Engagement Specialist

City of New York•New York, NY

14h•$44,545 - $74,134•Onsite

About The Position

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.

Requirements

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
Education and/or experience which is equivalent to '1' above.

Responsibilities

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.