Parent Advocate (Foster Care)

Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York•New York, NY

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York is seeking Parent Advocates to support parents with children in foster care. The role involves helping parents understand and navigate the foster care system, make informed decisions, maintain hope, and address challenges to achieve reunification. The Parent Advocate will build connections with parents, collaborate with case planners, and contribute their lived experience to the agency's decision-making process. This position is part of the Parents Supporting Parents initiative, a collaboration between the NYC Administration for Children’s Services (ACS), Rise (a parent-led advocacy organization), and other child welfare stakeholders. Advocates will receive training and support from Rise, focusing on healing, self-care, child welfare law and policy, building support networks, and utilizing resources to inform and support parents. The role also includes training to facilitate Restorative Justice Peacekeeping Circles and participating in Rise’s Reunification Collaborative to improve case practice and parent engagement.

Requirements

Previous life experience being impacted by the child welfare system as a parent including having had a child placed in foster care or having had a court-ordered supervision case. Other prior child welfare involvement such as having personally experienced child welfare investigations may also qualify. Previous child welfare cases must be closed for at least one year.
A natural collaborator.
Warm, enthusiastic, able to engage and positively impact individuals.
Someone who has a sincere appreciation for people and how they are each uniquely motivated.
Strong interpersonal skills to assist with parent engagement and are geared towards working sensitively on topics involving trauma, stress, and healing.
Good Writing skills.
Computer skills conducting Google searches and using Microsoft Office.
Skilled at working in a fast-paced environment on multiple projects occurring simultaneously.
Passion for parent leadership and preventing child welfare involvement.
Able to maintain high level of confidentiality.
Able to travel extensively to all NYC boroughs.
Able to uphold the mission and values of Little Flower.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual skills is a plus.

Responsibilities

Build relationships and support parents in coping with the trauma of foster care involvement, making decisions for their families, communicating effectively with those involved in their case, and maintaining relationships with their children during foster care placement.
Prepare parents and participate in Family Team Conferences including but not limited to Transitional, 20 Day, Six Month Service Plan Review, Trial Discharge and Final Discharge conferences.
Report to foster care unit supervisor and work alongside case planners.
Collaborate with Co-Parenting Facilitator and all service providers directly responsible for care outcomes.
Be trained by Rise as part of a group of parent advocates newly hired to work in foster care agencies, with a focus on healing and self-care; building knowledge of child welfare law, policy, and practice; building relationships for support and mentorship with other advocates; and creating an ongoing support and advocacy network.
Learn to use Rise’s TIPS handouts and resources to inform and support parents.
Be trained to facilitate Restorative Justice Peacekeeping Circles to support parents through weekly circles (meetings) at the agency and/or in community.
Become a partner in Rise’s Reunification Collaborative, working with 6 foster care agencies to improve case practice and engagement with parents in the first 90 days.
Contribute to defining and achieving success for this effort to build effective and meaningful roles for parent advocates in foster care agencies.
Recognize and celebrate parents’ progress toward reunification.
Encourage parents to engage in supportive interventions that will strengthen their families.
Help families navigate resources.
Coach parents to strengthen problem-solving skills while discovering their strengths, hopes, dreams and priorities.
Perform all other related duties as assigned.