Harlem Children’s Zone (HCZ) is a world-renowned non-profit that is breaking the cycle of generational poverty for more than 22,500 children and adults in Central Harlem and millions more across the nation. HCZ walks hand-in-hand with young people and their families from cradle-to-college-through career. From our work with public school students and our Promise Academy charter schools, to our Healthy Harlem wellness initiative, to our family support programs—HCZ goes beyond education to provide children with the academic, personal, and career support they need to stay on the path to becoming self-sustaining, successful adults. No other organization uses such a comprehensive and holistic place-based approach to fighting poverty.

With a generation of proof, our innovative work over the decades has achieved unprecedented results with measurable economic and social impact in Harlem and beyond. We are a preeminent thought leader in the education, youth development, and anti-poverty fields, informing policy and advocating for change at the local, state, and national levels. Called by President Obama “one of the most successful anti-poverty programs in history,” we are sharing what we have learned with communities around the country and the world, inspiring widespread replication and changing the lives of millions beyond Harlem.

The Baby College, which is a critical piece of our early intervention work, is a program that addresses the needs of young children and families through a nine-week series of parenting workshops for expecting parents and those raising a child up to three years old. Workshops and classes are held on Saturday mornings and all services are free. Families receive breakfast, lunch, incentives, and child care during the nine-week program, which covers a broad range of subjects including brain development, discipline, immunization, safety, asthma, lead poisoning, parental stress, and parent-child bonding, among other many others. The primary goal of The Baby College is to provide families with both a range of information and the support necessary to raise happy and healthy children who enter school ready to learn.

We are seeking a Family Worker to provide direct counseling, assistance, and support and to our children and families.

For more information, check out Want to Work at Harlem Children’s Zone? Here’s 7 Things You Need to Know.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with relevant work experience

Who you are

• Some knowledge of child welfare and ACS (Administration for Children’s Services)
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written
• Willing and able to work hours based off the needs of clients; Saturdays are a must
• Expertise knowledge of the Harlem community and locations where parents are connected
• Demonstrate sensitivity, tact, and professionalism in dealing with others
• Passion for children and families and a strong connection to the community
• Must be comfortable working outside of the office in the Harlem community
• Bilingual a plus (English/French, or English/Spanish)
• CPR/AED certification is a huge plus

What you’ll do

• Provide supportive casework counseling up to 12 families through weekly home visits, which include conducting parenting workshops/lessons, and office-based assessments
• Facilitate and provide instruction on early childhood care to a parental group
• Execute lesson plans explaining best parenting strategies and practices
• Administer the use of developmental and social-emotional screening tools for children
• Utilize the Touchpoint philosophy, and other early childhood parenting techniques
• Monitor and evaluate children’s overall development, and make appropriate referrals for support (internally and externally) when needed
• Participate in weekly supervisions with the Family Service Coordinator
• Connect families to various community-based and governmental resources, and escort them to appointments as needed
• Ensure the timely and accurate completion and submission of all case notes and other required documentation
• Participate in all-agency functions and project activities
• Recruit families between cycles to ensure maximum levels of program participation
• Performs other duties as assigned

Schedule

• Must be available to work Tuesday – Saturday

Benefits

As a member of the Harlem Children's Zone team, you will join a supportive and inclusive community dedicated to helping children, families — and our staff — thrive. We offer highly competitive salaries, a comprehensive benefits package, and opportunities for growth.

Our exceptional full- time benefits include: 

• Highly competitive base salaries
• Paid time off 
• Employee referral bonus 
• Career advancement
• No-cost health insurance
• Life Insurance
• Short-and long-term disability
• Additional voluntary benefits
• Wellness discounts
• Commuter benefits
• Financial wellness perks
• Additional Benefits (Discounts on flights, hotels, theme parks, concert tickets, and more.)

The salary range for this position is $40,000 per year. To be considered, interested applicants can also submit a cover letter and resume to hczcareers@hcz.org. No telephone inquiries or recruiters, please. Replies will only be sent to qualified applicants. Harlem Children’s Zone is an EOE.