Day Habilitation Specialist

The New York Foundling; New York (NY); On-site; USD 22,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

The New York Foundling is seeking a Day Habilitation Specialist to support adults with developmental disabilities in daily living, community inclusion, socialization, and personal growth. You will deliver direct services in center-based and community settings, promoting independence, dignity, and meaningful participation in daily life.

The role emphasizes collaboration with an interdisciplinary team, maintaining safety, and fostering person-centered goals aligned with OPWDD standards.

Qualifications

• High-school diploma required.
• Valid NY/NJ/CT/PA Driver’s License with 6 months of experience and 6 or less points.
• CPR & SCIP certification required.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills; ability to motivate, inspire, and empower individuals with developmental disabilities to achieve their goals.
• Commitment to providing compassionate care and advocacy for individuals with developmental disabilities, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment.
• Ability to develop innovative programming, adapt activities to meet diverse needs, and respond effectively to challenges and changing situations.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team, engage stakeholders, and build positive relationships with community partners.
• Demonstrated strong commitment to safety.

Responsibilities

• Monitor program implementation, adherence to policies, and participant outcomes; conduct regular assessments and adjustments to ensure high standards of service delivery.
• Maintain accurate and contemporaneous documentation of daily services, incidents, and progress using agency systems to uphold information integrity in the electronic health systems and meet OPWDD reporting standards.
• Implement individualized life plans and staff action plans, that align with OPWDD regulations and person-centered goals, promoting independence; enhancement of social, vocational and life skills; community inclusion and personal growth tailored to the unique needs and goals of each person.
• Communicate regularly with Day Habilitation Manager, interdisciplinary teams, the person, families, and community partners to ensure consistent supports and collaborative goal tracking.
• Manage the usage of petty cash, activity budgets, and material resources responsibly to support program needs while ensuring compliance with agency financial procedures.
• Provide safe transportation to each participant throughout the day by adhering to the agency and OPWDD policies and procedures.
• Ensure the health, safety, and dignity of people supported by ensuring their Rights and Responsibilities are at the forefront of each day.
• Assisting with the development and facilitating of daily community based activities, recreational activities and volunteer opportunities.

Skills

Interpersonal communication

Organizational skills

Motivation & empowerment

Safety commitment

Education

High School diploma or GED

Job description

Overview At The New York Foundling, we trust in the power and potential of people, and we deliberately invest in proven practices. From bold beginnings in 1869, our New York-based nonprofit has supported hundreds of thousands of our neighbors on their own paths to stability, strength, and independence. We help children and families navigate through and beyond foster care. We help families struggling with conflict and poverty grow strong. We help individuals with developmental disabilities live their best lives, and we help our neighbors access quality health and mental health services—core to building lifelong resilience and wellbeing. Together, our interrelated programs provide a whole-person, whole-family, and whole-life approach that unlocks solutions for a lifetime.

Overview At The New York Foundling, we trust in the power and potential of people, and we deliberately invest in proven practices. From bold beginnings in 1869, our New York-based nonprofit has supported hundreds of thousands of our neighbors on their own paths to stability, strength, and independence. We help children and families navigate through and beyond foster care. We help families struggling with conflict and poverty grow strong. We help individuals with developmental disabilities live their best lives, and we help our neighbors access quality health and mental health services—core to building lifelong resilience and wellbeing. Together, our interrelated programs provide a whole-person, whole-family, and whole-life approach that unlocks solutions for a lifetime.

Day habilitation Specialist supports adults with developmental disabilities in achieving their individualized goals related to daily living skills, community inclusion, socialization, and personal growth. This role involves delivering direct support services in both center-based and community settings, promoting independence, dignity, and meaningful participation in daily life.

Responsibilities

Day Habilitation Specialist supports adults with developmental disabilities in achieving their individualized goals related to daily living skills, community inclusion, socialization, and personal growth. This role involves delivering direct support services in both center-based and community settings, promoting independence, dignity, and meaningful participation in daily life.

Core Responsibilities

• Monitor program implementation, adherence to policies, and participant outcomes; conduct regular assessments and adjustments to ensure high standards of service delivery. Track person supported progress, document achievements and challenges.
• Maintain accurate and contemporaneous documentation of daily services, incidents, and progress using agency systems to uphold information integrity in the electronic health systems and meet OPWDD reporting standards. Be a custodian and mandated reporter in accordance with OPWDD, NYSJC, and Organizational Policies.
• Implement individualized life plans and staff action plans, that align with OPWDD regulations and person-centered goals, promoting independence; enhancement of social, vocational and life skills; community inclusion and personal growth tailored to the unique needs and goals of each person structured activities and positive reinforcement.
• Communicate regularly with Day Habilitation Manager, interdisciplinary teams, the person, families, and community partners to ensure consistent supports and collaborative goal tracking.
• Manage the usage of petty cash, activity budgets, and material resources responsibly to support program needs while ensuring compliance with agency financial procedures.
• Provide safe transportation to each participant throughout the day by adhering to the agency and OPWDD policies and procedures. Conducting pick up, drop off and transport to daily activities. Maintaining vehicle logs and the timely reporting of needed maintenance and accidents for the vehicles.
• Ensure the health, safety, and dignity of people supported by ensuring their Rights and Responsibilities are at the forefront of each day. Provide the required level of supervision and support for a person's needs. Ensuring to adopt the Core Competencies as a metric to provide the best support to the people in the program.
• Assisting with the development and facilitating of daily community based activities, recreational activities and volunteer opportunities. Advocating for, helping with community member interactions, teaching life skills and truly supporting the person to reach their highest level of independence.

The New York Foundling is committed to attracting and retaining a diverse employee population, the Foundling will honor your experiences, perspectives and unique identity. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable and welcoming.

Qualifications

• High-school diploma required.
• Valid NY/NJ/CT/PA Driver’s License with 6 months of experience and 6 or less points
• CPR & SCIP certification required.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills; ability to motivate, inspire, and empower individuals with developmental disabilities to achieve their goals.
• Commitment to providing compassionate care and advocacy for individuals with developmental disabilities, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment.
• Ability to develop innovative programming, adapt activities to meet diverse needs, and respond effectively to challenges and changing situations.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team, engage stakeholders, and build positive relationships with community partners.
• Demonstrated strong commitment to safety.

Education Required

High School / G.E.D.

Salary Range

$19.00/hour + Education Additive ($0.15/hour Associate's Degree $.80/hour: Bachelor's or higher)