Program Manager, McKinney Vento - Community Schools & Student Services (2024-25) Job Listing at Oakland Unified School District in Oakland, CA (Job ID 19038)

Description

BASIC FUNCTION: Under minimal supervision, the Unhoused Youth Program Manager facilitates the collaboration between District unhoused youth, families, case managers, school site staff, shelters, social services, special education, student services, mentors, tutors, community organizations, and government agencies to ensure the physical, social/emotional, and educational needs of the unhoused youth attending Oakland Unified schools are being met. The Program Manager promotes and supports the OUSD Strategic Plan to create equitable opportunities for learning and success to ensure all students are college and career ready and plays an integral role in achieving the mission and goals of a Full Service Community District by providing support to students and families.

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES: (Incumbents may perform any combination of the essential functions shown below. This position description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, knowledge, or abilities associated with this classification, but is intended to reflect the principal job elements accurately.)

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Supervise McKinney-Vento program staff to ensure that services and entitlements for unhoused youth are accessible and efficacious to meet the academic, social and emotional learning needs of students in OUSD.
• Facilitate and expedite the enrollment of unhoused youth and families into OUSD schools.
• Advocate for students' educational needs by creating a continuum of care between schools, shelters, public assistance agencies, employment, health, and other social service agencies. 
• Lead professional development for unhoused youth case managers and contractual providers to instill the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively support unhoused youth and families to achieve success academically, socially and emotionally.
• Facilitate the delivery of timely, accurate, accessible, and language-specific information to unhoused parents, caregivers, and service providers about unhoused youth services and entitlements and serve as an educational advocate to qualifying students.
• Manage outreach to schools, transitional housing, shelters, encampments, child welfare and juvenile justice placements, and other residences in support unhoused youth and families.
• Develop and manage systems and protocols that assist unhoused youth with transitions into a public school setting; collaborate in the development of assessments, strategies, defining goals, preparing action plans, and accessing information and resources.
• Ensure the successful enrollment and re-entry of unhoused youth by serving as a liaison between students, families and the OUSD student enrollment office. 
• Support unaccompanied and unhoused youth to access a continuum of educational and community-based services and supports to facilitate employment, post-secondary school and career readiness.
• Oversee and monitor attendance and discipline reports of unhoused youth and families in OUSD and provide case management to meet academic, social and emotional needs. 
• Coordinate with administrators, staff, and student service providers to ensure access to a continuum of supports for unhoused youth and families.
• Facilitate access to health education and parent education programs for unhoused youth and families, and their caregivers.
• Maintain database of unhoused youth and families to document case plan including identified needs, services brokered, services rendered, and their associated impact and outcomes.
• Ensure that all OUSD unhoused youth providers develop and maintain caring and equitable relationships with students, parents, staff, and service providers to ensure open and ongoing communication and collaboration in support of student's needs.
• Work in partnership with the Behavioral Health Unit, Student Assignment Center, Attendance and Discipline Support Services, Programs for Exceptional Children, and the Family Engagement unit to ensure access to an array of services for delinquent and unhoused youth and families and their families.
• Coordinate partnerships to ensure that unhoused youth access available transition services such as vocational training, emancipation services and training for independent living.
• Collaborate with schools, District departments, and child welfare agencies to minimize changes in school placement for unhoused youth.
• Obtain and distribute school readiness supplies and materials to unhoused youth and families.
• Attend Coordination of Service Team meetings and collaborate with school site staff to provide home visits, attend Student Study Teams (SSTs) and Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), and provide coordination, consultation, and crisis intervention to support qualifying students to remain in the least restrictive educational placement.
• Obtain transcripts, perform transcript analysis, conduct assessments, and develop support plans that address the individual needs of qualifying students; facilitate the transfer of the education and health records for unhoused youth.
• Provide, recruit, and broker tutoring, counseling and mentoring services, after school and summer enrichment programs, and other supplemental supports including credit recovery classes for unhoused youth and families; provide or refer student to direct intervention and prevention services.
• Advocate for unhoused youth by serving as District liaison to local, regional, and state agencies as assigned to ensure compliance with current policies, laws, and entitlements governing the educational rights of delinquent and unhoused youth and families.
• Coordinate and participate in the evaluation of program success; provide feedback on methods to enhance program effectiveness; develop survey tools, analyze results and make recommendations for improvements.
• Maintain current knowledge of state and federal regulations and legal requirements related to unhoused youth services and delinquent youth services; provide leadership in the application and interpretation of laws and regulations regarding funding, policy development and program compliance.
• Develop and monitor budgets for unhoused youth services, manage grants and projects; research and develop grant proposals.
• Prepare written and oral reports; maintain student program records and documentation; provide periodic reports to the District, schools, and partners.
• Participate in professional development opportunities related to unhoused youth education as well as refugee, migrant and foster youth.
• Collaborate with Foster, Migrant and Refugee/Asylee program team members to perform community outreach and for information sharing to advance the needs of the department. 
• Supervise, train, coach and evaluate the performance of assigned staff.  
• Provide cross-training to team members and other staff.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

The District determines whether a candidate is qualified based on fulfillment of prerequisites, relevant work experience, ability to perform the essential functions, reference checks, effective interpersonal and communication skills demonstrated by interview performance and/or writing samples, and achievement on performance-based assessments (if applicable) that demonstrate the candidate possesses the requisite knowledge, skills and abilities. Meeting prerequisites only satisfies the initial screening process and does not indicate the candidate is qualified to perform the essential functions of the position.

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• Current issues pertaining to unhoused youth in relation to transportation, shelter, medical, employment, food, and academic assistance programs.
• Local health and education services
• Related community agency organization, resources and services
• Budgetary principles and practices
• Highly difficult, technical educational, cultural, social, and recreational programs
• Advanced training techniques; correct English usage, grammar, spelling, and punctuation
• Telephone techniques, systems and etiquette
• Interpersonal skills using tact, patience and courtesy; good communication skills and techniques
• Applicable federal, state, and District codes, regulations, policies and procedures 
• Principles and practices of evaluation and supervision
• Collection and organization of information including electronic data
• Methods to interpret apply and explain rules, regulations, policies, and procedures
• Computer software, hardware, and related technology
• Training programs and techniques
• Facilitation practices and skills

ABILITY TO:

• Interpret, implement, and maintain current knowledge of applicable laws, codes, policies, procedures, and District regulations governing work scope
• Ensure the development and implementation of communication with appropriate agencies to develop effective unhoused youth services and homeless education services
• Identify, contact, develop and coordinate community and educational resources
• Prepare clear, concise and comprehensive reports, recommendations and assessments
• Make effective oral presentations to individuals and groups
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with, school district staff and agency personnel, and others contacted in the course of work
• Perform a variety of highly difficult, technical duties involving specialized knowledge and independent judgment
• Prioritize responsibilities to provide timely support to schools in using a broad range of tools and activities
• Communicate clearly; understand and interpret District and other rules, policies and procedures
• Understand and follow oral and written directions
• Work independently
• Work with computer software, hardware, and related technology
• Meet schedules and timelines
• Maintain records
• Analyze situations accurately and take appropriate action
• Work cooperatively with others
• Complete work accurately and as directed with many interruptions
• Organize, coordinate and prioritize a large volume of activities, programs and services
• Identify and resolve school site and other issues in a timely manner
• Train employees and others
• Prepare presentations and use expert facilitation skills

PREREQUISITES

• Bachelor Degree from an accredited college or university in Psychology, Child Development, Human Services, Education or related social services discipline
• Three (3) years of relevant experience working with related student populations
• One (1) year of leadership or supervisory experience
• Experience working with unhoused students and families.
• Master's degree in related field preferred
• Experience working with unhoused youth in an urban school district environment preferred
• Experience developing and facilitating community partnerships on behalf of unhoused youth and families preferred
• Proficient in California education codes, Welfare and Institutions codes, and other laws and protections governing the education rights of unhoused youth and families and their families   
• Combination of skills, education, experience and ability to fulfill all representative duties associated with this position
• Valid California Driver's License, if applicable

PRE-EMPLOYMENT PROCESS:

Employment eligibility will include fingerprints, tuberculosis and/or other employment clearance

WORKING CONDITIONS

ENVIRONMENT:

Office and diverse school site environments; driving a vehicle to conduct work; fast-paced work; constant interruptions; potential contact communicable diseases.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Consistent mental alertness; sitting or standing for extended periods of time; lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling objects up to 30 pounds, occasionally 30+ pounds; bending and twisting at the waist, reaching overhead, above the shoulders and horizontally; dexterity of both hands and fingers while performing duties; seeing to read, write and use the computer; hearing and speaking to exchange information, in person or on the telephone, and make presentations.

NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY:

The Oakland Unified School District does not discriminate in any program, activity, or in employment on the basis of actual or perceived race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, veteran status, gender, sex, or sexual orientation.