Wendy's Wonderful Kid Specialist

NYC Administration for Children's Services; New York (NY); On-site; USD 63,000 - 98,000; Full time

Job summary

NYC Administration for Children’s Services seeks a Community Coordinator to support permanency planning and recruitment for foster care youth across five boroughs and additional counties. The role focuses on implementing evidence-based recruitment models, coordinating with agencies, and guiding cases toward finalizing permanency for youths.

The position emphasizes outreach to adoptive resources, cross-agency collaboration, and ongoing caseload updates.

Qualifications

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and two years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to the duties described above; or
• High school graduation or equivalent and six years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to the duties as described above; or
• Education and/or experience which is equivalent to the above, with at least one year of the experience described in item 1.

Responsibilities

• Utilize the Dave Thomas Foundation (DTF) evidence informed recruitment model to develop tailored recruitment strategies and preparing youth for permanency.
• Reaching out to potential adoptive resources and previous connections, including biological family members.
• Engaging in networking and performing thorough online searches.
• Analyzing files to uncover possible leads to achieving permanency.
• Developing tailored recruitment strategies and preparing a child for adoption.
• Providing monthly updates on caseloads and quarterly evaluations, along with recruitment strategies.
• Aid agencies in advancing cases towards permanency while facilitating team meetings.
• Facilitated DTF model-based training sessions focused on achieving permanency for young individuals.
• Oversee cases aligned with adoptive resources and conducted follow-up activities.
• Facilitated meetings between agencies to advocate movement for the child toward permanency while maintaining and fostering relationships with provider agencies.

Job description

*THE SELECTED CANDIDATE WILL BE OFFERED A SALARY OF $95,000.00*

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 supports. ACS manages community-based supports 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.

ACS' Division of Family Permanency Services (FPS) ensures that high-quality services are provided to children in foster care by supporting provider agency staff with technical assistance and other services for children in foster care. FPS staff offer guidance on child welfare policies and procedures to improve service delivery and achieve safety, permanency, and well-being for children in foster care.

The Office of Older Youth Development Services (OYDS) is responsible for technical assistance around permanency planning and promoting shorter lengths of stay in residential placements for youth in foster care. In addition, we look at the well-being and safety of youth 12-21 years of age. The Office of Older Youth Development Services includes the following program areas: Youth Justice/PINS/DOC- Conferencing, Missing Children’s Outreach Unit, Supervision to 21, RCPPU (Residential Care Permanency Planning Unit), Fast-Track Long-Stayers, APPLA Monitoring Unit, Teen Specialist Unit, Office of Child Trafficking Prevention and Policy, Reentry, Independent Review, OYDS Special Projects and OYDS Data Accountability. We also provide guidance for the foster care agencies around child sex trafficking, iFoster, transitional plans, NYTD (National Transitional Database), Sexual Health and Reproduction, CCRS coding and crossover youth practice model and Raise the Age. OYDS- is seeking a WWK Specialist to cover all 5 Boroughs, Westchester, Nassau and Suffolk County.

The duties and responsibilities of the Wendy's Wonderful Kid Specialist. will include, but will not be limited to:

• Utilize the Dave Thomas Foundation (DTF) evidence informed recruitment model to develop tailored recruitment strategies and preparing youth for permanency.
• Reaching out to potential adoptive resources and previous connections, including biological family members.
• Engaging in networking and performing thorough online searches.
• Analyzing files to uncover possible leads to achieving permanency.
• Developing tailored recruitment strategies and preparing a child for adoption.
• Providing monthly updates on caseloads and quarterly evaluations, along with recruitment strategies.
• Aid agencies in advancing cases towards permanency while facilitating team meetings.
• Facilitated DTF model-based training sessions focused on achieving permanency for young individuals.
• Oversee cases aligned with adoptive resources and conducted follow-up activities.
• Facilitated meetings between agencies to advocate movement for the child toward permanency while maintaining and fostering relationships with provider agencies.
• Maintained DTF database.
• Engaging with the older youth in QRTP.
• Creating tracking tools.
• Facilitating meeting discussions and groups with older youth.
• Cross-collaboration with community resources as well as internal divisions.

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.

COMMUNITY COORDINATOR - 56058

Minimum Qualifications

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and two years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to the duties described above; or
• High school graduation or equivalent and six years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to the duties as described above; or
• Education and/or experience which is equivalent to "1" or "2" above. However, all candidates must have at least one year of experience as described in "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.

$62,868.00 – $97,593.00