Healthy Community Initiative

20-40 hours per week, depending on selected candidate’s interests and availability; hours will be primarily during the traditional school day, with some evening hours

Now in its 29th year, the Healthy Community Initiative (HCI) is a community-based organization whose mission is to foster collaborative communities in Rice County, Minnesota, that empower youth, strengthen families, and build community.

One of HCI’s flagship initiatives, Tackling Obstacles & Raising College Hopes (TORCH) works to increase the high school graduation and postsecondary attendance/completion rates of Northfield youth who are from low-income homes, students of color, and/or potential first-generation college attendees. Now in its 18th year, TORCH works with more than 400 youth in grades 6-12, plus 125+ alumni.

HCI seeks a bilingual individual to provide support to youth at the Northfield Middle School, Northfield High School and Northfield Area Learning Center, as well as establish and maintain connections with Somali-speaking parents.

Tasks for the TORCH Support Specialist include:

• Provide one-on-one and small group academic support to TORCH students
• Assist students with the completion of paperwork necessary to successfully enroll in postsecondary programs, register for workforce development programs, and complete financial aid applications
• Build and foster strong relationships with Somali students in grades 6-12 who are identified as needing additional support to finish high school
• Connect with Somali students’ families and serve as a link between TORCH, families and the local education system; complete home visits and neighborhood-based outreach as needed to connect with families
• Meet regularly with the TORCH team to review data and identify youth to serve; track student progress; determine which interventions to connect to individual students or groups of students
• Provide attendance and behavior coaching for students targeted for needing assistance as determined through the multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) approach; promote positive behavior expectations
• Maintain program records, complete ongoing youth assessments and track data in the Salesforce system
• Assist with securing summer enrichment opportunities for students

Required qualities for the TORCH Support Specialist include:

• Bilingual (English-Somali)
• 2-5 years of related experience supporting diverse middle and/or high school youth
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (PowerPoint, Word, and Excel) and Google Suite
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills; ability to develop and maintain strong working relationships with students and staff
• Highly organized with superior attention to detail
• Excellent ability to multi-task and troubleshoot issues
• Ability to work with minimal supervision and as a member of a team
• Capable of completing work on time in a fast-paced environment while maintaining a positive attitude
• Experience working with diverse families
• Willingness to maintain the standards, carry out the purpose, and adhere to the policies of the Healthy Community Initiative
• Reliable transportation with the ability to travel throughout Rice County
• Maintenance of a cell phone is an expectation of employment

Reports to: TORCH High School Director

To apply, please submit a cover letter, résumé, and contact information for three professional references to Tessa Kiesow, TORCH High School Director, tkiesow@northfieldschools.org. Application review will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.