Academic & Vocational Navigator at CNYHHN Inc – Utica, New York

The Academic & Vocational Navigator is responsible for coordinating, facilitating, and overseeing academic and vocational services for youth and families enrolled in the Growth Opportunities (GO) Program. This position provides individualized and cohort-based training, mentoring, advocacy, and workforce development support to promote academic success, career readiness, and long-term self-sufficiency.

The Navigator serves as the primary coordinator of educational and vocational services, facilitating the IYF Passport to Success (Pathway to Success) Curriculum, developing individualized education and career plans, and building partnerships with community organizations, businesses, and higher education institutions to expand workforce and post-secondary opportunities for youth.

Flexible schedule (daytime, evening and weekend hours)

Activities can include but are not limited to any or all the following depending on the needs of the young people and families enrolled:

• Responsible for managing an assigned caseload of youth participants providing the five (5) core services of the program which include Care Coordination, Mentoring, Leadership/Life Skills, Work-Based Learning Opportunities, Support and Educational Opportunities.
• Complete outreach, engagement and enrollment with all assigned participants as outlined in established policy and procedures.
• Facilitate at the minimally two casework contacts a month with the identified participant and parent/caregiver to facilitate care coordination, development and review of individualized plan, etc.
• Prepare and facilitate the Passport to Success Curriculum with assigned cohort(s) with the agreed upon schedule provided by the GO Program Management team (flexible hours afterschool, evenings and school holiday/breaks).
• Collaborative partnership with the Employer Partners for assigned caseload to provide support, mentoring and coordination for a successful placement. Responsible for assisting with time and attendance, and compensation for paid work-based learning.
• Responsible for documenting all activities as outlined in the policy and procedure manual in the electronic health record, Casebook and the GO Program Teams within Office 365 SharePoint.
• Provide structured mentoring and individualized 1:1 coaching to enrolled youth utilizing the Pathway to Success (PTS) Curriculum, incorporating goal setting, barrier reduction strategies, motivational interviewing, and ongoing progress monitoring.
• Serve as primary coordinator of academic, college, and career services for assigned youth participants.
• Facilitate, coordinate, and oversee youth enrollment and active participation in cohort-based PTS training groups, ensuring engagement, retention, and completion of required curriculum components.
• Develop comprehensive, individualized education and vocational (career/job readiness) plans in partnership with youth and their families, outlining short-term and long-term academic, training, and employment goals with measurable benchmarks.
• Support youth in strengthening essential life skills including communication, time management, financial literacy, workplace expectations, self-advocacy, and conflict resolution while promoting academic readiness and meaningful career exploration.
• Conduct strengths-based assessments to evaluate youth interests, aptitudes, prior work experience, educational status, and potential employment barriers in order to identify appropriate career pathways and workforce opportunities.
• Provide education, advocacy, and academic support services to young people ages 15–24, including assistance with school engagement, GED preparation, credit recovery navigation, post-secondary planning, and connection to supportive services.
• Establish, cultivate, and maintain collaborative relationships with local businesses, workforce partners, and community-based organizations to expand job shadowing, internships, employment placements, and vocational exploration opportunities.
• Conduct outreach and engagement efforts with community providers, schools, referral sources, and families to increase awareness of program services and facilitate timely referrals of eligible youth.
• Collaborate with local higher education institutions to coordinate meaningful exposure opportunities including:
• College site visits
• Classroom observations
• Participation in on-campus workshops and programming
• Virtual and in-person academic enrichment opportunities
• Strengthen and expand strategic partnerships to increase youth access to post-secondary education, credentialing programs, apprenticeships, and vocational training pathways
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary team members to ensure coordinated service delivery, continuity of care, and alignment of educational, vocational, and behavioral health supports.
• Assist in the development, implementation, monitoring, and overall coordination of educational and workforce services to ensure program fidelity and alignment with grant objectives.
• Support program leadership in enhancing community partnerships, identifying expansion opportunities, and contributing to continuous quality improvement initiatives.
• Collect, track, and maintain accurate participant data utilizing project-specific tracking systems and electronic databases; generate weekly and monthly outcome reports as directed by the Divisional Director to ensure compliance with funding and reporting requirements.
• Travel throughout Oneida County to provide in-person services to enrolled youth and families in community settings, schools, partner agencies, and other designated locations as required by Program Administration.
• Maintain thorough knowledge of ConnectEd/CNYHHN policies, procedures, and available community resources to ensure appropriate referrals and compliance with organizational standards.
• Manage an assigned caseload while providing individualized service coordination, consistent follow-up, and progress monitoring to support successful youth outcomes.
• Accurately document all services, contacts, assessments, and case notes within the electronic health record (EHR) system in accordance with agency, contractual, and regulatory requirements.
• Additional duties assigned as applicable to the needs of the youth and family in the program.

