Family Reunification Specialist - Bronx, United States - Good Shepherd Services

Description

About UsGood Shepherd Services is a leading multi-service agency with more than 85 programs that serve over 30,000 youth and families each year - and builds on their strengths to help them gain skills for success.

At Good Shepherd we respect the dignity and worth of every person and reject intolerance, inequity and injustice in whatever form it may take.

Voted one of the top 100 places to work in NYC by Crain's New York, Good Shepherd Services offers a fantastic work environment, a collaborative team dedicated to fulfilling our mission, and an amazing array of benefits.

Join our team and help make a difference BenefitsFor Full Time Employees Benefits/Perks:

Tuition Assistance ProgramGenerous paid time off (Including 5 Self-Care Days/Floating Holidays, 12 Sick Days, 15 Vacation Days, and 11 Holidays)Healthcare Plans (Medical, Dental, Vision, and Pet Care)403(b) Plan (GSS contributes 3% of your salary to your 403(b) plan after 3 years of service, with contributions increasing over time) Salary is 42K OverviewGreat opportunity for Bachelor Level Candidates looking to grow in Child Welfare.

Family Reunification Specialist collaborate with our Case Planning team to support our families in their reunification process. Caseloads are approximately 15-20 families. Specialist will gather intricate details of each family while supporting reunification efforts. We are seeking self motivated candidates who have strong and long term interest in supporting Children/Families in underserved communities.


Reports to:
SOCIAL WORK SUPERVISOR, FAMILY FOSTER CARELocation: 7 West Burnside Avenue, Bronx, New York 10453Hours: 35 Hours / Week; Exempt
Salary Range 42K Annually

Major Duties:
Ensuring Access to Material Supports

• The Reunification Specialists will meet with the family in their home to identify material items that are necessary for trial discharge.

Once the items have been identified, the Reunification Specialists will go shopping with the family to purchase the necessary items such as, but not limited to, furniture, bedding, hygiene products, clothing, food, and school supplies.

To ensure a smoother transition from care to trial discharge, a new aspect of the program will be for the Reunification Specialists will help set up the space with the family for the return of the child(ren).

The Reunification Specialists will also be responsible for tracking and reporting on all purchases and expenses.
Education

• The Reunification Specialists will work with the Education Specialist to understand the children(s) current educational information and situation.

The Education Specialist and the Reunification Specialists will work closely with each family who is approaching trial discharge to discuss the current education plan to ensure a smooth transition in educational services when the youth is on trial discharge.

The Reunification Specialists will ensure that the proper transportation resources are set up for the family and will link the family to afterschool services as necessary.

The Reunification Specialists will accompany the family to the school during the first few days as necessary.
Home making

• When appropriate, the Reunification Specialists will ensure home making services are in place for the family, to ensure a smooth transition.

The Reunification Specialists will become familiar with the available services and referral process to make sure when needed, these services are in place. Public Assistance

• When families are eligible for public assistance, the Reunification Specialists will ensure the proper paperwork and applications are completed, and often times will complete the application with the family and make sure they are submitted through the proper channels.

They will continue to follow up with the respective government agency to make sure that the family receives the necessary public assistance.

The Reunification Specialists will work with the families on an ongoing basis to make sure that they continue to receive the benefits and if they become eligible for a new benefit, the Reunification Specialists will work with the family to apply.

The Reunification Specialists will also link families to Single Stop provided to help with essential supports and benefits post discharge, which will be a new aspect of the program.

Reunification Specialists will form relationships with local Single Stop programs so when a family is on trial discharge, the referral process will be smooth.

Health Care

• In conjunction with the GSS Health Services Department, the Reunification Specialists will provide links to services and ensure continuity of care.

Staff will ensure that receive a copy of the child's Medicaid Cards and help them with health/behavioral services as needed.
Community Supports

• The Reunification Specialists will be responsible for making necessary connections to community supports.

It will be the Reunification Specialists who make referrals for families on trial discharge to preventive services in their community district. Each family who is placed on trial discharge will be offered a referral to preventive services.

Additionally, the Reunification Specialist and/or the Parent Advocate will accompany the family to at least the first appointment at preventive services.

One of the first tasks of the Reunification Specialists will be to assess the community for local partners to enter into linkages.

These will include, but are not limited to, local Community Based Organization (CBO) that specialize in housing, job placement, vocational training, health and behavioral healthcare, and child care.

These linkages will be available to families as they are planning for, and entering, trial discharge. Policies and Procedures

• Develop policy and procedures for when families are planning for, and are on, trial discharge.

These will include the steps necessary for trial discharge, various responsible parties including their roles, and specific procedures leading up to, and during, trial discharge.

Additionally, to ensure services are being matched to family needs a checklist will be created for the Reunification Specialists to use when planning for trial discharge.

They will use this checklist to ensure all of the necessary referrals are made and necessary supports are in place.

Trial Discharge Planning Conference

• Reunification Specialists to lead a trial discharge conference meeting for each family preparing for trial discharge.

This meeting will be comprised of all internal staff who are part of the family's planning. Staff will discuss and identify all of the needs of the family using the checklist described above.

The Reunification Specialists will use this discussion to clearly map out a plan for all of the different services for the family.

Data Collection and Review

• The Reunification Specialist will work with Good Shepherd Services' Program Evaluation and Planning (PEP) Department to review outcomes and data.

The Reunification Specialist and PEP will meet on a quarterly basis to ensure that the program is meeting and exceeding the desired outcomes.

Effectively use and practice the Sanctuary Model tools:

safety plans, community meetings, psycho-educational groups, team meetings, red flag reviews, treatment planning conferences (or similar), and self-care, when applicable, in the department/program to create a non-violent and trauma-sensitive culture.

Promote and model the seven Sanctuary Model commitments to create a non-violent and trauma-sensitive culture.

Integrate the Sanctuary Model SELF (Safety, Emotional Management, Loss and Future) framework into daily practice to ensure quality care and an effective work environmentUtilize Solution Based Casework in casework practice.

Implement Solution Based Casework model of casework practice within the department/program.

Implement and integrate the principles and procedures of Solution Based Casework:
assessment, family and individual level outcomes, action plans and documentation and celebration.
Actively participate in case consultation, continued SBC training and the SBC certification process.
Perform other duties as assigned.


Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in related field required; MSW or at least one year related experience preferred. Must be able to establish working relationships with clients in need of counseling and supportive services.
Must be able to effectively engage parents.
Ability to apply theory of change.
Willingness to facilitate groups with parents and foster parents.
Ability to work cooperatively with their agency case planners, supervisor(s), KEEP, PTC, ACS and other team members.
Excellent written and verbal skills necessary. Bilingual English/Spanish preferred. Must have a commitment to work from a strength based and/or youth development perspective.

Additional InformationGood Shepherd Services is an equal opportunity employer that is proudly committed to becoming an anti-racist and multicultural organization that stands up for justice and equity.

We welcome prospective employees from diverse backgrounds, for administrative support and direct service and leadership roles, who will join us on that journey, uphold our values and approach, and believe in our mission.

Additionally, we aim to have a racially representative leadership and workforce that is reflective of the communities we work in partnership with.

Good Shepherd Services is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, participants, volunteers, subcontractors, and vendors.

We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of our activities or operations.

These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and termination of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services.

We are committed to providing a workplace that is accessible and accommodating to employees with disabilities.

As part of our commitment to providing a barrier-free recruitment and selection process, we will provide reasonable accommodations upon request for candidates with disabilities.

If you require any accommodations to participate in the hiring process, please inform us of your needs in advance. We value diversity and inclusivity in our workplace and encourage applicants of all abilities to apply.