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 our other programs are located at our licensed residential facility in Yonkers, NY as well as a Transitional Foster Care 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 can move forward with their lives and thrive. The Home Finder/trainer will be responsible for certifying all Transitional Foster Homes for the UC Program.  This will include certifying existing homes and recruiting new foster homes.

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.

Recruitment:

• Actively recruit foster homes to serve the UC population in the community by developing relationships with local organizations and using community partnerships.
• Rotating on –call inquiry phone, email for placement request and recruitment of foster parents.

Foster homes:

• Completion of inquiry, interview and home visits for new potential foster parents are required.
• Make necessary in-home home visits to each home during the certification, recertification process or as needed.
• Process, admit, obtain required documentation to complete the certification process and maintain/update homes in Connections.
• Process all clearances and other regulations according to OCFS and ORR guidelines to ensure the complete certification/recertification process is complete.
• Actively maintain all foster parent’s records to ensure they are accurate for audit purposes.

Trainings:

• Ensure that all certified foster homes remain in compliance with the required OCFS and ORR mandated training in person.
• Create yearly training calendar for Foster Parents for tracking and monitoring purposes.
• Track and monitor compliance with training and develop reports as needed.
• Conduct GPS/MAPP II and other required foster parent training sessions in accordance with state regulations in person or via Zoom.
• Refer Foster parents to intra-agency training as needed. Develop relationships with local agencies to provide courtesy training when appropriate.
• Coordinate/Lead monthly foster parent support groups.

Other duties and responsibilities:

• Maintain open communication with all POH, agency staff and Foster Parents as needed.
• Perform all other related duties as assigned.

Salary:

• $45,000/Annually

• Bachelor’s degree plus in related field
• 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 including weekends.
• Must possess good written and oral skills.
• Valid NYS Driver’s License
• Bi-lingual (Spanish/English) a must (must be able to fluently communicate in Spanish verbally and in writing