Foster Home Recruiters and Licensors

Cayuga Centers is hiring immediately for: Foster Home Recruiter and Licensor - EFFC

Salary: $26.00/hour ($27.45/hour bilingual increase)

Location: Bronx, NY

Join our team and make a difference in the lives of children, youth, and families in our community

About Cayuga Centers

Cayuga Centers is an accredited non-profit human services agency dedicated to family support and preservation, trauma-informed care, and serving vulnerable populations with the most unique needs. Founded in 1852 in Auburn, NY, we have a long history of delivering high-quality and innovative services to individuals, children, youth, and families. We have offices in 10 cities and serve over 10,000 individuals and families annually. Join us

At Cayuga Centers, we embrace Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DIB). We do this by taking a firm stance against hatred, inequality, bias, and injustice. We do this by providing our staff with the training, coaching, and resources necessary to grow and serve with cultural humility, acceptance, and understanding. We are responsive to the diverse needs of those we serve and staff, and are committed to ensuring that everyone feels respected, valued, and a sense of belonging.

About the Program and Position:

Enhanced Family Foster Care (EFFC) program supports foster youth in the custody of the Administration for Children's Services in New York City. Our EFFC program serves 130 youth ages 0-21+. It supports them with a multidisciplinary team that includes a Case Planner, NYC Comprehensive Health Services Team, Psychiatrist, Behavioral Support Specialist, Family Advocate, Case Aide, Family Team Conferencing Coordinator, Education Workforce Specialist, Employment/Internship and Housing Specialist, Fair Futures Coach, Foster Home Recruiter and Licensor and Clinician. Our therapeutic approach to foster care includes direct access to Clinicians and foster parents trained at a treatment foster care level implementing the ARC framework. This makes a difference because our team approach provides a space for healing while providing skill-building and future-focused planning for youth in our care.

We seek dedicated Foster Home Recruiters and Licensors to join our NYC Enhanced Family Foster Care (EFFC) program. As a Foster Home Recruiter and Licensor, you will support foster parent recruitment/certification, family finding, and ensure a solid working relationship with parents by providing a valuable resource to families. This position is responsible for the certification of newly opened homes, the appropriate matching and safe placement of children entering therapeutic and kinship foster homes, as well as the recertification of existing homes, and ongoing compliance.

How you get to use your skills…

• Work with other members of the Foster Home Recruiting & Licensing Department, program staff, and other departments to anticipate child placement matching and foster parent recruitment needs.

• Screen, identify, and evaluate potential foster parent applications as determined by current needs of the agency.

• Screen and educate prospective foster parents to understand the needs of children and youth and how following our models of care meets those needs.

• Recruit and facilitate the certification of foster parents.

• Visit applicants' homes to conduct the required assessments to complete the written home study. Secure required documents and provide assistance for the certification of homes.

• Evaluate existing foster homes; conduct ongoing assessment of the home and fit for the program, refer to ongoing training, and complete recertification of foster parents' homes.

• Ensure a positive working relationship with foster parents by serving as a resource to families.

• Build relationships with community leaders and mobilize agency staff, partners, and existing foster parents to help recruit new foster parents and raise awareness about foster care.

• Ensure each foster home is equipped with tools and resources to provide a safe and healthy lifestyle for the population served.

• Assist in advertisement and recruitment efforts in conjunction with the agency's Communications Department, ACS, and OCFS.

• Aid in planning and attending foster parent recruiting events, which may include nights and/or weekends.

• Work with the ACS Office of Placement Administration (OPA) to identify and match children with available Foster Homes based on the needs of the family.

• Attend ACS Placement meetings and respond to OPA/external requests for placement in a timely manner.

• Respond to incidents and requests from ACS, Foster Parents, program, and others during and outside work hours, and participate in on-call rotations.

• Contact foster parents within 24 hours after each new child is placed in a foster home.

• Identify and secure placement for intakes and lateral moves.

• Maintain regular contact with the treatment team and foster parent, and immediately respond to early signs of disruption.

• Attend weekly supervision meetings to report on cases and present for discussion any problems, difficulties or unresolved issues.

• Uphold agency, ACS and OCFS policies, mandates, and regulations.

• Document and track all certification of homes in CONNECTIONS, Electronic Record System, and Binti.

• Complete necessary data reports and accurate tracking of information related to census, placements, OSIs, CAPs and foster homes on hold.

• Attend and play an active role in Family Team Conferences (FTC's), 20 Day Conferences, Interdisciplinary Treatment Team (ITT) meeting, preservation and Parent to Parent Conferences.

• Work collaboratively with the treatment team to help families achieve the goal of permanency and reunification.

Schedule: Non-Exempt

• Monday - Friday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, 40 hours a week

• Must be able to flex schedule as needed

• On-Call hours required

• Weekend and evening hours required

• Bachelor's degree in social work or equivalent human services degree required; MSW preferred

• Two years of documented relevant experience required

• NYC ACS or private agency child welfare experience required

• Familiarity with MAPP, OCFS, OPWDD, OMH, and other relevant municipal and state agencies

• Strong skills in Microsoft Office and Google Workspace

• Flexibility to work when the families are available to meet

• Ability to work well with people from many cultures including recent immigrants, non-English speakers, and LGBTQIA+ children

• Willingness to travel within the five boroughs and tri-state area

• Flexibility to work after traditional business hours to attend recruitment events

• Valid NYS Driver's License required

• Bilingual - English-Spanish is required

Physical Requirements:

• Word processing: Including responding to e-mails, composing letters, and transcribing minutes for meetings, involves sitting at a computer for several hours a day

• Completing paperwork and electronic documentation

• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds

• Sit/ride in vehicles and/or public transportation for lengthy periods of time

• Walk up/down stairs

• Walk several blocks to get to the required locations

• 120 hours of paid vacation time and 12 sick days per year

• 10 Holidays, 3 Personal Days, Medical Appointment Time

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance

• Pet and Legal Insurance

• Employee Assistance Program

• FSA, Transit, and Parking savings accounts

• Supplemental life insurance, critical illness, enhanced short-term disability benefits

• 401(k) match up to 6%

• Corporate Discounts Program

• Sick Leave Pool

• Identity Protection

Why Cayuga Centers?

• Certified Great Place to Work ®

• Workplace Wellness Award Finalist

• Council on Accreditation (COA) Accredited

• Implement best practices and evidence-based interventions

• Committed to employee professional development and advancement

• We embrace change, innovation, and opportunities

• Our diverse workforce acts and leads with human sensitivity and respect

• Large and growing national footprint

As a full time benefits position, staff is eligible to enroll in medical, dental, vision, FSA, supplemental life insurance, critical illness, enhanced short-term disability, and 401(k) benefits.

We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment drug testing.