HeartShare is looking for a Parent Advocate for our Foster Care Program

Parent Advocates will use their former Child Welfare experience to support and advocate for parents to help reunite them with their child.

Responsibilities:

 

Maintains a tracking system of referrals and case assignments.

Provides assistance in facilitating training in topics including, but not limited to the Parenting Journey.

Encourages parents participation in Family Team Conferences (FTCS) providing reminders and other supports as warranted.

Represents HeartShare St. Vincents Services at internal and external meetings.

Celebrates birth parents by contributing to hosting events and activities.

Maintains accessible resource materials, making them available to other HSVS staff and to parents.

Documents efforts to engage parents via service plans.

Provides full disclosure and all required consents to birth parents.

Co-facilitates quarterly birth parent round table meetings.

 

Housing

Provides direct counseling, on-call assistance, intervention, negotiation and advocacy regarding birth families housing needs.

Develops and maintains a comprehensive list of available housing resources.

Collects required documentation, completes online applications and records data in all applicable Housing systems including the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) and Supportive Housing systems.

Delivers completed Housing application packets to the New York City Administration for Childrens Services (ACS)

Accompanies parents to Housing court and to government assistance offices.

Maintains all reporting requirements set by funding and/or regulatory agencies.

Assist and accompany parents when shopping to purchase furniture for new apartments once children are final discharged from care.

Demonstrated responsible and professional telephone, email and interview etiquette

Attended all required training to ensure up to date information

Demonstrated passion for working with birth parents and at risk teens in a child welfare setting.

Able to set limits and to maintain appropriate professional boundaries

Strong belief in families abilities to grow and change.

Self-motivated

Strong time management, writing and organizational skills

Works, both, independently and collaboratively with colleagues and stakeholders

Willing and able to travel throughout the five boroughs of New York City as needed.