Number of Openings: 1

Location: Grand Rapids, MN

Work Arrangement: In-Person

Job Summary

Support Teenage Fathers enrolled in the Teenage Parent Program (TAPP) within a scheduled classroom setting. Assist in removing of barriers that would prohibit students meeting their education goals, under the supervision of the Teenage Parent Program (TAPP) Coordinator.

Application for Employment

Job Posting Information

Education

  • Minimum: credential or certification in social work, human services, family services, counseling, or related field.
  • Preferred: Associates/Two Year College Degree or Bachelor’s degree in a related field, OR equivalent knowledge base gained through lived experience or through formal schooling, independent study, short courses or other applicable arrangement.
  • Family Development Specialist Certification or willingness to obtain through the agency.
  • Certification in First Aid, CPR, Sudden Unexplained Infant Death, and Preventing Abusive Head Trauma, or willingness to obtain through agency.

Experience: more than 1 year

  • Experience with high-risk youth or parent education
  • Experience in the Human Services field.
  • Experience working with families, children and community services.

 Qualifications

  • DHS Background Study Clearance
  • Employee Health Certification
  • Valid Driver’s License
  • MVR Approval for use of Agency Vehicles

Schedule/Location

  • Daytime weekday shift- no nights, weekends, or holidays.
  • 8+ Hours/week
  • Grand Rapids, MN

 Compensation

  • Starting Hourly Wage of $19.75
  • Wage Scale of $19.75 to $28.53
  • Scheduled Raises & Cost of Living Allowances

 Benefits

  • Retirement Plan options
  • Tuition Assistance opportunities & Loan Forgiveness qualifying credit
  • Many Training and Professional Development opportunities.

Job Description

Qualifications

  • Education
    • Minimum: credential or certification in social work, human services, family services, counseling, or related field.
    • Preferred: Associates/Two Year College Degree or Bachelor’s degree in a related field, OR equivalent knowledge base gained through lived experience or through formal schooling, independent study, short courses or other applicable arrangement.
    • Family Development Specialist Certification or willingness to obtain through the agency.
    • Certification in First Aid, CPR, Sudden Unexplained Infant Death, and Preventing Abusive Head Trauma, or willingness to obtain through agency.
  • Experience
    • Minimum: more than 1 year
      Experience with high-risk youth or parent education
    • Experience in the Human Services field.
    • Experience working with families, children and community services.
  • Authorizations
    • DHS Background Study
    • Employee Health Certification
    • Valid Driver’s License
      MVR Approval for use of agency vehicles
  • Skills
    • Ability to proficiently operate copy/fax machines, telephone, computers, databases and software, including email, spreadsheets and word processing.
    • Excellent oral and written communication skills.
    • Ability to manage time that results in both a satisfactory quantity and quality of work.
  • Abilities
    • Demonstrated ability to work independently and as a team member.
    • Must be able to handle diverse work problems on a daily basis.
    • Must be able to organize a work schedule, set priorities and work effectively to meet deadlines without supervision.
    • Must be able to adjust to changes necessitated by last minute assignments and deadline requests that may prove stressful.
    • Must be able to work flexible hours as needed in order to meet the needs of the clients.
    • Ability to effectively work across differences, especially socio-economic and cultural differences
    • Attend trainings, classes, and meetings as necessary to improve job skills and maintain an acceptable level of job performance.
  • Other Knowledge
    • Infant & toddler child development (preferred).
    • Curriculum delivery.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive and employee will also perform other reasonably related business duties as assigned.

Area 1: Student Support

  • Provide one-on-one support, encouragement, and guidance to each teen father that will enable them to make an informed decision about post-secondary education and/or employment
  • Mentor teen fathers and coach through parenting and co-parenting decisions.
  • Model appropriate social-emotional skills.
  • Maintain healthy and professional boundaries with program participants. Assist in promoting and carrying out of positive behavioral norms and program values.
  • Encourage parents to participate in Family First Events, Parent Education, and other community organizations and events.
  • Assist with implementing initiatives, such as Fatherhood/Male Involvement and Grand Parents Raising Grandchildren, Health Education, ABC’s of Financial Literacy, Health Literacy, etc.

Area 2: Program Operations

  • Carry-out daily class schedules with community partners.
  • Attend TAPP advisory meetings with the TAPP Coordinator and community partners throughout the program year as needed. Assist in evaluating the program’s effectiveness and support making changes to curriculum/activities as needed.
  • Give necessary referrals for additional services for any household member; advocate for the household in receipt of services, completing all necessary documentation.
  • Understand, be able and willing to communicate the mission of KOOTASCA and how this position fulfills the mission.

Area 3: Work Compliance & Reporting

  • Work in conjunction with the TAPP Coordinator to accurately document and report student attendance and credit hours.
  • Comply with all Early Head Start paperwork and performance standards within the EHS/TAPP combination model.
  • Provide all requested documentation and reporting to TAPP Coordinator accurately and in a timely manner.
  • Protect confidentiality and privacy of families by using release/exchange of information forms and disseminating information on a “need to know” basis.
  • Share any major issues or events happening with families with TAPP Coordinator.
  • Report identified or suspected child abuse or neglect to Child Protection and to the TAPP Coordinator

Job Factors

Supervision of Others: 

  • Not responsible for supervision of others

Safety of Others

  • Minimal responsibility for the safety of others. Probability of injury to self or others is remote.

Contacts

  • Contact is with other employees, departments, customers, public, and others.

Physical Demand

  • Must be able to lift 25 pounds
  • Requires sitting, standing, bending, stooping and reaching

Travel

  • Must have reliable transportation.
  • Must have valid driver’s license and current auto insurance coverage in compliance with Minnesota State guidelines on the vehicle used for work related travel.
  • Travel for completion of job duties, trainings and meetings as required.

General Agency Requirements

Professionalism:

  • Maintain positive work atmosphere by behaving and communicating in a manner that fosters good relations with clients, customers, co-workers, providers, volunteers, and supervisors.
  • Treat clients, co-workers, and the public in a respectful and courteous manner at all times.
  • Continue to develop skills and abilities.

Community Representation:

  • Represent KOOTASCA Community Action, Inc. in a positive manner.
  • Adhere to the Community Action Code of Ethics.
  • Seek to understand poverty and the barriers faced by community members.

Confidentiality:

  • Maintain confidentiality of agency, program, and client information.

KOOTASCA Community Action is an Equal Opportunity (EEO) and Affirmative Action (AA) Employer. We recruit, select, hire, place, transfer, promote, demote, layoff, discipline, terminate, recall, compensate, and train without regard to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, familial status, disability, veteran status, status with regard to public assistance, membership or activity in a local human rights commission, or any other basis protected by applicable laws, directives, and regulations of federal, state, and local governing bodies or agencies. We will provide reasonable accommodation to applicants and employees with disabilities whenever possible.