Rocking the Boat

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student advocate

Job Description
The Student Advocate is a LMSW responsible for supporting the 36 participants of Rocking the Boat's after school and summer youth development programs. The Student Advocate works to leverage the powerful hands-on educational experience offered in Rocking the Boat's programs and help make it relevant to the rest of students' lives. This involves a focus on (1) helping students to succeed in school (meeting with teachers and guidance counselors, identifying tutoring opportunities); (2) identifying issues in social and emotional development and strategizing on how to address them (meeting individually with all students throughout each semester); and (3) coordinating weekly group Life Skills Programs that explore topics that young people do not necessarily learn at school or at home.

Duties Include:
  • Meeting individually at least three times each semester with the 36 high school age youth who participate in Rocking the Boat's Boatbuilding and On-Water Education programs
  • Conducting bio-psycho-social evaluations on all incoming students
  • Organizing 10 annual Life Skills workshops involving outside speakers
  • Developing and leading 8 annual small group Career Exploration field trips
  • Working closely with school liaisons (administrators, guidance counselors, teachers) and parents
  • Referring students to an outside network of mental health, tutoring, and youth development services
  • Coordinating student recruitment for each of three semesters annually
  • Coordinating daily student journal writing
  • Supervising a masters-level social work intern
  • Working collaboratively with Job Skills Advocate, a second staff counselor focused on supporting the needs of older Rocking the Boat Apprentices and Program Assistants
  • Occasionally accompanying students and program staff on weekend day and overnight trips

  • Requirements:
  • Registration as a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)
  • Minimum three years post-graduate work experience
  • Experience working with high school aged youth in a out-of-school environment
  • Strong organizational skills and an ability to work independently
  • Excellent communications skills
  • Spanish speaking preferred
  • A valid (NYS) drivers license

  • Rocking the Boat offers:
  • Full-time salaried position ranging from $42,000 to $50,000
  • Full benefits package
  • Opportunity to work with a young, creative, well-funded organization committed to community development and youth empowerment


  • Please send, fax, or email (attachments preferred) cover letters and resumes to Adam Green at:

    E-mail: adam@rockingtheboat.org

    Rocking the Boat, Inc.
    60 East 174th Street
    Bronx, NY 10452
    Phone: (718) 466-5799
    Fax: (718) 466-2892

    Rocking the Boat uses traditional wooden boatbuilding and on-water education to allow high school age youth to develop into empowered and responsible adults. Four levels of community and youth development programs operate year round and serve over 2,000 students and community members annually. They are drawn from a range of New York City public high schools and neighborhoods, primarily in the South Bronx. Kids don't just build boats at Rocking the Boat, boats build kids.

    Rocking the Boat, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer