Cayuga Centers is hiring immediately for: Behavioral Support Specialists - EFFC

Earn $23.00/hourly

$3,000 increase for Bilingual Speaker (Spanish)

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, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB). 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:

The ACS Program supports foster youth in the custody of the Administration for Children’s Services in New York City. Our Enhanced Family Foster Care (EFFC) program serves 130 youth ages 0-21 and supports them with a multidisciplinary team that includes a Case Planner, 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 that are 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.

Cayuga Centers is looking to hire passionate and dedicated Behavioral Support Specialists for the NYC Enhanced Family Foster Care (EFFC) program. The Behavioral Support Specialist will deliver home-based support and services including behavior management, therapeutic and developmental support for youth’s treatment goals and needs in addition to timely crisis intervention, as needed. Core responsibilities will include: maintaining close communication and coordination with other members of the treatment team, including Case Planners, Clinicians, Medical, and Mental Health; respecting family and youth commitments by maintaining a flexible schedule; intervening decisively when necessary, to protect family members; and setting appropriate boundaries and limits for best practice.

How you get to use your skills…

• Conducts weekly face-to-face visits in the foster home with the child and the foster parent to implement the behavior plan goals.
• Make school visits, at least quarterly, and as needed.
• Engages the child in creative/recreational and socialization activities in the community.
• Works with the foster parent, parent, case planner and other treatment team members to support the child’s treatment goals.
• Maintains regular contact with school personnel; gathers all school information and shares with the treatment team and family as appropriate.
• Arranges for services needed to facilitate and expedite permanency planning.
• Provides skills training and life coaching to youth. .
• Coordinates and documents the implementation of wellness services, Youth Preparing for Adulthood (PYA) checklists in NETSMART and Connections.
• Liaises with external formal support providers including, but not limited to schools, hospitals, etc.
• Works collaboratively and communicates clearly and respectfully with colleagues, families, and other service providers.
• Provides crisis management support to youth and families on caseload (i.e. onsite, off site, movements).
• Maintains weekly in-person requirements and complete progress notes in a timely manner.
• Attends and plays an active role in Family Team Conferences (FTC’s), Interdisciplinary Treatment Team (ITT) meetings and Parent to Parent Meetings to review current treatment plans and goals.
• Meets with interdisciplinary treatment team members to develop comprehensive support plans and strategies.
• Attends court hearings at the request of the supervisor for youth on their caseloads, as needed.
• Submits critical incident reports to address emergencies such as runaways, accidents, or medical problems, etc.
• Participates in weekly supervisory conferences with the Supervisor, as well as staff and team meetings.
• Performs other related duties as requested

Schedule: Non-Exempt

• Regular hours entail a flexible schedule with 40 hours per week.
• Evenings, weekends and on-call required

• Bachelor’s degree required

• Bilingual preferred
• NYC ACS or private agency child welfare experience required
• Familiarity with OCFS, OPwDD, OMH, and other relevant municipal and state agencies
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and Google Workspace Ability and willingness to engage and work with families in an "in-home" context
• 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 LGBTQ children
• Willingness to travel within the 5 boroughs of New York City and tri-state area
• Valid NYS Driver’s License required

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Computer work requires sitting at a desk for long periods of time

• Time on your feet for up to several hours a day
• Lifting up to 50 pounds
• Time driving and/or taking public transportation to conduct client and family visits
• Able to have contact with consumer’s - non-contagious illness

• 80 hours of Vacation Time, 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
• Hybrid work schedule

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

We maintain a drug-free workplace and perform pre-employment drug testing.
From: Cayuga Centers