Parent Advocate

Heartshare-2; New York (NY); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

403(B) retirement plan

Paid vacation, sick, personal days, &

Tuition Assistance Program

Professional Development

Employee discounts

Job summary

Heartshare St. Vincent’s Services (HSVS) seeks Parent Advocates with real experience supporting families through foster care processes and ACS mandates.

The role emphasizes advocacy, information-sharing, and engagement to empower birth parents throughout the child welfare journey. The position includes a $1,000 sign-on bonus contingent upon performance, with responsibilities spanning referrals, housing support, training facilitation, and active participation in guardianship-related services

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Experience working with families in child welfare.
• Knowledge of Foster Care and ACS mandates.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Self-motivated with strong time management skills.
• Ability to travel within NYC, Long Island, and Westchester.

Responsibilities

• Maintain tracking system of referrals and case assignments.
• Assist in facilitating trainings (e.g., Parenting Journey).
• Encourage and support Family Team Conferences; provide reminders and support.
• Represent HSVS at internal and external meetings; participate in events for birth parents.
• Provide housing-related counseling and assistance; maintain housing resources.
• Complete required documentation and consents; engage parents via service plans.

Skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Time management

Advocacy

Education

High school diploma / GED

Job description

Heartshare St. Vincent’s Services (HSVS) is actively seeking Parent Advocate(s) with demonstrated experience supporting families and a comprehensive understanding of foster care processes and ACS mandates. The ideal candidate will bring both professional knowledge and lived experience to guide and empower parents, ensuring they are fully informed, supported, and engaged throughout the child welfare process.One time sign on bonus in the amount of $1,000.00 contingent upon performance.Essential Functions and Primary Responsibilities of Position: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.Performs other job-related duties as assigned, consistent with the scope, responsibilities, and level of the position, and in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and organizational policies.HousingProvides 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 careAttend all required training to ensure up to date informationDemonstrate passion for working with birth parents and at-risk teens in a child welfare settingStrong belief in families' abilities to grow and change.Works, both, independently and collaboratively with colleagues and stakeholdersHigh school diploma/General Equivalency Diploma (GED) requiredPrevious child welfare case as a Parent closed for at least 1 year-requiredExperience working with families.Knowledge of Foster Care and ACS mandates.Knowledge of CONNECTIONS preferred.Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills.Self-motivated with strong time management skills is highly preferred.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.BenefitsAt 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.Wellhub DiscountVerizon Wireless Discount.BJs Membership discount.Discounts on Broadway tickets, movie tickets, theme parks, sporting events, gift certificates & moreHeartShare is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). If you need to request accommodation during the recruiting process, please reach out to [e-mail] HeartshareWho WE ARE:For over 150 years, Heartshare has been dedicated to championing and empowering New Yorkers society has too often overlooked and underestimated.To learn more about HeartShare, please visit our website at www.heartshare.org or Follow us on Twitter LinkedIn YouTube Instagram Facebook