Family Advocate
Listed on 2025-10-31
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Social Work
Family Advocacy & Support Services, Child Development/Support, Community Worker, Child Protection
Location: New York
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Join to apply for the Family Advocate (45834) role at Graham Windham
About Graham Windham
In full partnership with families and communities, Graham Windham strives to make a life-altering difference with children, youth, and families who are overcoming some of life’s most difficult challenges and obstacles, by helping to build a strong foundation for life: a safe, loving, permanent family and the opportunity and preparation to thrive in school and in the world. With over 500 full-time employees serving children and families in multiple programs throughout the Bronx, Brooklyn and Harlem, Graham Windham provides an exciting and enriching work experience.
About Graham Windham
In full partnership with families and communities, Graham Windham strives to make a life-altering difference with children, youth, and families who are overcoming some of life’s most difficult challenges and obstacles, by helping to build a strong foundation for life: a safe, loving, permanent family and the opportunity and preparation to thrive in school and in the world. With over 500 full-time employees serving children and families in multiple programs throughout the Bronx, Brooklyn and Harlem, Graham Windham provides an exciting and enriching work experience.
Position Overview
Graham is hiring Family Advocates who will support parents with children in foster care to understand and navigate the foster care system, make decisions for their families, remain hopeful, and address family challenges so that they can accomplish their goal of reunification. The focus of this job is building connections with parents and working collaboratively with case planners. Each Parent Advocate will be assigned to a case planning unit and will support parents and bring their experience to the foster care agency decision-making process so that children are more likely to quickly and safely return home.
The Advocates will be part of the Parents Supporting Parents initiative recently launched by the NYC Administration for Children’s Services (ACS), in conjunction with Rise, a parent-led NYC advocacy organization, and other important child welfare stakeholders. All Advocates will receive training and support through Rise.
This initiative is built upon the premise that Advocates with their own personal prior lived experience of the child welfare system will be effective in informing and supporting parents with children in foster care and help to improve outcomes for children and families.
Position Responsibilities
- Build relationships and support parents in coping with the trauma of foster care involvement, making decisions for their families, communicating effectively with those involved in their case, and maintaining relationships with their children during foster care placement.
- Prepare parents and participate in Family Team Conferences including but not limited to Transitional, 20 Day, Six Month Service Plan Review, Trial Discharge and Final Discharge conferences.
- Report to a foster care unit supervisor, work alongside case planners and all service providers directly responsible for case outcomes.
- Be trained by Rise as part of a group of parent advocates newly hired to work in foster care agencies, with a focus on healing and self-care; building knowledge of child welfare law, policy and practice; building relationships for support and mentorship with other advocates; and creating an ongoing support and advocacy network.
- Learn to use Rises TIPS handouts and resources to inform and support parents.
- Review Grahams Parent Engagement Guide with parents to acquaint parents with the child welfare process.
- Be trained to facilitate Restorative Justice Peacekeeping Circles to support parents through weekly circles (meetings) at the agency and/or in the community.
- Become a partner in Rises Reunification Collaborative, working with 6 foster care agencies to improve case practice and engagement with parents in the first 90 days;
- Contribute to defining and achieving success for this effort to build effective and meaningful roles for parent advocates in…
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