Foster Care Support Coordinator, OCSW

2 days ago

Bronx, New York, United States Teachers Support Network Full time
Position Summary: The New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) system is the largest in the country, composed of approximately 1 million students and 75,000+ teachers in over 1,800 schools. In the NYCPS, there are approximately 7,000 children and youth in foster care at any given time. These children and youth face a wide range of educational, health, safety, and employment risks due to trauma that comes from family separation, as well as increased risk exposure to traumatic incidents that can harm their development and wellbeing. National research shows that children in foster care experience a greater likelihood of reduced academic performance, graduating late or dropping out of school altogether.

The Office of Community Supports and Wellness (OCSW) works with schools and communities to advance equity by embracing a "whole child, whole community" approach - looking holistically at students, families, and communities to ascertain assets and needs and decide together which services and supports should be employed. The OCSW Students in Temporary Housing and Foster Care (STHFC) team leads citywide efforts to provide whole child-based support to students and families affected by homelessness and students in foster care.

The STH Foster Care Support (FSC) Coordinator will act as an expert resource and escalation point, interacting with school personnel (including social work and guidance staff, attendance team members, health and mental health providers, teachers, school safety officers, and other staff) and district personnel (including attendance, health and mental health managers) to support school-based services and interventions meeting the needs of students in foster care. This could include providing training, guidance and technical support as stakeholders seek to address concerns regarding student attendance, credit accumulation, special education needs, and so on, all while informing these same stakeholders of obligations and promising practices in engaging parents, foster parents, foster care providers, and other caring adults dedicated to supporting this population. The FSC Coordinators will act as the link between evolving policy and practice for students and caregivers, and the implementers among schools and district offices, foster care providers, personnel from the Administration for Children's Services, and others. The FSC Coordinators will partner closely with the Office of Safety Youth in Development (OSYD), Office of Community Supports and Wellness and STH Regional Managers for foster care specific resources and guidance. Coordinators will also interact with other NYCPS offices and city agency partners.

This role also ensures compliance with all appropriate City, State, and Federal laws and regulations pertaining to students in foster care, including Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), Uninterrupted Scholars act and the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act. Performs related work.

Reports to: STH Director of Clinical Supports and Foster Care

Direct Reports: N/A

Key Relationships: Other members of the STH team, including Directors of Regional Support, Capacity Building and Clinical Services, STH Regional Managers, and school and shelter-based staff; leadership in the Office of Community Schools; NYCPS Field Offices; other NYCPS Offices/Divisions, including the Office of Pupil Transportation (OPT) and the Office of Student Enrollment; foster care agencies, colleagues in other city agencies including the Administration for Children's Services; school principals and other school-based personnel providing support to STH; policy and advocacy experts and community-based organization (CBO) partners.

RESPONSIBILITIES
  • Serves as a district liaison for School Administrators, School Counselor(s), Attendance Teacher(s), the Office of Pupil Transportation, and other support personnel, providing training, guidance, and technical support to facilitate referral to school and other services (e.g., access to public benefits, attendance improvement and academic achievement, health and mental health supports, emergency housing, and other needed services).
  • Uses data regarding chronic absenteeism and academic success to coordinate tailored, data-driven, culturally relevant, trauma-informed strategies and supports for children and families. Record and monitor information regarding interventions and referrals.
  • Acts as an escalation contact for students, parents, foster parents, school and provider personnel and others to resolve education access and engagement issues for students in foster care, including student transportation, school placement and registration, special education evaluation and supports, mid-year transfers, and related issues.
  • Supports schools to collect, organize, and synthesize information on assets and needs of the school and its students affected by foster care. Using this information, support schools to leverage their Pupil Personnel Team, IEP Team members, and Attendance Team meetings to help identify students at risk to coordinate tailored, data-driven, culturally relevant, trauma-informed strategies and supports.
  • Works alongside district leaders and Borough/Central Office staff to advance policies and practices that strengthen school-based capacity with consistency and fidelity across all schools, regardless of how many students in foster care are supported by a given school location.
  • Facilitates communication and coordination between students, families, schools and foster care providers to deepen supportive ties, leverage all available supports and services more effectively, including case management, health and mental health services, and related benefits.
  • Ensures school division representation in the Best Interest Determination (BID) process for youth in foster care within an appropriate time frame. When in the youth's best interest as determined by the BID process, advocates for immediate enrollment in the receiving school to avoid gaps in education.
  • Works closely with the Director of Clinical Supports and Foster Care to coordinate professional development to the borough, district, and school-based staff, including the Child Abuse designated liaison and the Tiered Response protocol point person, on topics including, but not limited to:
    • Addressing and reducing chronic absenteeism
    • Implementing the Tiered Response Protocol in schools
    • Understanding the rights of students in foster care and their families
    • Supporting trauma-informed care
    • Role of school staff in best interest determinations for school enrollment or transfers
    • Post-secondary planning and transition to independence for students in foster care
  • Records and monitors information in relevant data systems to ensure accurate transmittal and to improve referral to tailored supports.
  • Executes targeted outreach strategies to recruit youth in foster care for office programs, collaborating with foster care agencies and schools to connect with eligible individuals, ensuring programs are accessible and tailored to their unique needs.
Qualification Requirements:

Minimum

A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and two (2) 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 (6) 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 (1) year of experience as described in "1" above. Plus

In addition to meeting the minimum requirements, individuals must have two additional years of the experience described in "1" above.

Preferred
  • Versed in current laws, regulations, policies, and guidance governing education services for youth in foster care, such as the Fostering Connections Act and ESSA.
  • Experience working with vulnerable populations in a school-based setting, with knowledge about trauma informed strategies, nonprofit student support services, and youth development approaches.
  • Understanding of the public education system and the foster care system (including lived experience), and how to access school-based resources (e.g., transportation, health and mental health, etc.) for youth in foster care.
  • Strong skills in relationship management and project implementation, and experience providing presentations and skill-building supports to adult learners.
  • Strong written and spoken communication skills.
  • Familiarity with community-based agencies serving foster youth and families and related youth development programs.
  • Ability to work effectively with school aged youth, educators, families, and communities from a wide range of cultural, social, and economic backgrounds.
  • Strong facility with Excel; moderate knowledge of other Microsoft Office applications, e.g., Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
Salary : $ 69,844 - $74,344

(Internal candidates who are selected for this position and who currently hold comparable or less senior positions within the DOE will not earn less than their current salary.)

Please include a resume and cover letter with your application.

NOTE: The filling of all positions is subject to budget availability and/or grant funding.

* New York City Residency is NOT Required *

We encourage all applicants from the New York City tri-state area to apply.
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
DOE Non- Discrimination Policy
The Department of Education of the City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's actual or perceived sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, or pregnancy. For more information, please refer to the DOE Non-Discrimination Policy .
Public Service Loan Forgiveness As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education's website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/ .

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