Location: Bowling Green, KY Category: Staff Posted On: Wed Jun 26 2024 Job Description:

The Training Resource Center (TRC) is a vital partnership between Kentucky's Cabinet for Health and Family Services, their Division of Protection and Permanency within the Department for Community Based Services, and Western Kentucky University's LifeSkills Center for Child Welfare Education and Research (LCCWEAR). The main goal of the five subprograms (e.g., Resource Parent Training, Resource Parent Trainers, Network, Adoption Promotion & Support, and Independent Living) of the Training Resource Center is to:

• Support the youth who are in foster care

• Provide specialized services to ensure their successful transition to adulthood

• Improve the capacity and capability of resource parents across the Commonwealth

Western Kentucky University's LifeSkills Center for Child Welfare Education and Research (LCCWEAR) is seeking applications for the Training Resource Center Independent Living Coordinator. The Coordinator will be responsible for all activities and services related to the independent living grant in Kentucky. This includes coordinating the following services/activities: supervision of the Voices of the Commonwealth (youth leadership council), KY RISE regional activities, and organizing a statewide conference for youth in foster care. This will include working with regional Independent Living Specialists of the Department for Community Based Services, foster youth and alumni, Western Kentucky University employees, and foster/adoptive parents. The LCCWEAR Director will serve as the Principal Investigator of this partnership and provide program support for this project in a university-based administrative role. The TRC Independent Living Coordinator will report directly to the Director of the TRC as they actualize the mission of this partnership with Kentucky's Cabinet for Health and Family Services.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

The following duties are expected for this position but are not to be construed as all-inclusive. Duties may be added, deleted, and assigned based on management discretion and institutional needs.

• Supervision of Voices of the Commonwealth youth leadership council. Works with regional Independent Living Specialists to identify youth to participate in the Voices of the Commonwealth council, as well as recruiting at regional and statewide events

• Facilitate regional and statewide council meetings and activities

• Coordinate and facilitate annual KYRISE activities in each assigned region.

• Co-coordinate and facilitate an annual conference for 175 youth ages 16 and older in Kentucky's foster care system.

• Work with VOC members to prepare quarterly online newsletter

• Maintain program tracking sheet documenting regional events, attendance, VOC meetings and other engagements for the Director and to be included in the WKU annual assessment

• Travel some days, nights and weekends will be required.

• Coordinator will be responsible for coordinating regional and statewide events including: setting up locations, meals, staffing, lodging if needed, entertainment, partnering with community resources to provide information to youth, working with vendors on budget, selecting and ordering promotional items and giveaways, branding and marketing the council, utilizing social media to keep contact with VOC, ILSs, Community Partners and the funding source.

• Recruit, hire and supervise up to 45 temporary youth advocate employees (VOC), across the state. This includes completing an interview; all of the hiring paperwork; creating and coaching them through the onboarding training process; reinstatement of annual PA's; handling discipline issues; processing their reimbursements; supervising them on trips and at functions; supporting them in seeking other advocacy opportunities; providing professional development training; tracking work hours and approving timesheets; meet monthly at various locations in the state providing opportunity for the council to plan activities, discuss advocacy goals and plans and receive professional development training; facilitating biweekly or monthly check ins to keep VOC members on tasks with their goals and provide updates and information.

• Prepare quarterly updates for the VOC, funding source, and state staff.

• Other duties are required.

  Job Requirements:

• Bachelor degree in social work, psychology, sociology or a related field

• One year of professional experience working with youth, preferably youth in out of home care.

• Proficient with basic computer programs, social media, and event coordination.

• Ability to travel during regular work hours and some nights, evenings as needed.

  Additional Information:

Hourly Rate: $24.94

Kentucky state law requires all public institutions of postsecondary education to conduct pre-employment criminal background checks to determine suitability for employment.

Western Kentucky University (WKU) is committed to a policy and practice of providing equal employment and educational opportunities to all individuals. In accordance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Revised 1992, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, no form of discrimination or harassment will be tolerated at WKU on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, marital status, age, uniformed services, veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, or physical or mental disability in admission to career and technical education programs and/or activities, or employment practices.

Persons with disabilities, who need reasonable accommodations to participate in the application and/or selection process, should notify the office of Institutional Equity. To request an accommodation, report a complaint, or ask questions regarding WKU's Discrimination and Harassment Policy (#0.2040), please contact Ms. Ena Demir, Executive Director/Title IX Coordinator via email at ena.demir@wku.edu or by phone at (270) 745-6867. Ms. Demir is also responsible for coordinating the University's response to complaints related to sex and gender harassment. Additional information regarding Title IX is accessible via WKU's https://www.wku.edu/titleix/ website.

Information concerning educational programs offered by WKU are provided at: http://www.wku.edu/atwku/academics.php

For information related to job postings, please email employment@wku.edu.