POSITION: Permanency Support Youth Advocate

LOCATION: Ozone Park, NY

REPORTS TO: Coordinator of Post Permanency Support Program

DEPARTMENT: Post Permanency Support Program (PPSP)

SCHEDULE: Part Time / Hybrid

 

AGENCY BACKGROUND:
MercyFirst is a not-for-profit human and social service agency that has been serving children and families in need since we were founded by the Sisters of Mercy/Hermanas de las Misericordia in 1894. Today our agency continues to address the emotional and physical needs of children and families in Brooklyn, Queens and across Long Island through innovative treatments and life-changing interventions. We provide community-based prevention and family foster care services, group homes in the community for struggling children and families within the child welfare and juvenile justice systems, and short-term residential services for unaccompanied migrant children. Each year, MercyFirst serves more than 3,000 children, teenagers and families overcome enormous obstacles, re-imagine their futures, and develop their full potential.

 

New Yorkers for Children (NYFC) is a privately funded organization who sponsors human services causes across the city.

PROGRAM BACKGROUND:

To meet the needs of New York City’s adoptive and kingap families, New Yorkers for Children (NYFC) developed the Post Permanency Support Program (PPSP) and contracted MercyFirst. NYFC recognizes that post permanency families may have experienced some level of trauma; their needs may change over time; and that their strengths must be supported so they can reach their full potential. One key goal of the program is to prevent re-entry into foster care and preserve permanency.

 

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Permanency Support Youth Advocate will provide advocacy, support, and mentorship for both adopted and kinship guardianship(kingap) youth. The Permanency Support Youth Advocate will help the youth to better unpack trauma associated with foster care experiences. The focus of the Youth Support Advocate will provide insight to both youth and parents around the experience of being in foster care and adopted/kingap. Youth Support Advocate will assist with addressing behavioral concerns and help youth unpack trauma related to foster care, adoption/kingap. Youth Support Advocate will build connections with the youth, parents and work collaboratively with PPSP Social Work team. Youth Support Advocate will be assigned to youth on a need’s basis. Youth Support Advocate with their own personal prior lived experience as adoptive or kinship guardianship child will be effective in informing and supporting youths and help to improve their experience as adoptive/kingap children and strengthen their relationship with their adoptive/kingap families.

 

 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• High School Diploma or equivalent required
• Good Communication, both verbal and written
• Prior Personal experience with being adopted or have a kinship resource gain Kinship Guardianship (kingap) of them through the Foster Care System is Required
• Understanding and willingness to commit to the agency’s Mission, core values, Sanctuary Commitments and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB).

 

 

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Contacts adoptive or kinship guardianship parent within specific time frame to engage them and assess their needs and meet with youth
• Provides advocacy, support, and mentorship in such areas as parent-child relationships, youth’s identity as it relates to adoption/kingap.
• Educate prospective and current adoptive and kinship guardianship youth on the experience of being in foster care and adopted/kingap.
• Maintains contact and meets with youth on a regular basis to provide support
• Engage in respite or recreational activity with youth
• Participates in trainings to enhance their skill
• Co-Facilitate a Youth Support Circle for adoptive and kinship guardianship parent to address common needs
• Respond to emergencies as needed and/or directed
• Maintain appropriate boundaries
• Participate in meetings and family team conferences

 

BENEFITS/PERKS:

• Trainings to support professional and personal development
• Employee wellness program
• Employee recognition activities

 

Salary Range:
$12,000 per year
 

 

MercyFirst is an inclusive, anti-racist, multicultural organization and an Equal Opportunity Employer who welcomes prospective employees from diverse backgrounds for all levels at the agency. We strive for a workforce that is reflective of the communities we serve, and do not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, religion or creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, disability, age (18 and over), military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, marital status, partnership status, care giver status, pregnancy, genetic information or predisposition or genetic characteristic, unemployment status, status as a victim or witness of domestic violence, sex offenses or stalking, consumer credit history, or any other status protected by federal, state, and/or city law. This includes, but is not limited to, employment actions against and treatment of employees and applicants for employment.