HeartShare is looking for a Parent Advocate for our Foster Care Program
Parent Advocates will use their former Child Welfare experience to support and advocate for parents to help reunite them with their child.
Responsibilities:
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Maintains a tracking system of referrals and case assignments.
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Provides assistance in facilitating training in topics including, but not limited to the Parenting Journey.
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Encourages parents participation in Family Team Conferences (FTCS) providing reminders and other supports as warranted.
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Represents HeartShare St. Vincent's Services at internal and external meetings.
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Celebrates birth parents by contributing to hosting events and activities.
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Maintains accessible resource materials, making them available to other HSVS staff and to parents.
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Documents efforts to engage parents via service plans.
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Provides full disclosure and all required consents to birth parents.
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Co-facilitates quarterly birth parent round table meetings.
Housing
Provides direct counseling, on-call assistance, intervention, negotiation and advocacy regarding birth families housing needs.
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Develops and maintains a comprehensive list of available housing resources.
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Collects required documentation, completes online applications and records data in all applicable Housing systems including the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) and Supportive Housing systems.
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Delivers completed Housing application packets to the New York City Administration for Children's Services (ACS)
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Accompanies parents to Housing court and to government assistance offices.
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Maintains all reporting requirements set by funding and/or regulatory agencies.
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Assist and accompany parents when shopping to purchase furniture for new apartments once children are final discharged from care.
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Demonstrated responsible and professional telephone, email and interview etiquette
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Attended all required training to ensure up to date information
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Demonstrated passion for working with birth parents and at risk teens in a child welfare setting.
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Able to set limits and to maintain appropriate professional boundaries
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Strong belief in families abilities to grow and change.
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Self-motivated
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Strong time management, writing and organizational skills
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Works, both, independently and collaboratively with colleagues and stakeholders
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Willing and able to travel throughout the five boroughs of New York City as needed.
The Parent Advocate must have:
Must have lived experience with ACS-
Child Welfare Case must be closed for 1 year
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High school diploma/General Equivalency Diploma (GED);
- Experience working with families;
- Knowledge of foster care and ACS mandates;
- Knowledge of CONNECTIONS preferred
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Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills
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Ability to travel within the 5 boroughs of NYC, Long Island, and Westchester
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The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, sit, and reach with hands and arms.
Benefits:
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Rewarding Work in a team environment;
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Paid vacation, sick, personal days and holidays;
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403(B) retirement plan with employer contribution;
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Health, dental, vision and life insurance;
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Employee Assistance Program (EAP);
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Flexible spending account (Dependent Care, Medical, Parking, and Transit);
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Employee Appreciation Programs and Events;
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Tuition Assistance Program;
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Professional Development opportunities;
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Gympass Discount
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Verizon Wireless Discount;
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BJs Membership discount;
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Discounts on Broadway tickets, movie tickets, theme parks, sporting events, gift certificates & more.
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