About Us Good Shepherd Services is a leading multi-service agency with more than 85 programs that serve over 30,000 youth and families each year - and builds on their strengths to help them gain skills for success. At Good Shepherd we respect the dignity and worth of every person and reject intolerance, inequity and injustice in whatever form it may take. Voted one of the top 100 places to work in NYC by Crain's New York, Good Shepherd Services offers a fantastic work environment, a collaborative team dedicated to fulfilling our mission, and an amazing array of benefits. Join our team and help make a difference! Overview This position performs a wide range of activities related to the recruitment, orientation, training, and retention of foster parents. The job's objective is to ensure that GSS has a sufficient pool of safe and nurturing foster homes for children in placement. Reports To: Homefinding Supervisor, Family Foster Care Location: 7 West Burnside Avenue, Bronx, NY 10453 Hours:35 hours,Non Exempt Salary: 50K-55K Annually(Based on Relevelant Experience) Major Duties:
- Conduct outreach in targeted communities for the purpose of recruiting foster homes.
- Develop and distribute advertisements/fliers etc for recruitment purposes.
- Receive and respond to inquiries from prospective foster parent applicants.
- Conduct foster parent orientations both in house and at outside organizations.
- Work with identified foster parents, staff, and adolescents placed in care to co-lead foster parent recruitment engagements.
- Screen and interview foster parent applicants and collect documents required to certify their homes in accordance with NY State and agency foster home licensing guidelines.
- Writing appropriate documentation to ensure the proper licensure of new foster parent applicants
- Participate/ lead foster parent support groups, focus groups, and committees, as assigned, to support foster families and promote retention of quality foster homes.
- Co-lead GPSII-MAPP training on consistent and scheduled basis
- Conduct other foster parent trainings as needed and assigned.
- Represent the agency at appropriate outside meetings, committees and task forces as assigned.
- Participate in agency-based meetings, case conferences and other activities relevant to foster home certifications, re-certifications and performance.
- Will conduct home visits as needed in the foster parent licensing process.
- Perform other related duties as needed.
- Effectively use and practice the Sanctuary Model tools: safety plans, community meetings, psycho-educational groups, team meetings, red flag reviews, treatment planning conferences (or similar), and self care in the department/program to create a non-violent and trauma-sensitive culture.
- Promote and model the seven Sanctuary Model commitments to create a non-violent and trauma sensitive culture.
- Integrate the Sanctuary Model SELF (Safety, Emotional Management, Loss and Future) framework into daily practice to ensure quality care and an effective work environment.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree required
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) required
- Previous experience in foster care and/or recruitment preferred
- Excellent verbal and writing skills
- Must have a commitment to work from a strength based, youth development, trauma-informed perspective
Additional Information Good Shepherd Services is an equal opportunity employer that is proudly committed to becoming an anti-racist and multicultural organization that stands up for justice and equity. We welcome prospective employees from diverse backgrounds, for administrative support and direct service and leadership roles, who will join us on that journey, uphold our values and approach, and believe in our mission. Additionally, we aim to have a racially representative leadership and workforce that is reflective of the communities we work in partnership with. Good Shepherd Services is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, participants, volunteers, subcontractors, and vendors. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of our activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and termination of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services. We are committed to providing a workplace that is accessible and accommodating to employees with disabilities. As part of our commitment to providing a barrier-free recruitment and selection process, we will provide reasonable accommodations upon request for candidates with disabilities. If you require any accommodations to participate in the hiring process, please inform us of your needs in advance. We value diversity and inclusivity in our workplace and encourage applicants of all abilities to apply.