Universal Job Functions

• Establish a work environment that creates positive communication between supervisors and employees and assimilates new employees to the agency culture, values, and mission.
• Ensure compliance with all pertinent government and agency regulations and operating standards, including maintaining all required documentation and applicable databases.
• Assist with special projects as needed.
• All other duties as assigned.

• Minimal of a Bachelors of Arts or Science Degree; preferably in psychology, sociology, human services or related field with two years of relevant experience.
• Basic Computer Skills (Windows, Outlook, Word, Excel)
• Travel is required. Must have a valid NYS Driver’s License.
• Competencies and experiences necessary include customer service orientation, diplomacy, diversity, flexibility, follow through, informing others, safety orientation, reliability and consistency, written communication and cooperation and teamwork, listening skill, optimism, quality orientation, analytical thinking.
• Applies and actively shares knowledge, expertise and best practices with team
• Behavior supports the mission, core values and objectives of the organization.
• Displays flexibility and openness in daily work and encourages others to stay open to change and improvement.
• Accepts and readily adapts to changing priorities, new ideas, strategies, procedures and methods.
• Demonstrates and promotes respect toward coworkers and adapts behaviors to work effectively with varying people and situations.
• Accumulates all relevant information prior to making job-related decisions; presents well-considered alternatives when making recommendations.
• Makes decisions in a timely manner.
• Represents the organization and its network of providers by displaying a respectful and caring manner with clients and their families.
• Addresses all client concerns in a timely and efficient manner and reports any complaints to their immediate supervisor or the Director for resolution.
• Complies with quality assurance, OSHA, HIPAA, FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act), infection control, safety and other policies set forth.

WORK ENVIRONMENT / HAZARDS

• Job related tasks do not involve exposure or potential exposure to blood, body fluids, or tissue and Category I tasks are not a condition of employment. May have exposure to unpredictable individuals and situations when working at CCS sites, its affiliates or the community.
• OSHA Exposure Category III

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Certain deadlines and unanticipated developments may require work during evenings, weekends.
• Ability to quickly address any emergent issues without losing focus on task at hand.
• The employee must have full sight and hearing with fluency in the English language. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear.
• The employee frequently is required to stand, walk and sit. Must be able to sit for long periods of time.
• Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a copy machine, scanner, computer printer, etc.
• The employee will need to occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• The 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 accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position without compromising workflow and efficiency.

Benefits:

Health Insurance

Voluntary Insurance Options

Paid Time Off

Paid Sick Leave

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Pet Insurance

Life Insurance

Retirement Plan

Employee Assistance Program

Flexible Schedule

Flexible Spending Account

Other

This position is funded through a grant or contract arrangement with the government, school district or community partner that can change with limited notice and/or is subject to renewal on an annual basis.

WORK CONTACT GROUP

All staff, family members, school district administration, community organizations, school and health home staff, board members.

SUPERVISED BY: PROJECT MANAGER OF GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM

SUPERVISES: None