Empowerment Specialist, Family & Children, 326 Rockaway

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Empowerment Specialist is part of the team at the 326 Rockaway Supportive Housing Program. The Empowerment Specialist provides supportive services focused on community building, education, and resources building for 87 young adult individuals aged 18-25 and 43 families with children headed by young adults aged 18-25. The Empowerment Specialist will:

• Perform Life Skill and Needs Assessments for all new tenants to evaluate basic needs for all households
• Reassess tenant needs periodically to determine progress and establish new or ongoing independent life skills
• Establish individualized FTF (Focus on The Future) Plans and create short- and long-term employment, educational, and family support goals that target tenants’ interests and goals in each category, and other independent life skills
• Maintain a strong supportive relationship with tenants through consistent communication via phone, text, e-mail, and in-person meetings
• Participate in individual supervision, team meetings, and case conferences to ensure a holistic approach to service delivery across program departments
• Document all interactions with tenants in database and complete reports as required
• Tailor FTF Plans on the categories determined with tenants to be most vital to their success
• As part of each tenant’s FTF Plan, establish necessary services for the entire family including assessing needs of the children and conduct periodic re-assessments
• Establish trusting relationships with families and assist tenants in strengthening parent-child relationships
• Provide pre-natal and other health information to expecting mothers, establish referrals to health services as requested and appropriate
• Assist tenants with parenting skills, establishing how they can optimize their home environment for the child’s well-being and safety
• Provide referrals to community partners with a focus on preparing first-time parents
• Facilitate groups for parents on topics of interest to tenants
• Work with tenants to overcome barriers to goal achievement and assist participants in advocating for themselves
• Link families to childcare services and other supports that allow them to focus on educational or employment goals
• Facilitate groups to encourage independent living skills among tenants
• Additional responsibilities may be added as position evolves

COMPETENCIES

• Dynamic, able to multi-task, problem solve, and work independently
• Team player and willing to work with a diverse population
• Trained in child development, mandated reporting, and family dynamics
• Trained in harm reduction and housing first services approaches
• Experience with evidence-based practices and/or evidence-informed services including, but not limited to:
  • Positive Youth Development
  • Recovery-Oriented and Trauma-Informed Case Management
  • Critical Time Intervention
• Must be able to travel and work evening and weekend hours
• Commitment to RiseBoro’s mission of unleashing the potential of communities to thrive, no matter the odds

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, or related human services field required
• At least 2 years of relevant social service experience, particularly with young adults and children

Riseboro offers full benefits packages to full-time employees, as well as Pension, and Life Insurance plans.