Parent Advocate

Description

For over 100 years, HeartShare has dedicated itself to improving the lives of people needing special services and support. The HeartShare team, now 2,100 employees and growing, helps individuals develop to their fullest potential and lead meaningful and enriched lives.  

HSVS is actively seeking Parent Advocates who have a proven track record of working with families and possess a strong understanding of foster case processes and ACS mandates. 

The key responsibilities and essential duties of the Patient Advocate include the following: 

• 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 Children's 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.
• Works, both, independently and collaboratively with colleagues and stakeholders

Sign on bonus in the amount of $1,000 available

Qualifications

• High school diploma/General Equivalency Diploma (GED)
• Experience working with families
• Knowledge of Foster Care and ACS mandates
• Knowledge of CONNECTIONS preferred
• Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Self-motivated, strong time management
• Ability to travel within the 5 boroughs of NYC, Long Island, and Westchester
  • Physical Requirement:
• The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, sit, and reach with hands and arms.

Benefits 

At HeartShare we offer a comprehensive benefit package based on full-time/part-time status. You can expect: 

• Rewarding Work in a team environment.
• Paid vacation, sick, personal days, and holidays.
• 403(B) retirement plans with employer contribution.
• Health, dental, vision and life insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Flexible spending account (Dependent Care, Medical, Parking, and Transit).
• Employee Appreciation Programs and Events.
• Tuition Assistance Program.
• Professional Development opportunities.
• Gympass Discount
• Verizon Wireless Discount.
• BJs Membership discount.
• Discounts on Broadway tickets, movie tickets, theme parks, sporting events, gift certificates & more

HeartShare is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). If you need to request accommodation during the recruiting process, please reach out to Leaves@heartshare.org.