LOCATION: Brooklyn, NY and Queens, NY

REPORTS TO: Home Finding Supervisor

DEPARTMENT: Enhanced Family Foster Care (EFFC)

SCHEDULE: Full Time / Hybrid

$1,500 HIRING INCENTIVE

AGENCY BACKGROUND:
MercyFirst is a not-for-profit human and social service agency that has been serving children and families in need since we were founded by the Sisters of Mercy/Hermanas de las Misericordia in 1894. Today our agency continues to address the emotional and physical needs of children and families in Brooklyn, Queens and across Long Island through innovative treatments and life-changing interventions. We provide community-based prevention and family foster care services, group homes in the community for struggling children and families within the child welfare and juvenile justice systems, and short-term residential services for unaccompanied migrant children. Each year, MercyFirst serves more than 3,000 children, teenagers and families overcome enormous obstacles, re-imagine their futures, and develop their full potential.

PROGRAM BACKGROUND:
Enhanced Family Foster Care (EFFC) combines and replaces the previous separately contracted Family Foster Care (FFC) and Treatment Family Foster Care (TFFC) programs. EFFC recognizes that all children in care have experienced some level of trauma, that their needs may change over time, and that their strengths must be supported so they can reach their full potential. As a blended model, EFFC:

• Responds to the needs of the child and family - Allows children, parents, and families to receive therapeutic services and support, accessing a full menu of options with less separation into different programs. Families in EFFC placements receive enhanced case management as well as a full array of services, treatment, and supports to help them thrive.
• Increases placement stability for the child: By allowing for the flexibility to increase and decrease services and supports based on the child’s behavioral and treatment needs. EFFC supports the formation of a trusting and secure attachment relationship between the child and foster parent. Placement stability provides the opportunity for the foster parent and birth parent/family to build relationships with a shared goal of meeting the child’s needs.

POSITION SUMMARY:
The Home Finding Department is responsible for the recruitment, training, and certification of all prospective foster homes within MercyFirst. With approximately 200 homes either certified or in the process of certification, Home Finding is the initial contact for prospective foster parents with the agency’s foster care division. MercyFirst approaches its long-standing commitment to provide safe, supportive, and responsible care to every child referred for service by ensuring that the foster families who provide full time care and supervision are compassionate, well-prepared, responsive, and capable of meeting the needs of the children and families for whom they become partners in service.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Foster Parent Coach/Recruiter is responsible for the onboarding of prospective foster parents focused on marketing, outreach and recruitment, engagement, and training and support. Approach to service is family-centered, trauma-informed, and strengths-based. The qualified candidate will be responsible for overseeing inquiries and home certification process/progress, adherence to reporting requirements and timelines, and meeting programmatic outcome measures. Responsibilities include:

• Design and manage the implementation of creative strategies for identifying prospective foster parents.
• Utilize public relations, social media, and community resources to help in recruitment activities.
• Responsible for completing inquiries and orientation of prospective foster parents.
• Provide prospective foster parents with necessary support, encouragement, information on updated regulations currently established by the Agency, NYC Administration of Children Services, NYS Office of Children and Families Services and other collaborative agencies.
• Provide prospective foster parents with immediate feedback and respond to questions in an affirmative and accommodating manner so they can successfully navigate the certification process.
• Provide personal assistance to help complete the pre-certification process, filling out required documentation and promoting the need for collaboration.
• Provide support and a general willingness to help through frequent check-ins throughout the certification process.
• Promote positive working relationships between/foster/adoptive parents and members of the agency staff.
• Co-Lead MAPP/GPS and TRIPP training sessions
• Ability to navigate systems of records used in the Program: ASARA, Connections and Binti.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, Mental Health, or a relevant field required.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Strong assessment skills.
• Demonstrated ability to handle emergency situations.
• Excellent verbal, writing and organizational skills.
• Flexibility and ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines including working evenings and weekends when required.
• Computer literate Microsoft particularly Excel as well Connections.
• Understanding and willingness to commit to the agency’s Mission, core values, Sanctuary Commitments and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB).

BENEFITS/PERKS:

• A comprehensive health insurance package including medical, dental and vision plans for you and your family.
• 403B retirement benefits
• Employer-paid life insurance and long-term disability insurance
• Generous paid time off (vacation, personal, sick, 12 paid holidays)
• Free employee assistance program through National EAP
• Insurance discounts for our staff and their families
• Training to support professional and personal development.
• Employee wellness program
• Employee recognition activities

Salary Range:
$48,000 - $50,000.00 per year (35 hours/week)
Hiring Incentive-$1,500 after 500 worked hours.

MercyFirst is an inclusive, anti-racist, multicultural organization and an Equal Opportunity Employer who welcomes prospective employees from diverse backgrounds for all levels at the agency. We strive for a workforce that is reflective of the communities we serve, and do not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, religion or creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, disability, age (18 and over), military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, marital status, partnership status, care giver status, pregnancy, genetic information or predisposition or genetic characteristic, unemployment status, status as a victim or witness of domestic violence, sex offenses or stalking, consumer credit history, or any other status protected by federal, state, and/or city law. This includes, but is not limited to, employment actions against and treatment of employees and applicants for employment.