Parent Advocate (Foster Care)

A Career at Little Flower

Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York is a nonprofit organization that has worked to improve the well-being of children, youth, families, and people with developmental disabilities across New York City and Long Island since 1929. Our staff of more than 500 provides prevention services, foster care, residential treatment care, adoption services, medical and mental health services, and programs and services for individuals with developmental disabilities.

A career with Little Flower can be rewarding in so many ways. We are looking for conscientious and caring people who are ready to commit to the work of strengthening families and supporting the well-being of children and adults with developmental disabilities. If you're looking for a career where you can truly make a difference, we hope you will consider joining our team.

Summary Job Description:

Parent Advocates who will support parents with children in 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.

Principle Responsibilities:

• Build 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 Transitional, 20 Day, Six Month Service Plan Review, Trial Discharge and Final Discharge conferences.

• Report to foster care unit supervisor and work alongside case planners.

• Collaborate with Co-Parenting Facilitator and all service providers directly responsible for care outcomes.

• 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 through weekly circles (meetings) 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 success for this effort to build effective and meaningful roles for parent advocates in foster care agencies.

• Recognize and celebrate parents' progress toward reunification.

• Encourage parents to engage in supportive interventions that will strengthen their families.

• Help families navigate resources.

• Coach parents to strengthen problem-solving skills while discovering their strengths, hopes, dreams and priorities.

• Perform all other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Previous life experience being impacted by the child welfare system as a parent including having had a child placed in foster care or having had a court-ordered supervision case. Other prior child welfare involvement such as having personally experienced child welfare investigations may also qualify. Previous child welfare cases must be closed for at least one year.

• A natural collaborator.

• Warm, enthusiastic, able to engage and positively impact individuals.

• Someone who has a sincere appreciation for people and how they are each uniquely motivated.

• Strong interpersonal skills to assist with parent engagement and are geared towards working sensitively on topics involving trauma, stress, and healing.

• Good Writing skills.

• Computer skills conducting Google searches and using Microsoft Office.

• Skilled at working in a fast-paced environment on multiple projects occurring simultaneously.

• Passion for parent leadership and preventing child welfare involvement.

• Able to maintain high level of confidentiality.

• Able to travel extensively to all NYC boroughs.

• Able to uphold the mission and values of Little Flower.

Minimum Requirements:

• Have experience as a Parent Advocate in foster care, preventive, mental health, or family defense agencies, or in any coaching or support roles in community organizations, schools, etc.

• Have experience holding challenging conversations and facilitating meetings.

• Bilingual skills is a plus.

Travel Requirements:

This position is located in Brooklyn, NY with some travel to other boroughs. A Valid NYS Driver's License if using personal vehicle or agency vehicle to drive on agency business.