Fighting Back Santa Maria Valley - Employment Opportunities

Project Evaluator | Peer Educator
Class Action Coordinator | Check, Connect and Respect Monitor

TITLE: REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
Project Evaluator for
Safe Schools/Healthy Students Grant

Fighting Back Santa Maria is soliciting competitive written proposals from qualified individuals or entities to serve as project evaluator for the Safe Schools/Healthy Students Grant.

DUE DATE FOR PROPOSAL - three copies of the written proposal including all attachments must be received on or before November 7, 2008, 4:00 Pacific Standard Time. The envelope shall be marked "Project Evaluator: Safe Schools/Healthy Students Grant."

Send Proposals to:
Fighting Back Santa Maria Valley
Teresa Menchaca
Post Office Box 184
Santa Maria, CA 93456

PROJECT OVERVIEW:
The Safe Schools/Healthy Students grant involves a collaboration among SMJUHSD for grades 9-12 and three K-8 school districts - Santa Maria-Bonita, Guadalupe Union, and Orcutt Union. These four districts represent the consortium for this SS/HS grant funding, with the SMJUHSD serving as the applicant LEA. The School/Community Partnership, Fighting Back Santa Maria Valley Coalition, will assume a major role in the project by providing community oversight and direction as well as serving as the coordinating entity for the collaborative delivery and integration of services to the youth and families in the Santa Maria Valley.

PURPOSE of PROJECT:
This Safe Schools/Healthy Students project will be maintained and managed through the existing school/community partnership and the Fighting Back Coalition. Based on an on-going community assessment, the following goals were developed for the SS/HS Comprehensive Plan that truly integrates school and community services toward a common set of objectives with meaningful outcomes:

To maintain safe, secure, and peaceful schools by decreasing the incidence of violence on school campuses and increasing student's sense of personal safety.
Reduce substance abuse and lay the foundation for a drug-free life by providing effective, consistent, and coordinated ATOD curriculums throughout the four school districts.
Increase students' behavioral, social, and emotional supports within the school environment by carefully monitoring attendance and performance, and providing caring supportive services that promote student engagement with school.
To increase the number of students whose mental health needs are being met.
To increase students' capacity to cope with life challenges and develop skills that lead to life-long psychological and social well-being.
Increase the capacity of teachers and parents to address the behavioral and social needs of children who are �falling through the cracks in the preschool to school transition.

EVALUATOR QUALIFICATIONS:
The applicant shall provide the following information:

Abilities, qualifications, and experience of all persons who would be assigned to provide the required project evaluation services.
Description of experience should include but not limited to the following:
1. conduct systematic, data-based inquiries about whatever is being evaluated;
2. provide competent services;
3. ensure the honesty and integrity of the entire evaluation process;
4. respect the security, dignity and self-worth of the respondents, program participants, clients, and other stakeholders with whom they interact; and
5. articulate and take into account the diversity of interests and values that may be related to the general and public welfare.
6. develop appropriate evaluation designs (e.g., experimental, quasi-experimental) based on meaningful evaluation questions;
7. evaluate the technical characteristics of assessment instruments and protocols and help staff select appropriate instruments;
8. develop valid and reliable surveys, interview protocols, or other desired instruments;
9. Implement the collection and management of evaluation data;
10. Analyze quantitative and qualitative data;
11. Write evaluation reports and communicate findings to diverse audiences; and
12. Translate findings into specific program recommendations.
Additional characteristics/abilities that are generally desired among Safe Schools/Healthy Students evaluators include:
1. A minimum of a master's degree (Ph.D. preferred) in social science, public health, or a related area;
2. Objectivity (i.e., the absence of any roles or relationships that might pose a conflict of interest with their role as an evaluator);
3. Knowledge of database and data systems design;
4. Proficiency with statistical software (e.g., SPSS, SAS, STATA);
5. Understanding of Federal Reporting Requirements including data requirements under the Government Performance and Results Act;
6. Knowledge of Federal and local regulations regarding the protection of human subjects (e.g., Institutional Review Board regulations and applications);
7. Familiarity with the development of logic models and formal evaluation plans;
8. Experience evaluating complex federal programs;
9. Ability to work collaboratively with the school district and its partners;
10. Sensitivity and competence in working with diverse target populations;
11. Knowledge of school, law enforcement, juvenile justice, and mental health systems;
12. Enthusiasm and demonstrated interest in the project;
13. Excellent writing skills;
14. Ability to assist various audiences in interpreting and understanding evaluation findings and their implications for program improvement.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Fighting Back Santa Maria expects to adhere to the tentative procurement schedule shown below. It should be noted, however, that some dates are approximate and subject to change.

	Activity	Date/Time
1.	Release Request for Proposal	Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008
2.	Proposal Due Date	Friday, Nov. 7, 2008 4:00 pm PST
3.	Announcement of "Short List" invited to Interview with Executive Team Members	Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2008 12:00 noon PST
4.	Conduct Interviews	Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008 10:00 am PST
5.	Post Intent to Award Contract	Friday, Nov. 21, 2008 12:00 noon PST
6.	Contract Award / Start Date	Monday, Nov. 24, 2008

TITLE: Peer Educator
ORGANIZATION: Fighting Back Santa Maria Valley
REPORTS TO: Educational Supervisor
LOCATION: Santa Maria Valley

QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor's or Master's Degree preferred with significant professional experience in related School District position working with children and or family services. Must possess a combination of training, education and experience equivalent to the employment standard listed above providing the required knowledge, skills and abilities.

