Project Advisor Temporary Upward Bound Los Angeles

About Us: VOALA Helping Our Most Vulnerable Change Their Life Stories Volunteers of America is a non-profit human services organization committed to serving people in need, strengthening families, and building communities.

VOALA provides a variety of social services to Los Angeles area communities such as Head Start programs, Upward Bound college prep programs, veterans’ services, homeless shelters, low-income housing program as well as drug and alcohol rehabilitation.

Learn more at www.voala.org.

UPWARD BOUND The VOALA Upward Bound program serves students at Roosevelt High, Dorsey High, Crenshaw High, Washington Preparatory, Leuzinger, North Hollywood High, San Fernando High, Polytechnic High, Sun Valley and Westminster High.

Upward Bound provides fundamental education support and preparation for college.

Serving more than 500 students annually from low-income families and/or high school students from families in which neither parent holds a college degree.

Upward Bound is one of seven federally-funded TRiO programs.

The Upward Bound program was established to provided fundamental support to participants in their preparation for college entrance.

The program provides opportunities for participants to succeed in their pre-college performance and ultimately in their higher education pursuits.

Upward Bound serves high school students from low-income families and high school students from families in which neither parent holds a bachelor’s degree.

The goal is to increase the rate at which participants complete the secondary education and enroll in and graduate from institutions of post-secondary education.

We provide after-school academic instruction in core subjects and foreign languages, as well as PSAT, SAT, and ACT test preparation.

Career exploration and mentoring are also an integral component to assist participants in deciding on potential college majors and career options.

We also provide college and career planning workshops, a summer program, individualized academic planning and counseling, financial aid advising, scholarship and application assistance, supplemental Saturday instruction and weekly tutoring as well as college and cultural field trips and an alumni program.

JOB SUMMARY AND PURPOSE The Project Advisor is responsible for preparing participants for high school graduation and post-secondary education.

The services and activities performed by the Project Advisor will enhance motivation and improve graduation rates, including coordination of tutorial services, college and career advising, academic achievement monitoring, college and career tours.

The Program Goals for the participants served by the Project Advisor are:
• Enroll and complete in a rigorous high school program of study
• Achieve High School graduation
• Improve academic performance on standardized tests, and competitive scores on college entrance exams
• Enrollment in post-secondary education
• Promote college degree attainment in six years DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Student Support Functions
• Recruit, select, enroll, and advise students at an assigned High School; conduct outreach to students and community;
• Provide participants at the target school with academic advising and planning, career awareness and assessment, post-secondary option information and application assistance, college entrance examination information, financial aid advising and application assistance to ensure successful graduation from secondary school and enrollment in post-secondary institution;
• Develop curriculum and conduct workshops/seminars on college and career planning, financial literacy and personal development;
• Coordinate tutorial services available at the target school, including internal program resources, other VOALA services, and other community services; supervise, monitor, and support Tutors, Instructors, Advisors (et cetera);
• Take an active role with the participants discipline process, including but not limited to: write ups; verbal warnings; and communication with parent/guardian;
• Prepare an intervention plan for student’s performing at a grade of C and below;
• Plan and organize college visits and other educational group functions, actively supervise program participants during group activities ensuring the safety of all participants;
• Refer participants and parents to specific outside resources as needed; Program Operational Functions
• Enter data to Blumen database keeping track of the student contacts, Tutoring resource schedules (i.e.

Success Center hours, etc.;
• Prepare weekly evaluations and weekly reports;
• Maintain organized, accurate, and up-to-date files and records on participants documenting and detailing services provided, student progress and outcomes;
• Observe all tutoring resource(s) activities (Student Tutors, Success Center, Saturday Academy, etc.) to assess quality of instruction and student engagement;
• Assist in planning, coordinating, supervising, and attending program activities and field trips;
• Collaborate with other agencies and other VOA programs work as a team member aiding in the efficiency and effectiveness of the program;
• Report to Project Director and/or Directors employed with the program; ensuring that program objectives are met annually (improved academic performance, competitive scores on entrance exams, improved retention/graduation, completion of post-secondary education), assist with the collection of data for the Annual Performance Report (APR)
• Additional duties may be assigned Qualifications REQUIREMENTS:
• Must be able to pass a fingerprint clearance, background check, including criminal history, personal references, employment and education verifications
• Proof at the time of hire TB clearance within 6 months prior
• Annual Influenza vaccination (between Aug 1 – Dec 1)
• Pertussis (whooping cough) and measles immunization
• Health screening at the time of employment EDUCATION:
• Bachelor’s degree in education, social work, counseling, or related degree from accredited college or university EXPERIENCE:
• Minimum of 2 years of relevant professional experience working in an educational setting, TRIO Federal program, or similar program with disadvantaged and at-risk students KNOWLEDGE:
• Knowledge of academic advisement in a college preparatory program
• Knowledge of college entry and financial aid/scholarship process
• Knowledge of curriculum development and workshop/seminar presentation TECHNOLOGY SKILLS:
• Working Microsoft operating system skills: Outlook, Office, Word, Excel, PowerPoint.

• Familiar with online tools/resources: CSU Mentor, University of California Doorways A-G Requirements, Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), SAT/ACT College Entrance Exam Registration, California Colleges and Career Exploration; generally proficient with database applications.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
• Ability to asses academic needs and evaluate participants in an academic setting;
• Demonstrated ability to effectively maintain a caseload of project participants who receive the services and activities as indicated on their individual plans while ensuring documentation is submitted on time to Director;
• Ability to be actively engaged in the day to day operations of the program;
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Ability to work with people from various backgrounds and/or limited English capabilities
• Strong Public Speaking skills.

• Ability to perform under circumstances of possible emotional stress and conflict, including dealing with un-cooperative clients.

• Ability to safely and successfully perform the essential job functions consistent with the ADA, FMLA, and other federal, state, and local standards, with or without reasonable accommodation, including meeting qualitative and quantitative productivity standards.

• Ability to maintain regular, punctual attendance consistent with ADA, FMLA, and other federal, state, and local standards.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• Master’s degree in education, social work or counseling from accredited college or university
• Formal training and/or work experience in programming that improves secondary school retention/graduation rates
• Experience preparing high school students for admission and financial aid to post-secondary schools
• Professional or personal experience in overcoming barriers similar to those confronting project participants
• TRIO experience
• Bilingual in English and Spanish Volunteers of America is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex including sexual orientation and gender identity, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law This employer participates in E-Verify as required by the federal government and will provide the federal government with your Form 1-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.

If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (OHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment.