FAP Liaison

FAP Liaison

The Administration for Children's Services (ACS) protects and promotes the safety and well-being of children and families through child welfare and juvenile justice services and community supports. ACS manages community-based supports and foster care services, and provides subsidized child care vouchers. ACS child protection staff respond to allegations of child maltreatment. In juvenile justice, ACS oversees detention, placement and programs for youth in the community. The Division of Youth and Family Justice (DYFJ) provides a wide range of services and programs for youth at every stage of the juvenile justice process. Our goals are to (a) build stronger and safer communities and advance public safety by preventing juveniles from entering the New York City's juvenile justice system, (b) provide therapeutic treatment and services to youth in our custodial care, and (c) help juveniles access the tools they need to leave the justice system for good. We strive to help families and young people by providing supportive services that are responsive to the needs of individual youth and families.

FAP (Family Assessment Program) provides support to families who are struggling to deal with everyday challenges. FAP is a diversion program - a program that tries to resolve family problems without having to go to court through individualized advice, counseling and referral to arrange of services, and FAP works to strengthen families and reduce conflict. The Family Assessment Program Liaison (FAP Liaison) supervises court interventions for the Bronx Family Assessment Program. FAP (Family Assessment Program) is responsible for engaging and servicing families with children who are exhibiting challenging behaviors, especially those that are considering placing a child via the Persons in Need of Supervision (PINS) process in Family Court. The overarching goal of FAP is to engage families in appropriate services to preserve the family unit and divert them from Family Court. The FAP Liaison oversees FAP's intervention in the Family Court for youth at risk of placement.

Specific duties include:

• Assist the Family Assessment Program Staff in conducting service-oriented assessments to provide an immediate evaluation of the circumstances and appropriate services deemed necessary for families who present at the Family Assessment Program office.
• Assist the Family Assessment Program Staff in educating, evaluating and developing a course of action for families.
• Facilitate the initial interview with families at intake with the goals of reducing the number of court level cases and assisting families in making the best available decision regarding appropriate services.
• Conduct screening of court-involved PINS youth to determine eligibility of services and to divert court level cases from foster care placements back to the Family Assessment Program.
• Assist in developing the most appropriate service plan for court-involved PINS youth and their families.
• Make referrals to the service providers as appropriate.
• May be asked to develop written reports for judges and attorneys on the appropriateness of the service plan and make oral presentations to the court representing the agency's plan for the youth and family.
• Ensure that families develop realistic expectations of the process by offering in-depth information regarding the continuum of service interventions, Court and placement.
• Report any signs of neglect and/or abuse to the FAP Borough Director and the State Central Register.
• Report regularly to the FAP Borough Director concerning assigned caseload and make recommendations to the FAP Borough Director concerning planning.
• Complete a written assessment of the families' needs, recommendations and service referrals.
• Work with the youth, the family, service providers and other stakeholders to continually ensure that services match the needs of the youth.
• Assist the FAP Borough Director with providing presentations to stakeholders and community organizations about the services offered at FAP.

Minimum Qualifications

A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and 30 semester credits toward a Master of Social Work degree or toward a graduate degree in a related field; plus, eighteen months of child protective casework experience.

Preferred Skills

The preferred candidate should possess:

• Interest in and commitment to working with adolescent youth involved in the juvenile/criminal justice and child welfare systems.
• Excellent writing and public speaking skills.
• Knowledge of computer systems, as appropriate, e.g., Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Experience working with Evidence-Based Models preferred.

55a Program

This position is also open to qualified persons with a disability who are eligible for the 55-a Program. Please indicate at the top of your resume and cover letter that you would like to be considered for the position through the 55-a Program.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education's website.

Residency Requirement

New York City Residency is not required for this position.

Additional Information

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.