Permanency Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

Position Summary 

The Permanency Specialist works as part of the residential social service team to ensure that each youth has a clear, actionable, and timely plan toward a safe, stable, and lifelong family connection. This role focuses on concurrent planning, adoption readiness, and reunification efforts, coordinating closely with caseworkers, families, foster/adoptive parents, ACS, and community partners. The Permanency Specialist serves as an advocate for youth in permanency planning meetings, facilitates meaningful engagement with birth families and kin, and ensures compliance with all applicable regulations and timeframes. 

About St. John’s 

Founded in 1826 as a home for orphaned children, St. John’s has evolved into a nonprofit social services agency providing residential care to New York City youth involved in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. We offer holistic, trauma-informed support to young people up to age 21.  

Our main campus in Rockaway Park, Queens, houses a Residential Treatment Center, Close to Home Non-Secure Placement programs, administrative offices, clinical services, and an on-site NYC Department of Education school. We also operate a Non-Secure Detention residence in Richmond Hill and Limited Secure Placement programs in Brooklyn and Staten Island.  

St. John’s is dedicated to helping youth heal, grow, and build the skills they need to achieve their goals and return to family or a stable, supportive environment as engaged members of their communities.  

Key Responsibilities 

Permanency Planning & Coordination 

• Lead the development and implementation of individualized permanency plans for each assigned youth, aligned with agency and ACS policy requirements.
• Ensure concurrent planning is in place and updated regularly to avoid delays in permanency.
• Coordinate with case planners, legal representatives, and court personnel to support case progress.

Youth & Family Engagement 

• Conduct permanency-focused conversations with youth, ensuring they understand their rights, options, and the planning process.
• Facilitate family-finding activities, including kinship searches and outreach to potential connections.
• Support family visits, mediation, and relationship-building efforts between youth andidentifiedpermanent resources.

Adoption & Guardianship Readiness 

• Prepare youth, families, and caregivers for adoption, guardianship, or reunification through coaching, referrals, and resource linkage.
• Identifyand address barriers to permanency, including legal, emotional, and practical challenges.
• Maintain and distribute age-appropriate educational materials on permanency options.

Collaboration & Documentation 

• Attend case conferences, Family Team Conferences, permanency hearings, and court proceedings as needed.
• Maintainaccurate,timelycase notes and permanency tracking in agency databases.
• Work collaboratively with clinical, educational, and residential staff to align permanency goals with day-to-day care.

Compliance & Quality Improvement 

• Monitor case timelines to ensure compliance with state and federal permanency mandates (ASFA, NYS OCFS standards).
• Participate in permanency audits, PAMS reviews, and corrective action plans.

Minimum Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Human Services, Psychology, or related field (Master’spreferred).
• At least 2 years of child welfare experience, with a focus on permanency, adoption, or foster care preferred.
• Strong understanding of ACS, OCFS, and ASFA permanency requirements.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to engage youth and families from diverse backgrounds.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple cases in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred Skills 

• Experience in family finding and kinship care outreach.
• Familiarity with trauma-informed care and youth voice advocacy.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish or other languages) strongly preferred.

Additional Requirements 

• Ability to travel within NYC boroughs for home visits, court appearances, and meetings.
• Must pass all required background clearances.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.