Part-time Bilingual Parent Advocate

Part-time Bilingual Parent Advocates have 'lived experience' as the parent (biological, foster, adoptive) or primary caregiver of a child/youth with a social, emotional, behavioral, mental health, or developmental disability). They will receive training to develop skills and strategies to empower and support other families, foster effective parent-professional partnership, and promote the practice of family-driven and youth-guided approaches.

Schedule

• 
  

  Monday, Wednesday, Friday 10 am - 2 pm, Tuesday and Thursday2 pm - 6 pm. Must be open to flexible scheduling.

  
  

Job Responsibilities

• Helping families understand the assessment process and identify their child's strengths, needs, and diagnosis.
• Sharing information about resources, services, and support. Exploring what might be appropriate for their child and family while helping families understand eligibility rules. Allow the families' perspectives to be included in planning and decision-making.
• Conduct general and individual outreach in the community to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and engage families in services.
• Staff a 'warm line' that families can call for information.
• Facilitate meetings between families and service providers and assist the family to gather, organize, and prepare documents needed for specific services. Accompany families to meetings when needed.
• Address any concrete or subjective barriers that may prevent full participation in services and serve as a bridge between families and service providers, supporting a productive and respectful partnership by assisting the families to express their strengths, needs, and goals.
• Support and assist families during stages of transition, which may be unfamiliar (e.g., placements, in crisis, and between service systems, etc.).
• Promote continuity of engagement and support as families' needs and services change.
• Providing on-site group sessions with youth and parents.
• Conduct training for service providers on topics including strategies for partnering with families, engagement, family-centered care, and family-driven decision-making.

Job Requirements

• Minimum High School Diploma or Equivalency required.

• Lived experience as the parent (biological, foster, adoptive) or primary caregiver of a child/youth with a social, emotional, behavioral, mental health, or developmental disability is required.
• The Bilingual Parent Advocate will be required and supported in obtaining both their New York State Professional Family Peer Advocate Credential, beginning with the attainment of the Provisional Credential within one year of hire, and will be trained in the Triple P Parenting curriculum.
• Solid knowledge of or experience with entitlements (SSI, SNAP, Medicaid), Board of Education placements, housing, family court, and the juvenile justice system within the Bronx community, and be able to work with a culturally and economically diverse population.
• Bilingual Spanish /English is preferred.
• Must be comfortable using public transportation throughout New York City.A valid New York driver's license is preferred but not required.
• Ability to work flexible hours.
• Experience in group and individual counseling and conducting or participating in meetings and trainings with families.
• Ability to form therapeutic relationships with youth and families.
• Demonstrated communication skills, ability to work effectively and cooperatively with a multi-service agency.
• Solid communication and writing skills, along with demonstrated computer skills.
• must be willing to work in a variety of settings, including clients/family home environments.
• Able to support families from diverse backgrounds, with varied religious, cultural and community values.
• Awareness of the concept of trauma and its impact on families and communities.
• Ability to work with individuals with cognitive challenges.
• Ability to identify and develop resources.
• Ability to work independently and with a team.
• Ability to work under pressure and to meet deadlines.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Together for Youth is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, military status, sex, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, disability, marital status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive, equitable, and accessible environment where diversity is valued and recognized as a source of strength and enrichment. We seek to attract talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds and cultures.

As a federal contractor, Together for Youth will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)