Engagement Specialist

City of New York; New York (NY); On-site; USD 45,000 - 51,000; Full time

Job summary

The Administration for Children's Services (ACS) in New York City is seeking a Community Associate to support the Nicholas Scoppetta Children's Center and related programs. The role focuses on welcoming and engaging youth, assisting with transitions, and coordinating with a multidisciplinary team.

Typical duties include greeting, orienting youth, inventorying belongings, transporting youths to appointments, and recording interactions.

Qualifications

• High school graduation or equivalent and three years of experience in community work or related activities.
• Education and/or experience equivalent to the above.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the care, development and guidance of dependent and traumatized children at the NSCC.
• Create a welcoming, trauma-informed environment for children entering and exiting the Center.
• Ensure that children receive a welcome or transition kit upon arrival or departure.
• Conduct orientation to youth to support program expectations and transitions to placement.
• Chaperone and transport youths to appointments, school, activities and court appearances.

Skills

Welcoming

Trauma-informed approach

Team coordination

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

3 years related community work experience

Job description

THE SELECTED CANDIDATE WILL BE OFFERED A SALARY BETWEEN $44,545.00 - $51,227.00 The Administration for Children's Services (ACS) protects and promotes the safety and well-being of children and families through child welfare and juvenile justice services and community support. ACS manages community-based support and foster care services and provides Subsidized childcare Vouchers. ACS child protection staff respond to allegations of child maltreatment. In Juvenile justice, ACS oversees detention, placement and programs for youth in the community. The ACS Nicholas Scoppetta Children's Center (NSCC) provides children with a temporary living environment that is non-judgmental, supportive, caring and structured, and strives to heal past and ongoing trauma. We believe that every child deserves safety, happiness, health, and love in our care, no matter how long or short their stay. Children in our care are prepared to transition to placement or achieve permanency after their stay at the Children's Center. In caring for our kids, we prioritize the values of acceptance, compassion, respect, equality, growth, education, development, promoting self-esteem, tolerance, and the preservation of self-identity. NSCC is comprised of Pre-Placement Services, the Office of Placement Administration, Social Work, Case Planning Unit, and Program Development and Staff Wellness. The Intake Unit is responsible for ensuring that children arriving at the Children’s Center are received and oriented in a welcoming and warm manner. The role of Greeters/Engagement Specialist are critical to providing a welcoming environment to the children. Engagement Specialist-Greeters are expected to follow the trauma informed model of care as they are engaging children arriving at the Children’s Center. In addition to orienting and engaging children as they arrive at the Children’s Center, greeters are also receiving and inventorying youth items that will need to be vouchered and stored for safety purposes. Engagement Specialists then ensure that children are transitioned to the assigned living/program spaces. Further helping to engage youth as they transition from the Children’s Center to foster care facilities. The Engagement Specialist will be responsible for performing the following duties but not limited to:

• Oversee the care, development and guidance of dependent, neglected, traumatized and emotionally disturbed children at the Children’s Center.
• Create a welcoming, trauma informed environment for all children entering and exiting the Children’s Center.
• Ensure that children entering and exiting the Children’s Center receive a welcome or transition kit.
• Conduct individual and group orientation to youth to support NSCC program expectations, and transition to placement.
• Chaperone and/or transport youths to and from appointments, school, activities, court appearances and other community-based activities.
• Monitor and supervise children in assigned areas; including observing changes in behavior and reporting aberrations and assisting children with personal hygiene, when necessary.
• Conduct inspections and inventory of children’s property upon entering and departing from the Children’s Center and upon administrative request.
• Communicate with and direct inquiries to other members of the inter-disciplinary team to provide comprehensive care for all children and youths.
• Answer phones and provide requested information or directs inquiries to appropriate staff.
• Complete required log entries, tracking sheets, incident reports and other relevant documentation which supports the monitoring of youth admission, youth exiting and released from Children's center.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Section 424-A of the New York Social Services Law requires an authorized agency to inquire whether a candidate for employment with child-caring responsibilities has been the subject of a child abuse and maltreatment report.

The Administration for Children's Services is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing access to all individuals. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact Simone Campbell at [e-mail] or 212-676-6955.

COMMUNITY ASSOCIATE - 56057

Minimum Qualifications

Qualification Requirements

1. High school graduation or equivalent and three years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to duties described above; or
2. Education and/or experience which is equivalent to "1" above.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.

Residency Requirement

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.

Additional Information

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.