Parent Engagement Specialist

THE SELECTED CANDIDATE WILL BE OFFERED A SALARY OF $79,527.00.

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.

The Office of the First Deputy Commissioner (OFDC) plays a significant role in implementing agency goals and carries out ACS’ mission to foster a collaborative, community-based, integrated approach to child and family safely, permanency and well-being. The First Deputy Commissioner serves as the Commissioner’s senior delegate and represents the Commissioner when necessary. The Office of the First Deputy Commissioner includes the Nicholas Scoppetta Children’s Center (NSCC), Office of Public-Private Partnerships, Office of Equity Strategies, Office of Child and Family Health, Faith-based Services, Senior Advisor for Medicaid Redesign, and Parent Advocacy Council.

Parents’ voices need to be heard and incorporated into case practice to improve child and family outcomes. To facilitate stronger parent support and greater parent engagement and advocacy to inform ACS’ work, ACS will employ a Parent Engagement Specialist (PES) to work under the Office of the First Deputy Commissioner. The PES will work across all ACS divisions to engage parents and develop and implement opportunities for robust parent voice and engagement in ACS’ programs, program planning and evaluation strategy, and policy development. The PES will also assist in curriculum development and implementation of training for parent advocates system wide. Recognizing the vital role that parent advocates can play for parents involved in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems, ACS will employ a full-time Parent Engagement Specialist (PES) position to strengthen the role of parent advocates both within and outside the child welfare system to support parents with current cases in the system and to inform ACS’ programs, planning and policy. The PES will be housed in ACS’ Office of the First Deputy Commissioner to ensure agencywide reach and to support ACS’ divisions including but not limited to primary prevention, preventive services, foster care, and juvenile justice.

The Parent Engagement Specialist responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

- Develop foster engagement with and support the ACS Parent Advocacy Council who will continue to advise the ACS Commissioner and leadership team.

- Develop a cadence and meet consistently with the Parent Advocacy Council (PAC) and its subcommittees.

- Serve as the liaison between the PAC and ACS to facilitate meetings with ACS divisional leadership.

- Coordinate with Parent Advocacy Council members in the provision of resources and support members during annual events.

- Coordinate with community organizations to support and strengthen their advocacy work with families involved in the child welfare system.

- Assist with the development of training to ensure Parent Advocates have the knowledge and tools they need to succeed.

- Coordinate with ACS’ Office of Advocacy and Office of Community Engagement and Partnerships to support its advocacy work and strengthen linkages to internal and external stakeholders.

- Coordinate with provider agencies and ACS’ Office of Advocacy to standardize and enhance the role of parent advocates assisting parents in conferences, visitation, finding kin, participating in
services and other aspects of case planning supporting positive child and family outcomes.

- Directly observe parent advocates’ participation in conferences, court proceedings and other tasks to assess the quality of advocacy and make recommendations for supervision, training, and other supports to improve the quality of parent advocate practice and services.

- Participate in projects such as the Enhanced Family Conferencing Initiative (EFCI) and Parents Empowering Parents programs (PEP) to offer technical assistance and support.

- Serve as a liaison for the parent perspective for community-based programs focused on primary intervention.

- Collect parent feedback on specific issues including, but not limited to race, gender, and LGBTQIA+ equity issues.

- Explore and develop additional initiatives to enhance and expand advocacy services that integrate parents’ perspectives into practice.

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.

TO APPLY:

- Please go to www.cityjobs.nyc.gov or www.nyc.gov/ess for current NYC employees and search for Job ID #717025

- NO PHONE CALLS, FAXES, OR PERSONAL INQUIRES PERMITTED

- NOTE: ONLY THOSE CANDIDATES UNDER CONSIDERATION WILL BE CONTACTED

COMMUNITY COORDINATOR - 56058

1. 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
2. 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
3. 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.

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.