Family Specialist

Job Title: Family Specialist

Job Summary:

CASES' youth programs aim to help New York City's systems-impacted young people, aged 13-24, to lead productive lives. Our approach is distinguished by individualized case management, evidence-based programming, and group activities that build positive peer associations. For many, this is the first time in their lives that they are participating in activities that help them set personal goals and develop the skills they need to reach them.

Under the direction of the Fair Futures Supervisor, the Bilingual Family Specialist works with young people and their families to identify and celebrate strengths, remove barriers to success, address needs, navigate and advocate within existing systems, and ensure they have access to benefits/entitlements and long-term services in the community.

Are you:

• Looking to work with young people and their families—engaging them in conversation and setting goals while providing support and encouragement?
• An outside of the box thinker who can employ creative approaches?
• Someone who believes that change is possible?
• Passionate about working from a strengths-based, trauma-informed, youth development lens?

Becoming a Bilingual Family Specialist at CASES could be what you are looking for

As a Bilingual Family Specialist, you will:

• Be part of this successful, innovative, and collaborative movement that is changing the landscape of child welfare and the juvenile legal system;
• Join a community of over 500 passionate professionals across organizations;
• Make an immediate impact in the lives of young people by helping them carve out a pathway to success in life as they define it.

We respectfully ask for a minimum 2-year commitment to this role, given the importance of young people having consistent, caring adults in their lives, the trust granted to us over time by families, and the significant investment our team will make into supporting and developing Specialists.

Salary: The salary for this role is $58,356 per year

Shift Hours: This position is full-time Monday-Friday 10am-6pm with flexibility required to be responsive to youth/family needs (occasionally accompanying to appts in AM, picking up phone calls in PM, etc.)

Location Address: Work will be conducted in the community (primarily Manhattan and the Bronx, and across NYC) with in-office reporting responsibilities at 4 West 125th Street. Some travel across CASES offices will be expected for trainings, department meetings, etc.

Workplace Flexibility: Flexible - For roles that have days that can be partially remote, e.g., being able to draft notes at home after going to the office/community in the morning). Youth work is conducted in the field Monday-Friday, in-person meetings weekly, with remote administrative work (notes, emails, etc.).

What You Will Be Doing:

• Collaborate with Coaching team to identify families in need of support from overall youth cohort of 50-75 youth; build purposeful relationships with 15-20 young people/families at a time. Families with priority needs may shift over time. Specialists employ creative, out-of-the box approaches to engaging youth and families and do not give up if they are not responsive.
• Build relationships and collaborate with the key adults in the young person's life to support their goals and well-being, including other agency staff (e.g., Mentors, Coaches, and Specialists), caregivers, foster parents, school/program staff, and other significant adult figures.
• Meet with caregivers and families to assess needs; Encourage positive communication between family members; Support families through challenges in their family relationships to enable young people to pursue their goals.
• Connect young people to quality programs, resources, and opportunities in line with their goals; Develop relationships with community resources that support youth and family needs.
• Accompany and support participants and families in completing applications and attending appointments, such as HRA, DOE, DMV, medical facilities, housing, etc.
• Assist with obtaining vital documents for youth and families.
• Develop and maintain resource guides for families to access; connect parents and caregivers to resources that meet their needs.
• Use an online platform each week to track contacts, young people's goals, steps taken towards goals, and other key data. Full support will be provided on how to use Care4 database.
  Participate in weekly staff meetings.

What We Are Looking For:

• A Bachelor's degree and 2+ years of experience working with young people; OR
• An Associate or other accredited vocational degree, and 3+ years of experience working with young people; OR A "credible messenger" (has a background in foster care, criminal legal system, or other systems-involvement), with some post-secondary experience (e.g., some college), with significant experience (4+ years) working with young people in a professional, paid role.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish).
• History of navigating systems such as HRA, DOE, etc.
• Lived experience is a major plus
  Ability to work some evening and weekend hours is expected.

Preferred Skills:

• Ability to relate to young people, engage them in conversation, and provide support and encouragement.
• Ability to form collaborative, working relationships with parents/families, school and agency staff.
• Consistent and reliable.
• Able to maintain healthy boundaries.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong time-management, organizational skills, and attention to detail.
• Ability to troubleshoot, advocate, and navigate obstacles where there is not always a clear-cut pathway.
• Ability to use trauma-informed techniques.
• Values and promotes diversity.
• Flexible and can work independently.
• "Lived experience" as a parent (biological, adoptive, foster) or primary caregiver for youth or young adults who have experienced systems involvement.
  Valid drivers license a plus

Employee Benefits:

CASES cares about employee wellbeing, and we offer a comprehensive benefits package to support you and your family, including:

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Vacation and Paid Time Off – starting at 25 days
• 12 Paid Holidays per year.
• Retirement 403(b) Competitive matching up to 6%.
  Employee Referral Program

Our Values

At CASES, we like to move with PURPOSE , which reflects our values:

PEOPLE| Hold people's stories with dignity

UNITY| Commit to a shared mission

RESPECT| Celebrate the strength of diversity

PROGRESS| Always work to improve

OPTIMIZE| Make the best use of resources

SOLUTIONS| Work together to solve problems

EMPATHY| Seek to understand others

Although we would love to learn about the skills of every candidate, only selected candidates that are selected will receive a response. We encourage you to apply for any position(s) you feel you are qualified for.

CASES is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment with CASES is based solely on qualifications and competence for a particular position without regard to race, color, ethnic or national origin, age, religion, creed, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or marital, military, or citizenship status. We also actively recruit individuals with prior involvement in the criminal legal system.

This position is full-time Monday-Friday 10am-6pm

35 hours per week