Housing Specialist

PURPOSE:

The Kaplan House (Manhattan), Cedar Knolls House (Bronx), SILP (Bronx) provides therapeutic and support services to adolescent’s ages 16-21 who are referred through the Administration for Children’s Services. Our residents have experienced significant trauma and often struggle with managing their emotional and behavioral needs. Both programs provide an array of services including medical, clinical, education/vocation, recreation, substance use and additional support services that emphasize family interaction and strengthening of community support networks, as well as increasing independent living skills.

All treatment team members work to ensure that youth and families drive the focus of their treatment and are full-time partners in their own healing and recovery. Youth and families have direct input into their treatment as well as program performance and development. We utilize Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) in conjunction with evidence-based clinical interventions to support youth and family in their healing and recovery.

The Housing Specialist is part of The Jewish Board’s “A Step Ahead” coaching program, sponsored by Fair Futures. Fair Futures is a coalition of child welfare agencies, non-profits, foundations, advocates and young adults working to ensure they fulfill their promise to New York City’s foster youth. The Housing Specialist is responsible for working with youths residing at the Jewish Board’s two Hard to Place Group Homes, Kaplan House and Cedar Knolls House.

Specialists assist coaches and young people in conducting specific, specialized, and targeted tasks that will help them achieve permanent housing post discharge from foster care.

Under the model, the housing specialist assists youths with securing appropriate housing based on the strengths and needs of each young person. The specialist also supports the work of the Youth Empowerment Coaches who work to provide intensive coaching to a caseload of youth with the goal of increasing graduation rates, building career development experiences, and supporting the youth transitioning into adulthood.

Relational

Skills:

• Ability to work from a strength-based, trauma-informed, youth development lens;
• Compassionate, warm, empathetic;
• A love for working with young people;
• Strong ability to relate to young people, and provide support and encouragement
• Consistent and reliable;
• Values and promotes diversity;
• A belief that change is possible;
• Able to maintain healthy boundaries;
• Able to remain calm during moments of tension and stress.

Successful Specialists Need:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills;
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail;
• Strong time-management skills;
• Ability to troubleshoot, advocate, and navigate obstacles where there is not always a clear-cut pathway;
• Open to learning how to use and interpret data to inform decision-making;
• Ability to navigate complex housing issues, be resourceful, and work independently;
• Ability to adapt quickly and thoughtfully to ever changing needs of the youth served;
• Valid driver’s license and willingness to drive agency vehicles to transport youths to appointments;
• Bilingual in Spanish preferred

Team Process:

• Ability to effectively collaborate in team settings and build relationships with external partners;
• Attend all group supervisions and treatment team meetings

• Bachelor’s degree and at least two years of relevant experience working in housing services.
• Experience working with at-risk or system-involved young people is strongly preferred.

• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office
• Fluent in OCFS Connections database preferred
• Ability to learn electronic health records, CAPS System, and other software as required.

• Must be willing to be trained in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI)
• Group Home Setting
• Must be able walk up/down stairs

• Generous paid time off in addition to paid agency holidays and 15 sick days
• Affordable and high-quality medical/dental/vision plans
• Tuition assistance and educational loan forgiveness
• Free…