Student Advocate

STUDENT ADVOCATE
EXPECTED START: January 2025

ABOUT THE YOUTH EMPOWERMENT PROJECT

Founded in 2004, YEP is a New Orleans-based non-profit organization that provides comprehensive services to underserved young people. Our mission is to empower young people to improve their lives and the lives of others. Since YEP’s inception as the first juvenile reentry program for formerly incarcerated children in Louisiana, we have grown significantly in scope, size and impact.

YEP is the largest non-profit organization in the Greater New Orleans region focused on providing comprehensive services to young people disconnected from school and work and impacted by the justice system. We employ more than 50 staff, are governed by an engaged 20-member board of directors, and to date have operated with an annual budget of $5.6 million – about 50% coming from public contracts with local and state government agencies and 50% raised from private philanthropy.

• YEP’s programs have demonstrated impact on the young people we serve:
  • To date, YEP has served over 8,500 young people. Today, we average more than 800 participants per year.
  • As of March 2023, YEP has helped 575 graduates aged 16-60 earn their HiSET – Louisiana’s high school equivalency diploma.
  • 94% of young people and 100% of their parents felt YEP provided them with opportunities to develop skills, interact effectively with others and cope with new situations.
  • 87% of young people said YEP has helped them feel like they have more control over their lives.
  • 93% of young people and their parents said YEP helped them feel better prepared to achieve their personal goals.
• YEP was named “Nonprofit of the Year” in 2021 by New Orleans City Business Magazine. Melissa Sawyer was named “CEO of the Year” in January 2023 by Biz New Orleans Magazine.
• In 2021, we received a $3 million donation from philanthropist Mackenzie Scott, a reflection of YEP’s reputation as an equity-oriented, high-impact youth-serving organization.

Other differentiators and points of pride include:

• Strong Program Results. Across all of YEP’s services areas, 75% youth have consistently demonstrated emotional wellbeing improvement on at least one validated socio-emotional measurement instrument. 100% of parents and guardians surveyed say that their child benefitted from their involvement in YEP’s program and services. Last year, 90% of youth surveyed said that their involvement with YEP helped them to be better prepared to achieve their personal goals.
• Steady Organizational Growth. YEP originally started to serve court-involved youth, but has grown significantly to engage youth and families who live in chronic poverty, are out of school or work, or have experienced trauma. Today, we operate programs in five geographic locations, including Central City, Mid-City, Algiers, St. Charles Parish and New Orleans East. Demand for our programs is high, and we have grown our reach over time despite the challenges of COVID and Hurricanes Ida and Katrina.
• Consistent, Invested Senior Leadership and Highly Engaged Board of Directors. YEP’s leadership team of four has been at the organization for more than 50 years combined. YEP’s Board of Directors is highly engaged and supportive of YEP’s mission and staff. As a group, we are highly invested and stable.
• Commitment to Staff Wellness. YEP offers generous benefits. YEP is a warm and caring place to work and in addition to many other benefits, offers a savings account and retirement match, pays 100% of employee health care, life insurance, and short- and long-term disability.
• Strong Financial Position. For years, YEP has had strong, reliable and transparent financials. We have clean audits, a larger-than-average cash reserve and own three of our buildings outright.

Position Summary

The YEP Educates Student Advocate will provide critical support to YEP Educates participants, including providing case management and supportive services to ensure that participants make progress and are successful throughout the program. The Student Advocate will play a key role on the YEP Educates team by assisting with key programmatic functions to help engage and retain students in the program (i.e. orientation, enrichment outings, outreach and retention efforts, etc.), in addition to providing direct student support. The YEP Educates Student Advocate may work flexibly between YEP Educates locations or in the community in order to engage former, current, and potential students. The YEP Educates Student Advocate will work closely with the broader YEP Educates team, including instructors, other student advocates, administrative team members, and community volunteers. The YEP Educates Student Advocate will report directly to the YEP Educates Director.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university, or 2 years of professional work experience
• 2 years of experience working with youth in a community-based or educational setting
• Demonstrated effectiveness in case management or mentoring with out-of-school youth and adults to achieve measurable outcomes
• Experience with data entry and case documentation
• Flexible, solution-focused, and open to giving and receiving feedback
• Ability to work toward individual goals with integrity and in alignment with team goals
• Experience using relationship-based approaches to developing positive coping skills and resolving conflict, i.e. Restorative Approaches
• Experience planning and facilitating group activities with youth and adults
• Familiarity of local service providers and referral partners
• Knowledge and ability to use computers and related technology in order to accomplish key employment responsibilities
• Reliable transportation and willingness to transport youth participants using a personal vehicle
• Commitment to the mission and vision of YEP

Compensation
The rate of pay for this role is between $40,000 to $45,000 annually for a full-time annual salary or the hourly equivalent ($19 - $21/ hour) for a part-time hourly wage. YEP provides an excellent benefits package for full-time employees including an option for 100% coverage of health insurance premiums.

Responsibilities

• Assess student needs, establish collaborative goals, provide individualized case management and supportive services to participants, and assist with reducing barriers that negatively impact student participation.
  • Supportive services include but are not limited to direct services and referrals related to transportation, physical health, mental health, food, shelter, childcare, documentation assistance, etc.
• Collaborate with YEP Educates Instructors, other YEP staff, and a range of external stakeholders to ensure integrated service delivery and steady progression toward participant progress.
• Collaborate with the YEP Educates team to ensure students are able to complete new student orientation and testing, as well as address any barriers to engagement in YEP Educates classes.
• Use restorative approaches to support and engage students in order to increase persistence and retention.
• Demonstrate responsible stewardship of program materials, keeping equipment in working order and coordinating any repairs or maintenance as needed
• Maintain accurate records to track student progress and outcomes, both in physical student files and in YEP’s Efforts to Outcomes database
• Attend and actively participate in regular staff meetings and professional development for YEP staff members
• Participate in regular team and supervision meetings
• Support group enrichment activities to encourage student retention
• Assist with the planning and implementation of special initiatives, events, and celebrations that are focused on participant engagement and retention
• Assist with broader participant outreach and recruitment efforts - Identifying recruitment opportunities, representing YEP Educates at recruitment/ tabling events, etc.
• Other related tasks as assigned

Training:

All new YEP team members will receive comprehensive on-the-job training from veteran YEP Enriches staff members. Additional training occurs throughout the first six weeks as well as ongoing learning and development opportunities.

Our Commitment to Equity and Inclusion

Youth Empowerment Project is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion in our work and on our teams. We know that the rich diversity of perspectives and wisdom that is imperative to our purpose can only come from a wide variety of origins and life experiences. We strongly believe that creating a workplace where all team members thrive is critical to fulfilling our mission in the communities we serve and we intentionally recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool.

Qualified candidates are urged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state, or local protected class.

YEP does not have the capacity to receive phone calls regarding a hiring process. Please contact Holly Hubbard via email at hhubbard@youthempowermentproject.org to ask questions or reschedule interviews as far in advance of the interview as possible.

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