Education Navigator

Company: HIGH POINT HOUSING AUTHORITY
Location: High Point
Posted on: March 20, 2020

Job Description:

Education Navigator POSITION TITLE: Education Navigator - Part-time DEPARTMENT: Resident Services The purpose of the Education Navigator is to assist the Housing Authority of the City of High Point's (HPHA) Public Housing program participants with FAFSA completion, college readiness and financial literacy, postsecondary program applications and addressing "summer melt" and helping college-interested youth follow-through.All activities must support the HPHA's strategic goals and objectives and produce results that accomplish the goals and functions of the Resident Services Department. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES The statements below are intended to describe the general nature and scope of work being performed by this position. This is not a complete listing of all responsibilities, duties and/or skills required. Other duties may be assigned. The Education Navigators' workload will comprise four roles aimed at supporting access and completion of higher education in terms of student readiness, applications, financing, and persistence. It is expected that the nature of the work and amount of time allocated to each of the four task areas will change with the natural seasonality of the program. The Education Navigator's primary focus during the fall will be on FAFSA completion, and they will emphasize the other roles outlined below to varying degrees throughout the year, as follows:1. FAFSA Completion (Fall): Education Navigators will help program participants (and their families, as needed) to complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in a timely fashion after the opening of the application period on October 1. Participants who submit the FAFSA early in the fall can learn their financial aid eligibility before applying to and enrolling in postsecondary programs. Education Navigators will advise program participants on the purpose of the FAFSA as well as provide information and assistance on specific tasks required for filling it out, such as identifying what documents are necessary for FAFSA completion and who would likely have those documents. As needed, and where possible, Education Navigators will assist participants with overcoming any obstacles encountered during the FAFSA completion process. For participants that are already postsecondary youth, Navigators will also assist in the process needed for annual FAFSA renewal. Education Navigators will focus on the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 FAFSA periods.2. College Readiness and Financial Literacy (Year-Round): Through interaction with program participants, Education Navigators will help program participants understand and assess their college and postsecondary program readiness, including assistance with time-management skills, note-taking skills, confidence-building skills, and achievement motivation beginning during the junior year of high school. As appropriate to participants' stage of engagement with the postsecondary education application process, Education Navigators will provide basic financial literacy information to help youth make informed decisions, such as information regarding how to compare the expected benefits of a postsecondary education program with its projected costs; the difference between grants, scholarships, and loans; and, if needed, an overview of basic banking tools for managing income and expenses. For program participants who may need to take out loans to help pay for postsecondary programs, Education Navigators will provide relevant information, such as how to evaluate the amount to borrow, types of loans (including how to avoid risky forms of credit or offers targeting higher education youth), interest rates, repayment options, and the importance of building and maintaining good credit.3. Postsecondary Program Applications (Fall/Winter/Spring): Navigators will counsel program participants on factors to consider when selecting a college (including, but not limited to, the financial factors discussed above) and support program participants as they begin narrowing their options. Navigators will assist in completing necessary paperwork and navigating administrative hurdles to application and enrollment. They will identify and document scholarship and other support services and opportunities in the community and refer program participants as appropriate.4. Addressing "SummerMelt" and Helping College-Interested Youth follow Through (Spring/Summer/Fall): Navigators will help program participants complete necessary steps to actually enroll in college after being accepted and applying for financial aid. These tasks include understanding and paying term bills; budgeting for college expenses such as textbooks; responding to colleges' correspondence and completing necessary forms; and enrolling in summer bridge programs as appropriate. Other essential duties and responsibilities include:--- Document and monitor all related programs and services--- Assist with the preparation of the program budget--- Perform/coordinate report preparation, file maintenance and documentation--- Counsel students and parents in constructing attainable scholastic and career goals--- Communicate with HPHA students, accept referrals from Property managers and develop action plan for students--- Successfully accomplish benchmarks, goals and objectives for residents as recommended and/or assigned--- Performs other duties as assigned BEHAVIORAL COMPETENCIES To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies: Commitment: Sets high standards of