Bilingual Case Planner - EFFC

At The New York Foundling, we trust in the power and potential of people, and we deliberately invest in proven practices. From bold beginnings in 1869, our New York-based nonprofit has supported hundreds of thousands of our neighbors on their own paths to stability, strength, and independence.  We help children and families navigate through and beyond foster care. We help families struggling with conflict and poverty grow strong. We help individuals with developmental disabilities live their best lives, and we help our neighbors access quality health and mental health services—core to building lifelong resilience and wellbeing. Together, our interrelated programs provide a whole-person, whole-family, and whole-life approach that unlocks solutions for a lifetime.

The Foster Care Case Planner works toward the goal of permanency for children either through reunification with parents, and if not possible, through adoption or preparation for independent living.  Trained and supported in implementation of multiple evidence-based models used to support families and caregivers.  Conducts birth home and foster home visits in addition to field visits; provide referrals to community service providers in accordance with the service plan for the family; accompanies families to drug treatment, medical, school, housing, welfare setting; works with children in onsite care programs; attends court hearings in a timely manner with prepared court reports and/or permanency reports.

Clinical Responsibilities:

• Engage with birth parents, foster parents and foster youth using motivational interviewing techniques and assess for safety and risk factors for children currently in care and in planning for permanency.
• Implement evidence-based and evidence-informed models with foster parents, birth parents/discharge resources, and youth. This includes participating in family conferences and supervising family visits.
• Serves as primary liaison accompanying and advocating for families in medical, drug treatment and screening, school and housing settings.
• Collaborate closely with socio-therapist.
• Advise / counsel / advocate / case plan with parents and/or discharge resources and children in care
• Provide family planning counseling to youth 12 years old and older and document discussion with parents
• Develop safety plans and utilize crisis intervention skills to de-escalate conflicts in a trauma-informed approach

Administrative Responsibilities

• Document progress notes, reports, FASPs, plan amendments via Connections within the required time frames
• Maintain access to Connections and other database systems for entering confidential information as required by New York state, city and Foundling’s compliance guidelines
• Attend team meetings, case consultations and individual and group coaching
• Collect required documentation and compile applications for special rate OR housing OR special services as needed in coordination with foster care support departments

Job Responsibilities

• Maintain a caseload of 12 cases on average 
• Attend all court proceedings on time with prepared court reports and/or permanency reports. Be prepared to testify when required.
• Conduct home visits to the homes of foster parents and birth parents / discharge resources.
• Coordinate and facilitate family and sibling visitations/meetings. Supervise as required by the service plan
• Provide extensive outreach/advocacy services. Engage absent or hard to reach family members and act as a resource for referrals and community services.
• Any other duties as assigned

The New York Foundling is committed to attracting and retaining a diverse employee population, the Foundling will honor your experiences, perspectives and unique identity. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable and welcoming.

Requirements:

• BA/MA in Psychology, Sociology, BSW or MSW with 1-2 years child welfare experience preferred.

Other Requirements/Preferences:

• Knowledge of community resources and ability to effectively negotiate systems for multi-problem families
• Experience with drug treatment populations preferred
• Bilingual Spanish required
• Typing skills and computer literacy required
• Excellent interpersonal skills