Cultural Broker & Education Advocate

JOB TITLE: Cultural Broker & Education Advocate

EMPLOYMENT TYPE: Full-Time

REPORTS TO: Director of Compliance

LOCATION: Services provided city-wide (offices based in Queens Brooklyn & the Bronx)

SALARY: $60000 annually

ABOUT AAFSC:

For over 30 years the Arab-American Family Support Center (AAFSC) has proudly served immigrants and refugees. We help children stay safe families remain together and newcomers navigate life in New York City. While our doors are open to all AAFSC has expertise in serving Arab Middle Eastern North African Muslim and South Asian communities.

JOB SUMMARY:

The Cultural Broker & Education Advocate provides strategic advocacy as well as information & referrals for our constituents as they and their case workers navigate complex education health and social services systems across New York City. By doing so the Cultural Broker & Education Advocate improves accessibility for clients and advocates for change in these systems. This role builds key relationships and support networks with state & government entities and community-based organizations in order to assess or voice gaps in resources. This role also provides efficient case and administrative support for their assigned Preventive Services unit including performing administrative tasks such as maintaining case files updating referral information and assisting with the upkeep of case records. A successful person in this role will bring a trauma-informed culturally-responsive and linguistically-appropriate lens to this position. A commitment to immigrant refugee and low-income communities is essential for success in this role.

The Cultural Broker & Education Advocate will report to the Director of Compliance and provide support across all five preventive programs on an as-needed basis. The Solution Based Casework (SBC) model is based on three theoretical foundations: family life cycle theory relapse prevention/CBT theory and solution- focused family therapy. Partnership with families in each case is critical to reducing risks and solutions should utilize prevention skills to achieve those goals. The Functional Family Therapy (FFT) model works with youth between the ages of 11 to 18 who struggle with behavioral and/or emotional problems and have been referred by the juvenile justice mental health school or child welfare system.

As a strength-based model FFT focuses on acceptance and respect and uses assessments and interventions to determine risk and protective factors in relation to the family and youths development.

PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Information & Referral

• Provide advocacy for clients by interacting with clients and human service agencies resolving problems and providing information.

• Field incoming phone calls to provide information and referral service activities including intake assessment and referral.

• Provide excellent customer service.

• Submit all relevant information to Case Planners Program Supervisor and/or Program Director.

• Assist Case Planners and Conference Facilitators in conducting case recommendation referrals as needed and as assigned by the Supervisor Program Director and/or Director of Compliance.

• Assist in maintaining an accurate and through database consisting of community resources.

• Provide written and verbal feedback to the supervisor on efforts & outcomes.

External Relations

• Assist in maintaining key relationships with the Administration for Childrens Services (ACS) the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) the Department of Education (DOE) religious and community organizations and other preventive providers throughout the city.

• Suggest improvements in Preventive Services processes as they relate to client accessibility navigating government systems.

• Coordinate with the Resource Development team to increase the accessibility and visibility of AMENAMSA clients and their needs.

• In collaboration with Resource Development team and Preventive Leadership support with organizing client and community member meetings workshops and other community-building and educational forums.

• In collaboration with the Resource Development team and Preventive Leadership strategize coordinate and implement targeted outreach to community residents (e.g. develop outreach materials plan informational sessions on key issues place targeted ads in ethnic media etc.).

• Attend regular meetings and special events as needed as an ambassador and champion of AAFSC.

Case Support

• Maintain case files and record keeping in compliance with ACS standards and all existing Federal State and City laws (updating HIPAA and consent forms documenting case work printing progress notes and organizing documents).

• Maintain internal and external databases (PROMIS Connections Apricot Client database etc.) by entering relevant collateral contacts ensuring quality of notes uploading closing packets and printing notes face sheets and forms.

• Provide support to the Cultural Broker roles in Unit One (SBC Brooklyn SBC Bronx and FFT) or Unit Two (SBC Astoria SBC Jackson Heights and FFT) on an on-site rotating basis.

• Serve as an education advocate for approximately 224 cases across all assigned unit and assist with obtaining educational records and uploading them into Connections.

• Proofread case notes to edit spelling and grammatical errors and content for best case practice.

• Review physical and online case files to ensure proper documentation is uploaded accordingly.

• With support from the Supervisor and coordination with the Case Planner or Therapist ensure the physical case file is complete prior to the closing process.

• As assigned by Supervisor assist Case Planners or Therapists by making collateral contacts obtaining documentation for record-keeping and support with the development and follow-up on case plans (as needed).

• Submit ACS support requests including furniture requests OPTA related services investigative consultant services clinical services HCS requests etc.)

• Participate in case conferences (as needed).

• As assigned by Supervisor and in support of case planners complete home visits when needed.

Administrative

• Assist in the administration of surveys and other program assessments to establish an ecosystem map of client needs and gaps in needs.

• Support with front-desk administrative duties (answering phone calls and directing to appropriate personnel) when coverage is needed.

• Prepare reports and paperwork for Preventive Services Supervisor and Director.

• Take notes during PPRS meetings.

Quality Assurance Communication and Documentation

• Support monitoring the effectiveness of Quality Improvement implementation identify remaining gaps and follow-up with relevant staff to ensure sustainable change and improvement.

• Collaborate across teams by working with program leadership to implement data driven strategies to their programs as required by evolving programmatic or reporting needs.

• Complete all documents required by ACS in a timely manner and in compliance with ACS Preventive Services Quality Assurance Standards and Indicators as well as with OCFS Preventive Services Practice Guidance Manual.

• Obtain and maintain collateral contacts with all other service providers including school and medical reports on a regular basis.

• Comply with all data entry requirements for database systems inputting information in a timely manner (PROMIS Connections Apricot Client database).

• Compile and organize appropriate client intake paperwork surveys and forms. Maintain casefiles database entry and record keeping in compliance with ACS OCFS and AAFSC requirements in alignment with the evidence-based program guidelines.

• Appropriately follow incident reporting procedures (as needed).

• Maintain professional relationships with ACS personnel as well as other service providers and staff.

• Regularly collaborate and communicate with staff by responding to emails maintaining an up-to-date outlook calendar participating in supervision meetings and scheduling office days.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

• Participate in AAFSC meetings and internal and external trainings (mandated reporter safety and risk etc.).

• Assist in preparation for city and/or other agency audits.

• Perform other duties assigned by Preventive Services Director.

BACKGROUND & POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelors degree required.

• Two years of experience in child welfare and family services preferred.

• Familiarity with using PROMIS and Connections preferred.

• Strong writing and communication skills required.

• Excellent organizational time-management follow-up and administrative skills with attention to detail.

• Self-starter with the ability to work independently and as a part of a team in a fast-paced deadline-driven environment.

• Bilingual fluency in English as well as one of the following languages is a plus: Arabic Spanish Urdu Bangla/Bengali or another language.

• Exercises discretion regarding sensitive personal and legal information.

• Job contingent on pre-employment background check and fingerprint clearance.

• U.S. Work authorization required.

We are an equal opportunity employer that values diversity at all levels. All individuals are encouraged to apply.