P/T Social Worker - Youth Permanency Specialist

You Gotta Believe (YGB) is a New York City-based, national organization specializing in finding permanent families for young adults, teens, and pre-teens in foster care. YGB focuses exclusively on preventing youth from aging out of foster care without family; thus reducing the risk of homelessness, incarceration, and poverty due to a lack of stable connections. Founded in 1995, YGB achieves this mission by collaborating with foster care organizations to recruit, match, and provide indefinite, comprehensive support to adoptive foster parents and youth.

We are seeking a compassionate and dedicated Social Worker to join our team as a Youth Permanency Specialist. In this role, you will work directly with families who are adopting youth from foster care. You will be instrumental in assessing the needs of the youth and families, assisting with the transition from foster care to the family, and building relationships with the youth and families in order to support a high level of intervention.

This is a part-time position with an expected need of 20 hours per week.  Our ideal candidate will have the flexibility to travel within Long Island and Queens as needed by our families. Evening and weekend work may be needed depending on the families being supported.

Key Responsibilities:

Assess Family Readiness:

• Evaluate the preparedness of families to adopt by assessing their emotional and logistical readiness.
• Collaborate with families to create detailed adoption plans that address the needs of both the youth and the adoptive family.

Provide Support and Guidance:

• Offer ongoing support and guidance to families throughout the adoption process, including pre-adoption preparation and post-adoption adjustment.
• Address any concerns or challenges families may face and provide resources or referrals as needed.

Facilitate Communication:

• Act as a liaison between the family, the youth’s previous caregivers, and the child welfare agencies.
• Ensure clear and effective communication to address any issues or changes in the adoption process.

Monitor Progress:

• Track and document the progress of the adoption process, including the youth’s adjustment to the new family environment.
• Conduct regular follow-up visits and evaluations to assess the well-being of the youth and the family.

Advocate for the Youth:

• Advocate for the youth’s best interests throughout the process.
• Ensure that the youth’s needs, preferences, and rights are considered and respected.

Coordinate Services:

• Coordinate with other professionals, such as therapists, medical providers, and educational staff, to ensure the youth receives comprehensive support.
• Arrange for any additional services or interventions that may be necessary for the youth’s well-being.

Ensure Compliance & Documentation:

• Ensure that all legal and procedural requirements related to the adoption process are met.
• Keep up-to-date with relevant regulations and policies to maintain compliance.
• Maintain accurate and confidential records of all interactions, assessments, and progress reports related to each case.
• Prepare and submit reports as required by the agency or regulatory bodies.

Provide Training:

• Offer training and educational resources to families on topics related to child development, trauma, and effective parenting strategies.
• Facilitate workshops or support groups to help families build skills and connect with others in similar situations.

Crisis Intervention:

• Address any emergent issues or crises that arise and provide appropriate interventions or referrals.
• Develop crisis management plans if necessary to support the family and youth effectively.

Promote Post-Adoption Support:

• Assist families in accessing post-adoption support services, such as counseling or support groups.
• Monitor long-term adjustment and well-being of the family and youth, providing additional support as needed.

Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, Counseling, or a related field. A licensed Social Worker (LCSW or LMSW) is preferred.
• Experience:  Minimum of 2-3 years of experience working with youth in foster care, adoption services, or child welfare. Experience in permanency planning is highly desirable.
• Skills: Strong understanding of the challenges faced by youth in foster care, particularly older youth. Excellent communication, advocacy, and crisis intervention skills. Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Cultural Competency: Sensitivity to the diverse backgrounds of youth and families, with a commitment to equity and inclusion in the adoption process.
• Other Requirements: Valid driver’s license and the ability to travel as needed to meet with youth, families, and other stakeholders at times that are convenient for families such as in the evenings or on the weekends.

WE OFFER. Benefits include medical, dental, life insurance, and 403(b) retirement plan; 3 weeks of vacation (plus the week between Christmas and New Year’s) and holidays.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS. The position primarily involves traveling in the inner city, standing for two hours or more for workshops and presentations, and computer-based work from a seated position.

COMPENSATION. The compensation range for this position is $30-35 hour and is commensurate with experience.

LOCATION. This position is in Long Island and Queens (and additional locations as needed) and will have a hybrid work arrangement. Our main office is located in Manhattan and travel there is required on a semi-regular basis.

You Gotta Believe (YGB) is a New York City-based, national organization specializing in finding permanent families for young adults, teens, and pre-teens in foster care. YGB focuses exclusively on preventing youth from aging out of foster care without family; thus reducing the risk of homelessness, incarceration, and poverty due to a lack of stable connections. Founded in 1995, YGB achieves this mission by collaborating with foster care organizations to recruit, match, and provide indefinite, comprehensive support to adoptive foster parents and youth.

WE BELIEVE IN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT. You Gotta Believe is an equal-opportunity employer. Applicants and employees shall not be discriminated against because of race, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, gender (including pregnancy and gender expression) identity, color, marital status, veteran status, medical condition, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law or ordinance. Reasonable accommodation will be made so that qualified differently abled applicants may participate in the application process. Please advise in writing of special needs at the time of application.

For more information on our organization, please visit www.yougottabelieve.org.