Foster Care Family Specialist
Berkshire Farm Center & Services for Youth
- Hempstead, NY
- $24.04 per hour
- Permanent
- Full-time
- Conducts assessment of family’s strengths and needs; assesses problem areas and utilizes various treatment modalities and resources to effect growth and change.
- Participates in development, implementation and ongoing evaluation of comprehensive treatment and discharge plan.
- Develops alternative placement or permanency resources for youth that may not return to their families. Completes a comprehensive discharge summary at least eight weeks prior to discharge.
- Delivers effective case management services, including ensuring counseling sessions are scheduled as needed and children receive required medical and dental examinations. Tracks and monitors services provided, completes all documentation in a timely and comprehensive manner.
- Ensures compliance with confidentiality standards, parental consent and necessary release of information.
- Conducts casework contacts with families, as needed but at least twice a month, in their homes and community settings to focus on treatment goals. Engages youth and family by developing effective and caring relationship. Ensures children are maintained in safe, secure environments.
- Acts as a bridge between youth and family, and foster care treatment teams through telephone, face-to-face contacts, family conferences, comprehensive treatment reviews, etc. Attend treatment review meetings.
- Assists with reunification of youth with family, community, school by implementing permanent supports and resources including but not limited to identifying and working with a mentor, setting up after school recreational and job opportunities and developing a relapse prevention program.
- Minimum Bachelor’s degree in human services or related field.
- Prefer 1 year of experience working with at-risk youth, families, and children from ages 0-21, social work field.
- Must be able to work a flexible schedule with variable hours including day, evening, weekend, holiday and subject to call hours.
- Must have a valid driver’s license and reliable vehicle. Travel is required. Beneficial to live on Long Island. We have Foster homes in Nassau and Suffolk County and workers attend weekly visits with youth, therefore travel occurs weekly. Some Upstate travel occurs as needed. Ability to coordinate and plan travel for visits and appointments in efficient manner.
- Ability to work with economically and culturally diverse population.
- Skills: Ability to handle crisis intervention in solution focused manner as well as communication skills including written, verbal and listening skills.
- Minimums and maximums may vary based on skills, experience and other relevant factors.
- $24.04 per hour ($50,000 annually) - $26.00 per hour ($54,000)