JOB TITLE: ADJUDICATED YOUTH EDUCATION PROGRAMS CONSULTANT

JOB CODE: 24815

SERIES NATURE OF WORK: The Adjudicated Youth Education Programs Consultant job series describes work in providing advisory, evaluative, and monitoring services to improve education and career training programs for adjudicated youth.

DEFINITION: This is responsible professional work in providing advisory, evaluative, and monitoring services for academic and career training programs provided to adjudicated youth through the Pennsylvania Academic and Career/Technical Training (PACTT) project within the Department of Human Services (DHS).

An employee in this job provides advisory and consultative services in the planning, development, expansion, implementation, and improvement of academic, career, and technical training programs offered to adjudicated youth by public or private residential programs and community-based agencies. Work involves providing agency administrators, educators, program staff, and community-based employers with information, technical assistance, and guidance to ensure their programs meet or exceed established academic, career, and technical training standards and that they are aligned with PACTT and Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) standards; monitoring and conducting on-going annual audits of PACTT affiliates within an assigned geographical region for conformance to PACTT standards and to determine continued eligibility in the PACTT Alliance; ensuring affiliates provide transitional services to adjudicated youth who are entering the workforce or reentering the public school system; advocating for adjudicated youth who are entering the workforce or reentering the public school system; and developing standards and best practices for educational programs for adjudicated youth. Work also involves working with local or statewide business leaders and human services agencies to establish and maintain a network of employers or services that have the necessary training opportunities to hire youth transitioning from an affiliate. Work is performed under the general direction of an Adjudicated Youth Education Programs Consultant Supervisor who reviews work through conferences and an evaluation of program results.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: (NOTE: The examples of work are representative of the work, but every position classified to this job may not perform all examples of work listed. Conversely, this is not an all-inclusive list of work examples.):

• Evaluates and reviews academic, career, and technical training and employment preparation programs provided by affiliates to determine program effectiveness and compliance with PDE and PACTT standards.

• Advises and assists provider program staff, teachers, and administration to further develop and improve upon the academic, career, and technical training and employment preparation programs provided for adjudicated youth.

• Conducts audits of programs and services offered by providers to ensure they conform to standards and recommends re-affiliation of compliant providers to the PACTT Alliance or revocation of PACTT affiliate status for non-compliant providers.

• Develops program improvement plans for providers to ensure continued compliance.

• Works with representatives from child welfare agencies, courts, technical training, or local high schools, intermediate units, local employers, and applicable state agencies to develop best practices and standards for the academic and vocational placement of adjudicated youth.

• Serves as an advocate for adjudicated youth if they encounter difficulties in transitioning to academic, vocational, or job related settings, and facilitates re-entry of adjudicated youth when they are returned to academic or vocational schools or programs not affiliated with PACTT.

• Participates in the development, implementation, and ongoing revision of standards and guidelines related to career and technical training programs offered to adjudicated youth.

• Researches current education issues pertaining to adjudicated youth and child welfare and prepares reports and position papers.

• Consults with providers to advise them on ways to improve academic and career/technical training services.

• Creates academic, career, and technical training curriculums and relevant skill-building competency development programs.

• Provides consultative assistance to affiliates in order for them to ensure appropriate accumulation and transfer of academic or vocational credits earned by adjudicated youth from alternative residential or community-based facilities are properly credited by public school districts.

• Ensures smooth transition of adjudicated youths’ acquisition of employment and job-related skills to other academic or vocational settings.

• Provides guidance to providers and employers in the development of job placement efforts and technical education programs to ensure alignment with viable occupations.

• Promotes the use of employability/soft-skills training for adjudicated youth to affiliates, such as resume writing, interview skills, and proper work behaviors.

• Determines if providers are eligible or ineligible for PACTT grants issued by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD).

• Monitors affiliates to ensure that PACTT-related activities outlined in their PCCD and other types of grants are occurring and funds are being used appropriately.

• Determines if providers are eligible or ineligible for a higher per diem or other reimbursement rates and consults with county administrators seeking to reimburse affiliates at a higher rate through their counties’ Needs Based Budgets for PACTT-related services.

• Coordinates with the Office of Children, Youth and Families (OCYF) staff to develop PACTT language for inclusion in the counties’ Needs Based Budget guidelines.

• Represents DHS at local community meetings or forums, statewide meetings, and other relevant events.

• Conducts training on PACTT services for business partners, public and private providers, courts, schools, or other agencies/individuals.

• Performs related work as required.

ENTRY LEVEL KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of techniques and procedures used to evaluate education programs.

• Knowledge of educational research methods and techniques.

• Knowledge of educational standards and their application.

• Ability to analyze and interpret written information.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

• Ability to communicate effectively orally.

• Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: (NOTE: Based on the Entry Level Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities):

• Three years of professional experience in planning, developing, improving, or evaluating educational programs, and a bachelor’s degree;

or

• An equivalent combination of experience and training.