Parent Engagement Coordinator

ABBOTT HOUSE•New York, NY

16d•$62,000 - $65,000

About The Position

The Parent Engagement Coordinator leads the agency’s parent engagement strategy for families with children in foster care using the PEP (Parent Engaging Parent) model. This role ensures parents receive trauma-informed, peer-driven support throughout the child welfare process. The Parent Engagement Coordinator supervises Parent Advocates, facilitates parent engagement activities, and ensures fidelity to the PEP model. The position also requires completion of RISE training and conducting 90-day assessments for parents to monitor progress toward reunification and service engagement. Core Purpose Parent Advocates, under the Parent Engagement Coordinator supervision, support parents whose children are in foster care to: Understand and navigate the foster care system Remain hopeful and address family challenges Empower parents to actively participate in case planning and make informed decisions Work toward the goal of safe and timely reunification Families often face oppression, intergenerational poverty, and trauma, which impact their engagement in case planning. The Parent Engagement Coordinator ensures Parent Advocates provide options, choices, and advocacy to help parents overcome these barriers.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Human Services, or related field (Master’s preferred).
2+ years of experience in child welfare or family support.
Completion of RISE training (or willingness to complete upon hire).
Familiarity with PEP model, trauma-informed care, and family engagement strategies.
Lived experience navigating child welfare (with boundaries and ethics training).
Knowledge of local resources and permanency planning processes.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual (English/Spanish preferred).

Responsibilities

Implement the PEP model to foster trust and collaboration between parents and Parent Advocates.
Ensure parents understand case plans, permanency goals, and court processes.
Conduct 90-day assessments to evaluate progress, identify barriers, and adjust engagement strategies.
Promote meaningful family time/visitation and reduce systemic barriers.
Serves as a Parent Advocate when needed.
Recruit, train, and supervise Parent Advocates, ensuring adherence to PEP principles.
Provide reflective supervision and coaching on boundaries, documentation, and advocacy.
Assign Parent Advocates to case planning units and ensure they bring parent insights to agency decision-making.
Complete agency mandated trainings, ACS mandated trainings, RISE training and ensure Parent Advocates receive ongoing professional development through RISE. (Parent Engagement Coordinator and all Parent Advocates will receive training and support through RISE, a parent-led NYC advocacy organization)
Training includes motivation Interviewing, Mandated Reporter Training, healing and selfcare, child welfare policy, and advocacy networking.
Monitor fidelity to the PEP model through observation, documentation review, and feedback loops.
Partner with case planning team, mental health providers, and community providers to support parent engagement.
Participate in Family Team Conferences, case reviews, and permanently planning meetings.
Advocate for parent voice in agency decisions to secure placement with kinship resources, to accelerate safe reunification and other permanency arrangements when reunification is not possible.
Maintain accurate records of parent contacts, assessments, and engagement activities in Connections and external records.
Ensure compliance with agency policies, confidentiality standards, and child welfare regulations.