Overview of the Role

The Unaccompanied Children Program provides long term and transitional residential care and other supportive services to Unaccompanied Children (UC) who are under legal custody of the Federal Government. Working in collaboration with the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement, ORR, our program provides a safe and nurturing environment for youth in a Basic Shelter program, and the Therapeutic Group Home programs located at our licensed residential facility in Yonkers, NY as well as a Transitional Foster Care program and the Long Term Foster Care Program located in foster homes in the Bronx, Queens and Westchester. In all programs, we provide therapeutic and educational services and other supports that youth need to achieve success through an array of strength-based and targeted interventions as well as link them with family members and/or other sponsors in the United States so they are able to move forward with their lives and thrive. The Home Finder Supervisor will be responsible for the overall functioning of the Foster Home Program by consistently meeting OCFS and ORR mandates.

Rising Ground 

Founded as an orphanage in 1831, Rising Ground has been at the forefront of evolving community needs. Driven by the belief that each of us can thrive when life has hope and opportunity, Rising Ground provides caring support and proven paths to positive change, helping children, adults, and families rise above adversity, and each year, Rising Ground is a positive force in the lives of more than 25,000 individuals. We do this through 50 programs in 70 locations throughout New York City and Westchester. Our strong belief and commitment to diversity shows not just through our work with supported persons but is integral to the building of a strong staff that reflects the communities we serve. Rising Ground is headquartered in downtown Brooklyn. 

Benefits

At Rising Ground, we encourage everyone to live a healthier life. When you enroll in health care benefits — medical, dental, and vision care, you and your family can take advantage of each plan’s preventive services, which will help everyone to stay well. Another way to remain healthy is to eat right and keep active. Ultimately, we all benefit when we make the right choices, whether through diet and exercise or health care services. You can also take advantage of other important benefits, including life and accident, disability benefits, the retirement savings plan, and the employee assistance program.

Annual Salary

$57,221.94

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Job Duties:

• Directly supervises 4 Home Finders
• Ensures that Home Finders licensed all foster homes are in compliance with ORR and OCFS mandates
• Provides weekly supervision to the Home Finders
• Review and monitor all homes in Connections on a regular basis
• Facilitate team meetings and trainings for staff and for foster parents
• Completes reports and tracking grids for compliance and quality on a weekly basis
• In conjunction with Human Resources, select, interview and hire staff for the program.
• Along with other administrators, provide specific program-related orientation for new employees
• Monitor progress of staff through performance evaluations. Assist staff in developing improvement plans and ensure training compliance.
• Oversee and supervise the scheduling of the home visits to ensure homes are always meting OCFS and ORR mandates and to provide support to all foster parents as needed.
• Engage staff in professional development plans and goals

 Professional Practice

• Join different committees or groups within the organization.
• Maintain collaborative relationships with team members, other staff, parents, and non-agency personnel.
• Communicate regularly with others, both orally and in writing.  This includes providing any necessary reports for the program or the organization. 
• Become knowledgeable of all UC Program policies and procedures; modeling, training and actively supervising the use of each.
• Ensure all necessary documentation is completed by established deadlines. This includes the direct reporting or insurance that others have provided appropriate written documentation foster care services within the expected timeframes.
• Show organizational commitment which includes understanding and actively supporting the mission, policies and procedures protecting the integrity of the Agency.

 General job expectations:

• Coordinate mandatory trainings for the Home Finding team including but not limited to TCI, CPR/First Aid, cultural sensitivity training, and trainings on ORR regulations.
• Provide additional training and development opportunities for staff when necessary and appropriate.
• Ensure that foster parents and staff are notified of upcoming training on a monthly basis.
• Track and monitor compliance with training and develop reports as needed.
• Ensure open and on-going communication between the Home Finding team and all other areas of the program.
• Create and reinforce recruitment plans for foster parents in the community and develop relationships with local organizations.
• Once homes are identified, ensuring that all training, clearance and other regulations are met prior to certification of the home and for ongoing ORR training mandates.
• Make necessary in-home consultation visits to each home during the certification process. Obtain all required materials/documentation to complete process.
• Approve home studies in “CONNECTIONS” for the certification and/or recertification of the foster homes.
• Ensure that all certified foster homes remain in compliance with required training.
• Demonstrate responsiveness and ability to work with a culturally diverse population.
• Conduct GPS/MAPP II and other required foster parent training sessions in accordance with regulation.
• Refer foster parents to intra-agency trainings as needed. Provide opportunity for courtesy training within Leake & Watts when appropriate.
• Create yearly training calendars.
• Perform all other related duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree plus in related field. Master’s is a plus.
• Experience in Foster Care for over 5 years
• Supervisory experience for at least 2 years- preferred
• Must be able to do extensive traveling to all NYC boroughs, and the outer boroughs.
• Knowledge of Microsoft and Excel.
• Able to work flexible hours
• Excellent written and oral skills
• Valid NYS Driver’s License
• Bi-lingual (Spanish/English) a must