Job Title: Parent Advocate

Reports to: Supervisor-Enhanced Family Foster Care

Location: 7 West Burnside Avenue, Bronx, NY 10453

Hours: 35 Hours/Week; Non-Exempt Position Requires in Office Hours- Hybrid Schedules are based on program needs and at leadership discretion.

Salary Range: 40k-45k Based on relevant experience and education

Major Duties:

• Develops and maintains up to date information about housing issues, available subsidies and programs. Shares information with EFFC staff. Build relationships and support parents—in making decisions for their own families, coping with the trauma of foster care involvement, communicating effectively with those involved in their case, and maintaining relationships with their children during foster care placement
• Implement the Parents Empowering Parents (PEP) model including key practices in the first 90 days of a case to orient parents to the service planning process; share Rise TIPS and other resources to support parents
• Provides peer support, orientation, advocacy and select referrals to families by providing outreach and services to parents.
• Orient parents to Family Time offer ideas for making the most of family visits and supervise visits periodically
• Participate in assessment and engagement of parents in the initial stages of placement by accompanying Case Planners on home visits and accompanying parents to appointments
• Provides expert consultation/guidance to EFFC casework staff in their work with families
• Support parents in navigating resources as well as offering emotional support for parents by attending court dates but not limited to accompanying the parent to various appointments to housing court appointments and fair hearings.
• Establishes and maintains linkages with various programs providing housing services including ACS HPAD, NYCHA, DHS, and various shelters, eviction prevention programs, legal services, realtors etc. Makes/assists with referrals as appropriate
• Coordinates/ shares information with EFFC casework staff, other specialists and participate in case/service planning.
• Prepare parents and participate alongside them in Family Team Conferences
• Represents GSS at outside meetings/conferences/workshops particularly as they relate to housing and foster care issues as required by the agency.
• Documents work in progress notes and/or other formats as appropriate
• Perform other duties as assigned related to support parents and staff as needed

Qualifications:

• High School/GED Equivalent Required.
• Previous life experience being impacted by the child welfare system.
• A natural collaborator; able to relate to a wide variety of program participants and staff.
• Able to engage and positively impact individuals
• Someone who has a sincere appreciation for people and how they are each uniquely motivated
• Strong interpersonal skills to assist with parent engagement and are geared towards working sensitively on topics involving trauma, stress, and healing
• Good writing skills: proficient computer skills able to conduct Google searches and use Microsoft Office
• Skilled at working in a fast-paced environment on multiple projects occurring simultaneously
• Passion for parent leadership and preventing child welfare involvement
• Able to maintain high level of confidentiality
• Able to work flexible hours- some evenings will be required.