnebago County or DeKalb County with regular travel to Boone , DeKalb and Winnebago Count ies ; hybrid remote work opportunity.
Starting salary range - based on experience: $34, 855 - $36,598
(Please note: each salary offer is determined by using a rating scale, which is based off the minimum salary of the range provided).
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RAMP
Purpose, Parameters, Qualifications, Activities and Performance Indicators
for the position of
Youth Education Advocate
PURPOSE OF POSITION: RAMP’s Youth Education Advocates (YEA) assist parents/guardians of children with disabilities to realize that there are no limits to what they can do. Staff provide students and their families, with the skills and information they need to ensure that the child receives a fair and equitable education as do their peers without disabilities. RAMP teaches students/families how to communicate and advocate effectively. Advocates also work with school district staff to help them understand their responsibilities to children with disabilities and how to appropriately accommodate their educational needs. This position serves students ranging in age birth to 22 years across RAMP’s service area (Boone, DeKalb, Stephenson & Winnebago Counties). Services provided by RAMP’s staff may be in-person or virtual based on consumer needs.
POSITION PARAMETERS: Reports directly to the Youth Services Director with the option of home office to be in DeKalb, IL or Rockford, IL; full-time; full benefits; salaried/non-exempt; travel and expenses reimbursed.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: - At least 3 years of proven, successful work experience in a related field. Associate or bachelor’s degree preferred;
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to present information in a clear, concise manner;
- Superb mediation skills;
- Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively as a team player;
- Literacy in word processing and data entry;
- Ability to use/learn Microsoft Office programs: Teams, SharePoint, Word, Excel, and Outlook;
- Ability to handle multiple tasks while maintaining organization and meeting deadlines;
- Good team working skills;
- Professional manner in dress and when interacting with others both inside and outside of the organization;
- Self motivated;
- Personal experience and/or intimate knowledge of and belief in the Independent Living Philosophy;
- Reliable transportation and a willingness to work early morning, evening and weekend hours, if needed;
- Knowledge of the educational system and educational laws;
- Knowledge of educational disparities the youth with disabilities encounter;
- Bi-lingual preferred, but not mandatory.
JOB ACTIVITIES: Collaborate with consumers & families to identify needs, goals, and objectives. - If requested by the consumer/parent, develop an Independent Living Plan (ILP); if waived develop a Goal Sheet to outline the consumer’s goals, objectives, and time frames for completion of goals.
- Provide regular encouragement and follow-up to RAMP consumers and family members.
- Assist the consumer/family in navigating community resources and providers to assist with desired goals; refer consumers to other community agencies or services providers as needed.
Maintain an active caseload and complete all necessary paperwork and documentation. - Contact new referrals within RAMP’s guidelines and provide follow-up until needs are met and/or intake is scheduled.
- Complete necessary intake information: consumer profile, release(s), rights and responsibilities, and when needed access documentation necessary for the provision of premium services.
- Document all contacts related to intake and casual consumers in the consumer database (CILS First) within 48 hours of service provision.
- Manage active caseload.
- Enter community engagement activities (CEA) into the RAMP databases in a timely manner.
- Make sure that quarterly reports (if pertinent to your position) are complete, approved by the Youth Services Director, and submitted to the Chief Program Officer by the 5th of the month following that quarter.
Actively serve as an advocate of the Independent Living Philosophy and disability-related laws. - Attend school meetings as requested by parent/student (IEP’s, 504 Plans, etc).
- Pursue and remain abreast of advocacy issues/laws related to equal rights for adults & students with disabilities on both individual and systemic levels.
- Maintain a high level of visibility within RAMP’s service area so that coordination and opportunities for people with disabilities are at an optimum.
- Attend and conduct networking activities with other agencies, service providers, and organizations to ensure that consumer needs are being met.
- Provide technical assistance to the community in regard to special education laws/needs.
Maintain enthusiasm and creativity in assisting consumers. - Meet with supervisor on a bi-weekly basis to discuss individual consumer services, and to review goals and objectives. (Coaching)
- Collaborate and network with co-workers to ensure consistency across the four county offices and to enhance services to consumers.
- Continue personal and professional development through educational opportunities, attending workshops and conferences, participating in peer/case reviews, and by attending all staff/development meetings.
- Be available for community presentations on RAMP’s mission and services and the IL Philosophy.
Provide Transition Planning Training to parents/students. - Refer parents/children to resources in the community to assist with transition goals.
- Provide skills training to students of transition-age within the schools.
- Provide opportunities for transition-age youth to experience community involvement and to increase leadership skills.
DISCLAIMER
The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.
RAMP provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
This statement applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
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