The Unaccompanied Alien Children Program provides temporary residential care and other supportive services to Unaccompanied Alien Children (UAC) who are under legal custody of the Federal Government. Working in collaboration with the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement, our program provides a safe and nurturing environment for 33 youth in a Basic Shelter program located at our licensed residential facility in Yonkers, NY as well as a Transitional Foster Care program for 40 youth in certified foster homes in the Bronx. In both 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 Youth Care Worker is responsible for providing direct services and performs various support tasks as part of the youth’s daily care.

About 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 72,000 individuals annually. We do this through 101 programs across 138 sites, throughout New York City and Westchester. Our strong belief and commitment to diversity is shown 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 New York City.

About the Role:

The Youth Care Worker is responsible for providing direct services and performs various support tasks as part of the youth’s daily care. The unaccompanied Children Program provides temporary 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, our program provides a safe and nurturing environment for 205 youth in a Basic Shelter program located at our licensed residential facility Westchester, Mt Vernon, Queens, Brooklyn and Bronx, Upper Manhattan as well as a Transitional Foster Care Program for 143 youth in certified foster homes in the Bronx, Westchester and Brooklyn. In both 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.

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• Provide supervision of all children in the program, ensuring their safety and wellbeing at all times. 
• Utilize the therapeutic interventions techniques received during TCI training, and any other program related techniques.
• Maintains security in buildings, grounds, and other posts; intervenes during emergencies or crisis situations.
• Supervises movement of the youth inside and outside following the facility policy and procedures which includes taking periodic counts of youth.
• Monitors, supervises and participates with youth in various activities; (i.e., educational outings, recreational, faith-based services, physical education classes etc.)
• Interacts critically and constructively with other staff members to develop and implement successful interventions techniques.
• Develops effective relationships with youth, co-workers, and team members.
• Assist youth with their personal issues and refers issues to the treatment team group in accordance with the principles of the program.
• Observes and keeps staff informed daily of significant behavioral conditions known about an individual and/or the group.
• Assists in preparing reports regarding each youth’s adjustment and progress.
• Cover lesson plans created by the POH Educational Coordinator, in the different classrooms of the program, as needed. 
• Prepares log entries and reports in a timely manner.
• Escorts and/or transports youth to predetermined locations.
• Exercises judgment and discretion in the performance of duties within departmental rules, regulations, and policies.
• Weekend and evening shifts
• Performs other related work as assigned.
• Implements the tenants of PBIS with the children (providing the explanation to the children of the PBIS model, ensuring recording of behaviors and distributing Gotchas)

• Preferred – A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university within one or a combination of the following: Counseling, Criminal Justice, Education, Psychology, Sociology, or Social work.
• One or more years of work experience in residential treatment program
• Two or more years of experience in group work which involved direct care and interaction with youth such as YMCA, schools, recreational facilities, or residential care programs.
• Required Valid vehicle operator’s license with a clean driving record
• Safe Food Handlers Certification a plus
• Completion of FDNY Certificates of Fitness F01/F07 (Must take within the first 3 months of employment)
• Bi-lingual (English/Spanish other languages) a plus
• High School Diploma

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Supervisory Responsibility: No

Work Environment: Residences in the Community areas of Westchester, Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan. In addition to Day Programs located in the Bronx and Brooklyn.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work: 

shifts are 10pm - 8am; 6am-4pm; 7am-3pm; 7am-5pm; 1pm-11pm

Full Time w/benefits: $52,410.00

Per diem hourly $25

Additional Requirements:

•Authorized to work in the U.S.

•Ability to work in-person in New York City (NY) for at least 3 days or more per week.

•Ability to travel to other Rising Ground sites (if required)

Our Commitment to Diversity, Fairness, and Belonging

Rising Ground is comprised of unique and valued individuals who together make the organization effective in assisting the children, adults and families who come to us for support. We believe that only when all employees contribute fully as their true selves can Rising Ground's true strength, vision, and values come to fruition. We recognize the ubiquitous social biases and structures that impact and shape the experiences of all people, including our own staff and people supported. Among the many biases present in our society that shape our personal and professional experiences race, gender, sexual orientation, and gender expression are all factors that can present hurdles. As such, Rising Ground is committed to being an anti-racist and inclusive organization that will actively strive to overcome both systemic and interpersonal biases that perpetuate oppression.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

It is the policy of Rising Ground that the Agency wholly complies with equal treatment of all employees and applicants for employment without unlawful discrimination as to an individual’s perceived or actual race, creed, color, national origin, alienate, citizenship status, gender, gender identity, age, disability, marital status, partnership status, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, or veteran status in all employment decisions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, compensation, training and apprenticeship, promotion, upgrading, demotion, downgrading, transfer, layoff and termination and all other terms and conditions of employment.

Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn, All Shifts; Full and Per diem.