Bilingual English/Spanish: Read, write and transpose

Excellent verbal and written skills.

Ability to coordinate youth activities/events and work with volunteers.

Ability to assist in coordination of fund raising events from start to finish.

Effective verbal and written communication skills.

Available to work some evenings and weekends.

Knowledge and experience of alcohol/drug and health issues and resources for youth.

Proficient in Microsoft Word, Publisher, Excel, and Myspace

Must be highly organized with an eye for detail.

Must possess a valid California Drivers, Current Insurance and reliable vehicle to do agency errands as needed.

Attend mandatory weekly staff meetings.

RESPONSIBILITIES: The Peer Educators will assist with the implementation of "Too Good for Drugs" and "Too Good for Drugs and Violence" and will work on school campuses to provide education and prevention services.

The Peer Educator will help assist with the promotion of a year-round Valley Superstar Showdown, Free 4 the Weekend, Senior Graduation Dance, Comedy Night and other fundraising events.

The Peer Educator will assist in the design of organization's curriculum and facilitate the educational forums, in-services, and parent orientations, Town Hall Meetings and other community based presentations.

TYPICAL PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Requires sitting, standing, walking, and some light lifting.

TYPICAL WORKING CONDITION

Office and clinical environment.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive, and the employee will be expected to perform other relevant business duties as assigned by the Program Manager and other agency management.

The Fighting Back Santa Maria Valley Coalition has the right to revise or change job duties as the need arises. This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.

Salary DOE

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TITLE: Class Action Coordinator
ORGANIZATION: Fighting Back Santa Maria Valley
REPORTS TO: Educational Supervisor
LOCATION: Santa Maria Valley

QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor's degree and/or 5 years experience

Experience working with youth and alcohol related issues.

Effective verbal and written communication skills.

Proficient in Microsoft Word, Publisher, and Excel

RESPONSIBILITIES: Working with the public defender and local attorneys who will act as advisors to the "legal team: and "jury" implementation of the Class Action Program

Oversee the 8-10 session classroom curriculum (45 minutes a session)

Oversee the Alcohol Stop Act Grant:

Assist in conducting 3 Shoulder Taps with Santa Maria Police and Sheriff's Departments
Hold 2 Life Interrupted presentations for local junior high schools
Provide Parent Network Directory to local high schools
Hold 2 Every 15 Minutes educational events (1 private and 1 public high school)
Hold 1 Educational Forum for college students at Allan Hancock College
Plan and implement 2 sober free activities (high school and college)
Oversee Underage Drinking Task Force

Implement Class Action Program in four local high schools for 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students.

Submit to random drug testing.

Submit a weekly staff report of accomplishments, involvements, program issues and concerns.

Uphold a professional image of the Fighting Back Santa Maria Valley Coalition.

TYPICAL PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Requires sitting, standing, walking, and some light lifting.

TYPICAL WORKING CONDITION

Office and clinical environment.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive, and the employee will be expected to perform other relevant business duties as assigned by the Program Manager and other agency management.

The Fighting Back Santa Maria Valley Coalition has the right to revise or change job duties as the need arises. This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.

Salary DOE

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TITLE: Check, Connect and Respect Monitor
ORGANIZATION: Fighting Back Santa Maria Valley
REPORTS TO: Educational Supervisor
LOCATION: Santa Maria Valley

QUALIFICATIONS: Child, Family and School Social Worker with a minimum Bachelor's Degree.

Effe
ctive verbal and written communication skills.

Work with students year-round as a mentor, advisor, and service coordinator.

Proficient in Microsoft Word, Publisher, and Excel

RESPONSIBILITIES: Working with school personnel to track and document students' attendance, behavior (e.g. detention referrals, suspensions), and academic performance (e.g. course failure, credits earned) on a daily basis.

Meet at least monthly, and often weekly, with students to discuss:

How life choices might stand in the way of graduating (e.g. engaging in criminal activity, abusing substances, having a child)
Convey a strong message about the importance of persisting in school
Teach them effective problem-solving strategies and conflict-resolution skills
Help them develop a plan for making responsible life choices

Help students find productive extracurricular activities both during the school year and summer (e.g. sports, clubs, summer jobs).

Meet more frequently with students who persistently exhibit high-risk behaviors, such as poor attendance/school performance, or severe behavioral problems.

Provide these students with more intensive, personalized assistance, such as finding a tutor for a student whose grades are slipping, or enrolling a student in a structured extracurricular activity to keep him or her away from a delinquent group.

Encourage students' parents to stay actively involved in their child's education (e.g. communicating frequently with their child's teachers.

Work 20 to 35 hours per week

Carry a caseload of approximately 35 students

Work with students for at least 2 years (staying with the same students throughout high school even when they change schools within the school district.

Submit to random drug testing.

Submit a weekly staff report of accomplishments, involvements, program issues and concerns.

Uphold a professional image of the Fighting Back Santa Maria Valley Coalition.

TYPICAL PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Requires sitting, standing, walking, and some light lifting.

TYPICAL WORKING CONDITION

Office and clinical environment.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive, and the employee will be expected to perform other relevant business duties as assigned by the Program Manager and other agency management.

The Fighting Back Santa Maria Valley Coalition has the right to revise or change job duties as the need arises. This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment.

Salary DOE

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