Family Peer Specialist

City of New York•New York, NY

3d•$62,868 - $72,298

About The Position

The Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) protects and promotes the safety and well-being of New York City’s children and families by providing child welfare, juvenile justice, and early care services. The Sabra Jackson Office of Advocacy (OOA) is the public-facing office within the Administration for Children’s Services (ACS), Division of External Affairs. OOA responds to the questions, concerns, and complaints of parents, youth, foster parents, caregivers, and extended family members impacted by the child welfare, juvenile justice, and early childhood education systems. OOA seeks a Family Peer Specialist to serve as a liaison to the families we serve by connecting them to resources and support services. The Family Peer Specialist brings lived experience with direct involvement in the child welfare systems to provide support to those interfacing with these systems today. This position plays a critical role in empowering families, amplifying constituent voice, and bridging gaps between families and ACS program areas or contracted service providers.

Requirements

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.
Lived experience with direct involvement in the child welfare systems.

Responsibilities

Respond to inquiries received via 311, the ACS website, walk-ins, and OOA’s Helpline.
Respond to youth and families in crisis requesting immediate assistance on an emergency walk-in basis during office hours.
Support parents, caregivers and youth during conferences, ensuring constituent perspectives are heard and understood.
Provide peer-to-peer support, mentorship, and advocacy to help families navigate ACS processes, learn their rights and responsibilities, and build self-advocacy skills.
Act as a liaison between families and ACS divisions, fostering communication, conflict resolution, and problem-solving.
Document constituent contact in OOA recordkeeping systems (Dynamics, and other internal tools).
Connect families to community-based resources and supports in areas such as housing, education, mental health, employment, and early childhood services.
Participate in outreach efforts, presentations, and training sessions to elevate family voice in policy and practice discussions across ACS.
Work as part of a collaborative OOA team, providing office coverage, crisis response, and peer input on program initiatives.
Engage in supervision, peer development, and professional training as required.