Birth Parent Advocate

ABBOTT HOUSE • New York, NY

10d • $37,000 - $40,000

About The Position

The Birth Parent Advocate coordinates services between the birth parent of a child in care and the caseworker. The role supports engagement with parents who may be hostile or unwilling to plan with the agency for their child’s return, and assists parents in accessing appropriate treatment and training programs. The advocate documents service efforts in the Connections system within mandated 15-day time frames, supervises parent-child visits to ensure family safety, and assists case planners with foster home and birth family home visits and court hearings. The position is full-time for 35 hours per week and is located at Grand Concourse in the Bronx, New York. The salary range is $37,000–$40,000.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Ability to speak, read, and write fluently in English, including correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Ability to use a computer and learn software programs.
• Ability to operate a fax machine, copier, scanner, and other office equipment.
• Ability to perform the essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation.

Responsibilities

• Assist caseworkers in engaging birth parents whose children are in foster care and who are refusing to plan with the agency for the child’s return.
• Engage and assist parents in applying for appropriate treatment programs, including parenting skills training, substance abuse courses, and domestic violence management training.
• Complete thorough progress notes documenting efforts to assist parents and enter them in the Connections system within mandated 15-day time frames.
• Supervise parent-child visits to ensure the safety of the families served.
• Assist case planners with foster home visits and birth family home visits.
• Assist case planners with court hearings.
• Perform other related duties as required.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time