Employment Specialist

BACKGROUND

Forestdale is a NYC child welfare agency working to prevent child abuse/neglect through parenting, prevention, and foster care services, focusing on low-income and immigrant communities in NYC. Forestdale operates out of three offices to better serve the families of Brooklyn and Queens. We help thousands of families work through complex trauma, parents raise the next amazing generation of children, and youth successfully launch into adulthood. Forestdale’s mission is “to ensure that children and families have the fundamental assets they need to thrive and live independently.”

Job Summary:

The Employment Specialist’s overall job is to build positive relationships with young people and work in collaboration with Coaches to assist young people with their career development goals. Employment Specialist can also provide “targeted services” to young people who do not want to participate in longer-term coaching. The specific interactions are always driven by the young person, and where that young person is on their journey.

Salary Range: $26.37/hr to $35.43/hr

Major Responsibilities/Activities for this position include:

• Assist in overseeing any onsite job readiness program(s) (e.g., YA WORC), including enrollment and scheduling of program cycles.
• Assist in overseeing any onsite internship programs (e.g., Mentored Internship Program).
• Conduct careers assessments with young people.
• Help young people create, update and/or refine resumes.
• Meet with young people who are not on a college-bound track (or who have left college) to explore alternative post-secondary pathways and career paths in line with their interests and skills.
• Help young people apply to external programs, including vocational and workforce development programs (after speaking with their Coach).
• Meet with young people who are enrolled in college to do career planning.
• Build relationships with external programs and employers to serve as pipeline.
• Assist with job applications, when needed.
• Check-in with employers after the 3-month, 6-month, and 1-year mark to verify persistence.
• Participate in multidisciplinary clinical team meetings, as needed.
• Participate in case conferences, as scheduled and needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree and experience working with at-risk or system-involved youth or a strong demonstrated ability to provide career services to youth in foster care.
• Previous career development experience is strongly preferred.
• Ability to independently organize time and prioritize responsibilities in order to plan and carry out all duties.
• Ability to work from a strength-based, trauma-informed, youth development lens.
• Able to build and maintain harmonious working relationships with and among staff.
• A love for working with young people.
• Strong ability to relate to young people and engage them in conversation.
• Values and promotes diversity.
• A belief that change is possible.
• Able to maintain healthy boundaries.
• Able to remain calm during moments of tension and stress.
• Strong time-management, organizational skills, and attention to detail.
• Ability and willingness to travel in and around the metropolitan New York City region.
• Compliance with required background checks.

Benefits: Join the Forestdale Team and Enjoy Excellent Benefits:

• Four weeks’ vacation
• Medical/dental/vision/life/disability insurance
• 401(k), 7% employer contribution + 2% match
• Tax-deferred health care/dependent care/commuter plans
• Flexible Schedule
• Opportunities for educational scholarships

Additional Information

Forestdale Inc. is an equal opportunity employer that is proudly committed to becoming an anti-racist and multicultural organization that stands up for justice and equity. We welcome prospective employees from diverse backgrounds, for administrative support and direct service and leadership roles, who will join us on that journey, uphold our values and approach, and believe in our mission. Additionally, we aim to have a racially representative leadership and workforce that is reflective of the communities we work in partnership with.

Forestdale Inc. is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, participants, volunteers, subcontractors, and vendors. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of our activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and termination of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services.

IMPORTANT NOTE: As a NYC contracted agency all positions at Forestdale Inc. fall under the NYC vaccine mandate. All employees, volunteers and interns must show proof of vaccination upon hire.