PARENT ADVOCATE SUPERVISOR

 

 

LOCATION: Brooklyn, NY and Queens, NY

REPORTS TO: Coordinator of Permanency Services

DEPARTMENT: Enhanced Family Foster Care (EFFC)

SCHEDULE: Full Time / Hybrid

$1,000 Hiring Incentive

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.

PROGRAM BACKGROUND:

To meet the needs of New York City’s ever-changing foster care population, Enhanced Family Foster Care (EFFC) combines and replaces the previous separately contracted Family Foster Care (FFC) and Treatment Family Foster Care (TFFC) programs. EFFC recognizes that all children in care have experienced some level of trauma, that their needs may change over time, and that their strengths must be supported so they can reach their full potential.

 

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Birth Parent Advocate Supervisor will provide direct supervision to the Birth Parent Advocates to assure that advocacy, support and referral services to parents whose children are in foster care are provided with a commitment to collaboration, compassion, and competency.

 

The Parent Advocate Supervisor works with the parent advocates to help

parents 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 is on modeling effective engagement and intervention strategies and building trust and connections between birth parents, foster parents and case planners. The Parent Advocate Supervisor will maintain clear lines of communication and collaboration with the case planning unit supervisors as Parent Advocates will be assigned to a specific case planning unit to work as part of the team to promote safety, support family interests and assist in the achievement of timely permanency goals. The Parent Advocate Supervisor 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.

 

 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• High School Diploma or equivalent required, Associates or Bachelor’s degree preferred
• Prior experience as Parent Advocate or Case Planner in the Foster Care system is Required
• Good Communication skills, both verbal and written
• Good Organizational skills, meeting deadlines and accurate recording
• Understanding and willingness to commit to the agency’s Mission, core values, Sanctuary Commitments and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB).

 

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Co-Lead the Parenting Journey Training
• Assure that Parent Orientations are held
• Initiate, Support and Participate in Parent 2 Parent (P2P) Meetings
• Facilitate a Parent Support Circle for birth parents in order to address common needs
• Monitor family/sibling visits
• Respond to emergencies as needed and/or directed
• Respond to Client requests for information.
• Maintain appropriate boundaries
• Participate in meetings and family team conferences

 

BENEFITS/PERKS:

• A comprehensive health insurance package including medical, dental and vision plans for you and your family
• 403B retirement benefits
• Employer-paid life insurance and long-term disability insurance
• Generous paid time off (vacation, personal, sick, 12 paid holidays)
• Free employee assistance program through National EAP
• Insurance discounts for our staff and their families
• Trainings to support professional and personal development
• Employee wellness program
• Employee recognition activities

Salary Range:

$55,000.00 (35 hours/week)
Hiring bonus of $1,000 after 500 worked hours

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.