Operations / Administration Social Work Manager & Transition Specialist
Job Description
Advocates for Children of New York, Inc. (AFC) seeks an energetic social worker determined to make a difference for NYC families struggling to gain appropriate educational services for their children in the country’s largest school district.
This experienced social worker will:
- Lead AFC-wide social work initiatives, including management, selection, supervision and training of social work interns, and AFC-wide internal capacity building utilizing social work practices and strategies.
- As a member of the Postsecondary Readiness Project (PReP), this social worker will also serve as Transition Specialist. In this role they will:
- Develop and revise internal resources and external guides for parents, youth and professionals on college access and on navigating government and community resources, including OPWDD, ACCES-VR, SSI, and other public benefits.
- Provide case management and advocacy to families experiencing school-related difficulties such as inappropriate special education placements and services, enrollment issues, or school discipline.
- Empower parents and youth to advocate for themselves, including helping clients learn to access services, accommodations, and benefits they will need as adults; ensure related information and strategies are relayed to AFC staff.
- Assist clients for whom AFC has obtained special educational services to ensure continued use of those services.
- Perform outreach to and develop relationships with government and social service agencies to benefit AFC’s clients; ensure this information is relayed to AFC staff.
- Provide workshops on a variety of education-related topics to parents, youth and professionals.
- Assist with additional case advocacy, training, publications and policy work as needed.
AFC is a social justice organization that strives to ensure a high-quality education for New York students who face barriers to academic success, focusing on students from low-income backgrounds. AFC works on behalf of children and youth who are at greatest risk of academic failure due to poverty, race, ethnicity, disability, homelessness, immigration status/limited English proficiency, or involvement in the child welfare or juvenile justice systems. The Postsecondary Readiness Project (PReP) focuses primarily on helping older youth receive the educational support they need to prepare for college and career, including access to meaningful pathways to graduation, transition supports, and programming for overage, under-credited students. We use uniquely integrated strategies to advance systemic reform, empower families and communities, and advocate for the educational rights of individual students.
Qualifications:
- Minimum 2-3 years experience as a NYS licensed social worker;
- SIFI certification preferred;
- Familiarity with OPWDD, ACCES-VR, college access, or other public benefits preferred;
- Demonstrated commitment to social justice and serving the public interest;
- Excellent oral and written communication skills;
- Experience working with low-income and special needs communities;
- Interest in education issues and issues affecting children with disabilities and low-income families;
- Experience working with children or families;
- Ability to work both independently and as a member of a multidisciplinary team;
- Excellent attention to detail and record keeping;
- Organizational skills, flexibility, initiative, maturity, and cooperative attitude.
