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Child Welfare Positions through Children’s Corps

Job Description: 

Children’s Corps is a program of Fostering Change for Children that recruits, trains and supports college graduates and professionals of all backgrounds who are passionate about working with children and families involved in the child welfare system. Its mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable children by building a highly-skilled and dedicated workforce that has the potential to become leaders in the field. The program offers an employment opportunity for individuals who want to work on the frontlines in New York City’s child welfare agencies, gain valuable experience, and make a difference in the lives of families.

Once accepted into the program, Children’s Corps members are required to participate in a 4-week Summer Training Academy, where “real world” experience and classroom training are brought together to a provide a foundation of knowledge and skills before beginning work in the field. After completion of the training, members are placed in frontline positions at agencies in New York City and Westchester, working in foster care, preventive services, or residential settings. Children’s Corps partners with 15 foster care and preventive agencies that employ the Corps members and provide them with a full salary and benefits. The available positions vary, but typically include: Case Planner (BA and MA level), Socio-therapist (BA level), Family Therapist (MSW or MHC), and Interventionist (BA level). It is not essential to have prior knowledge of the child welfare system, but rather the openness, patience, and persistence to learn.  

Children’s Corps requires its members to commit TWO years to working at their placement agency. Throughout, members receive ongoing personal support and professional development, which includes: monthly meetings and trainings, peer-to-peer support, individual staff support, professional mentors, and an online resource group. The program strives to fully support its members and enable to them to grow professionally and personally as they undertake this rewarding and challenging work. Children’s Corps, its members and alumni are building a community of leaders committed to advocating for and leading efforts to create improvements in the child welfare system and improve outcomes for children.    

Benefits include:

• A very close and supportive network of professionals, peers, and alumni

• A dynamic and comprehensive pre-service training and on-going support

• A full-time job in NYC with salary and benefits

• An environment to accomplish personal and professional goals and to develop your skills as the next leader in child welfare 

Job responsibilities/activities vary depending on the specific placement, but may include:

• Overseeing a caseload of children and/or families

• Assessing for safety and risk of children

• Visiting families in their homes and at the agency on at least a bi-monthly basis, at times working into the evenings to accommodate families.

• Coordinating and supervising family visits at the agency and/or in the community

• Referring families to services and providing follow up

• Advocating for clients in their effort to secure services such as public assistance, health insurance, and help with immigration issues

• Accompanying families to necessary programs or service appointments as necessary (i.e. drug treatment, medical, school, housing, public assistance, immigration, etc.

• Participating in family team conferences, agency meetings and trainings

• Interfacing and maintaining contact with schools, mental health facilities, and other service providers

• Attending and testifying at court hearings

• Documenting all case activity with families and community providers

• Working collaboratively with families, supervisors, lawyers, treatment teams, etc. 

Job Qualifications:

Eligibility:

• A minimum of a bachelor’s degree before June 2017

• US citizenship, permanent residency or valid 2-year+ work authorization

• Two-year commitment starting in July 2017

Children’s Corps seeks candidates who are:

• Interested in a career in the non-profit/social justice sector

• Passionate about and dedicated to supporting at-risk families

• Compassionate, energetic and self-motivated

• Flexible

• Not afraid of facing challenges or asking for help

• Resilient and persistent

• Very organized; able to set priorities and multi-task

• Good verbal and written communication skills

• Eager to learn and grow professionally and personally

• Confident and motivated to make a 2-year commitment to working in child welfare