Foster Parent Coach

About Graham Windham   

In full partnership with families & communities, Graham Windham strives to make a life-altering difference to children, youth and families affected by abuse, neglect and delinquency by providing each child we
serve with a strong foundation for life: a safe, loving, permanent family and the opportunity and preparation to thrive in school and in the world. With over 600 full-time employees serving children and families in multiple programs throughout Westchester County, Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn and Harlem, Graham Windham provides an exciting & enriching work experience.  

Graham Windham is one of the first organizations in the New York City to implement Solution – Based
Casework. Solution – Based casework helps children and families to be the solution to the seemingly insurmountable problems in their lives, from generational cycles of poverty, abuse, and neglect to unemployment, domestic violence, and severe health problems. By recognizing and reinforcing their innate strengths and ability to cope, we at Graham Windham empower them to take the lead in making change in their lives. 

About the Position:

The Foster Parent Coach’s main objective is to provide support to foster parents who are caring for children and youth with challenging behaviors. Utilizing some of the Behavioral techniques developed, the coach will be trained to offer peer to peer support to foster parents while motivating them to deal with the range of problem and behaviors they experience. Through frequent interaction with foster parents, the Foster Parent Coach will serve to provide proactive and practical parental guidance in “real time” to reduce the parent’s stress in crisis situations. The Foster Care Coach will make contact with families that have been identified at the point of intake.


RESPONSIBILITIES:
• A Foster Parent Coach will be assigned to a parent caring for a child that has experienced a minimum of 2 movements within a 6 month period. The Coach will be assigned at the time of placement for the first 90 days of child being placed in the new foster home.
• Foster parent coaches will be MAPP trained and will offer Behavioral techniques developed by Graham Windham to support the foster parent in addressing the youth’s behavior and to stabilize the placement of the children.
• Foster parent coaches will be trained using behavioral techniques developed by Graham when conducting their daily calls to monitor the youths’ behavior.
• Foster parent coaches will use behavioral lists developed (such as animal cruelty, arguing, back talking, bed wetting, defiance, depression/sadness, destructiveness, drug and alcohol, fighting, lying, runway, school problems, sexual behavior, staying out, searing, truancy) to monitor youth’s adjustment and intervene.
o Along with case planner when a particular behavior becomes stressful for the parent.
o The behavior of the child and the level of stress experienced by the foster parent as a result will determine how quickly intervention is offered by case planner and foster parent coach (intervention can be immediate or within 48 hours).
o The foster parent coach will conduct joint visits with case planners to the foster home during the initial 90 days to support foster parent and the placement of the child.
o During the first 30 days of placement, the foster parent coach will conduct daily check-in calls to inquire how the last 24 hours went and if any behaviors were stressful to the foster parent.
o The foster parent coach will provide documentation of telephone and face to face contact with foster parents to RDS Supervisor.
o After the initial 30 days, an assessment (CP/FP Coach, FP) will be made to determine level of adjustment, and if the frequency of the calls should be adjusted/reduced.
o Coach will be available by phone 24/7.



QUALIFICATIONS

High school diploma or General Education diploma preferred
Be empathetic with genuine love for working with families in child welfare setting; must have patience and a strong belief in families’ ability to change; Experience or familiarity with foster parent issues is a plus; Knowledge of foster care and ACS mandates; Excellent time management and organizational skills; Ability to function well in a team setting and work independently; Flexibility to work evening, extended hours as necessary
Ability to travel throughout the five boroughs of New York; Ability to work with diverse populations, process information and respond appropriately; Excellent interpersonal skills; Excellent verbal and written communications skills.

Full Time position; salary commensurate with experience, in accordance with qualifications. Graham Windham offers eligible employees a comprehensive benefit package including medical, dental, and vision coverage, paid time off, holiday pay, retirement savings plan, and much more.

EOE