performance; pursues aggressive goals and works efficiently to achieve them; strives for optimal results and success; conveys an appropriate sense of urgency and brings issues to closure; and persists despite any obstacles and/or opposition. Customer Service: Meets/exceeds the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers; identifies, understands, monitors, and measures the needs of both internal and external customers; talks and acts with customers in mind; and recognizes working colleagues as customers. Effective Communication: Ensures important information is passed to those who need to know; conveys necessary information clearly and effectively, orally or in writing; demonstrates attention to, and conveys understanding of, the comments and questions of others; and listens effectively. Analytical Skills: Synthesizes complex or diverse information; collects and researches data; and uses knowledge and experience to complement data. Quality: Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; looks for ways to improve and promote quality; applies feedback to improve performance; monitors own work to ensure quality. QUALIFICATIONSTo perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each competency satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the job competencies. Job Competencies--- Understanding of key policies, procedures, functions, and staff in the Resident Services Department.--- Knowledge of applicable "HUD" rules and regulations as they pertain to public housing.--- Knowledge of general landlord/tenant and fair housing laws.--- Knowledge of issues facing public housing residents and ability to communicate with individuals of varying social, educational, and economic backgrounds.--- Knows how to maintain cooperative and effective relationships with intra and interdepartmental personnel, as well as any external entities with whom the position interacts.--- Familiarity with local welfare agencies and Agency-sponsored service programs.--- Ability to maintain tact and professionalism in crisis management situations. Education and/or ExperienceNavigator will be expected to read and digest materials provided by HUD and also consider communicating with other Navigators to build a model to adequately address the four roles listed above. Such a model is likely to require the performance of tasks such as: developing expertise in FAFSA, college, and financial aid application processes; creating external partnerships as needed, e.g., with local secondary schools, educational and/or financial literacy service providers, and institutions of higher education; and building trust and productive relationships with resident youth, families and the broader community in the PHA. Additionally, Navigators will be expected to participate in webinars sponsored by HUD or one of its partners/stakeholders. These webinars will focus in the use of available materials to promote FAFSA awareness and support FAFSA completion.Navigator will be expected to serve program participants in the treatment group, and their families, in a full-time capacity. Program participants will be located across multiple AMPs within a PHA, as the treatment group will consist of eligible residents living in whichever AMPs are randomly selected by HUD from a list furnished by the PHA. In PHAs with multiple Navigators, the Navigators will likely be serving different groups of program participants in different AMPs within the same PHA.Bachelor's degree in education, social work or other youth service delivery settings, or related field required with Master's degree preferred. Three (3) to five (5) years' experience in educational, counseling, preferably dealing with low income families. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered. Language SkillsAbility to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public. Mathematical SkillsKnowledge of general mathematical concepts such as the ability to calculate decimals, percentages, and fractions; ability to translate concepts to spreadsheet technologies. Reasoning AbilityAbility to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.Ability to exercise sound independent judgment within established guidelines, and where guidelines are absent, innovates in a responsible manner. Computer SkillsTo perform this job successfully, an individual should have strong computer skills (Microsoft Office, Outlook, and the Internet). Must be able to learn other computer programs as required by assigned tasks. Certificates, Licenses, RegistrationsPossession of a valid, North Carolina driver's license and the ability to be insurable under the Agency's automobile insurance plan at the standard rate. PHYSICAL DEMANDSThe physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is generally required to maintain a stationary position. Daily movements include sitting; standing; operating computers and other office equipment; repetitive keyboarding; reaching and grasping; moving about the office; interacting with non-HPHA personnel; and attending onsite and offsite meetings.The employee must be able to exchange information in person, in writing, and via e-mail, and telephone. The employee may occasionally transport up to 30 - 50 pounds. WORK ENVIRONMENTThe work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Position generally works in either a standard, climate-controlled, office environment or at off-site venues, such as the Agency's housing communities. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. E.O.E. recblid 8caipjlazsx407mjhm4m3kq1qaplt4

Keywords: HIGH POINT HOUSING AUTHORITY, High Point , Education Navigator, Education / Teaching , High Point, North Carolina