Parent Advocate

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Full Time Queens, NY, US

15 days ago Requisition

Salary Range: $35,000.00 To $40,000.00 Annually

Summary

Job Description:

Parent Advocates who will support parents with children in residential 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. 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 return home quickly and safely.

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.

About St. John’s

Founded in 1826 as a home for orphaned children,St.John’s has evolved into a nonprofit social services agency providing residential care to New York City youth involved in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. We offer holistic, trauma-informed support to young people up to age 21.

Our main campus in Rockaway Park, Queens, houses a Residential Treatment Center, Close to Home Non-Secure Placement programs, administrative offices, clinical services, and an on-site NYC Department of Education school. We also operate a Non-Secure Detention residence in Richmond Hill and Limited Secure Placement programs in Brooklyn and Staten Island.

St.John’s is dedicated to helping youth heal, grow, and build the skills they need to achieve their goals and return to family or a stable, supportive environment as engaged members of their communities.

• Build trusting 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, Service Plan Review, Trial Discharge and Final Discharge conferences.
• Report to MST Supervisor and work alongside case planners and MST Coaches.
• Welcome, prepare, encourage and support parents to engage in court, home visits, case planning contacts, services, and Family Time
• 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 Rise’s TIPS handouts and resources to inform and support parents.
• Be trained to facilitate Restorative Justice Peacekeeping Circles to support parents and other parent support groups at the agency and/ or in community.
• Become a partner in Rise’s 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…