Job Information
St. Catherine's Center for Children Kinship Specialist, Albany in Albany, New York
About Our Organization:
St. Catherine’s Center for Children is a leading non-profit organization in New York’s Greater Capital District. Our comprehensive range of human services reach more than 1,000 children, 600 families, and hundreds of adults across Upstate New York each year. Our multi-faceted programs are designed to offer hope, foster growth, and improve the lives of the children, families, and adults we serve. We offer residential and therapeutic foster care programs for children and youth, Kinship support, homeless and community-based services for adults and families, a special education elementary school for ages 5-13, and so much more.
St. Catherine’s employs more than 300 full and part-time staff. Our spectrum of services for children, families and individuals suffering from the lasting effects of abuse and neglect, family instability, mental illness, homelessness and other ongoing traumas, continues to grow. We are committed to cultivating a culture where all employees can bring their authentic and best selves to the workplace. Our DEI-B initiatives are designed to support and build a more equitable, inclusive and diversified workplace, one which exemplifies true respect and dignity.
Position Overview:
The Kinship Specialist provides support services for the purpose of family preservation and maintenance in the Albany, New York area. The core function of the Kinship Specialist is to assist in maintaining the kinship home, while ensuring that our families are connected to community services and preserving their culture and relationships.
The Kinship Specialist (“Specialist”) will also provide supportive case management services and referral services by providing support groups for both adults and children: education; family engagement; and maintenance to promote family preservation services. Additionally, case management services will include information, referral and advocacy. The Specialist’s services will provide auxiliary respite community outings for the children in which the Kinship Caregiver Program serves.
Duties & Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Kinship Specialist (“Specialist”) will provide case management services to families. Case management will entail a minimum of monthly, in-person, contact with the family, at which time the following processes will be followed: financial assistance, legal information and referrals, and information about other types of issues that caregivers face when raising children, in order to provide stability and preservation in the home.
Specialist will provide caregivers support groups as well as child support groups, when appropriate. This will also include educational groups to the families centered on trauma informed care.
Will ensure that children are safely maintained in the kinship home, families are connected to community services, and culture and relationships are preserved.
Specialist will provide caregiver support groups including, but not limited to, peer-to-peer support groups were conducted a minimum of one (1) time per month in each county served by the kinship caregiver program;
Will provide support groups for all children in the kinship family were conducted a minimum of one (1) time per month in each county served by the kinship caregiver program;
Case Management services will be provided to each family and catered to the individual family’s needs. Services are mandated to be documented on agency database program.
The program will offer a minimum of three (3) community educational sessions per quarter in each county served.
The program will offer a minimum of three (3) family engagement activities per quarter in each county served.
Provide consultation and supervision to kinship families to assure family preservation through monthly home visits and weekly phone consultation.
Evaluate treatment, parenting and care of the child and maintain records.
Incorporate ongoing training with the Program Coordinator to professional kinship relatives/nonrelatives.
Collect and review documentation records kept by Kinship families.
Coordinate services and advocate for the child with community agencies, schools, and mental health agencies.
Document caseworker contacts and service progress in program database notes.
Using strength-based approaches, engage with the child in the home.
Work closely with clinical consultants, psychiatrist and other professionals providing services to the child, when necessary to assist in kinship preservation of home.
Able to react to change productively and to handle other tasks as assigned.
Additional position-related duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Program Coordinator or Assistant Director of Foster Care.
Organizational Relationships:
The Kinship Specialist is supervised by the Program Coordinator and is located in the Albany, NY region.
Position Specifications/ Essential Requirements:
High School Diploma (or) GED/ TASC Equivalent, required; College Degree preferred.
Previous experience working in a human services agency is a plus!
Experience in the use of Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI), with the ability to respond effectively and therapeutically in crisis situations.
Clean and Valid New York State Driver’s License; Actively licensed for at least one (1) year and have reliable transportation for local travel.
Proficiency in various computer applications: Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Google Business Workspace Suite (Gmail, Google Docs, Meet, Sheets, etc.); and secure Internet practices.
Excellent organization, planning and time management skills.
Self-motivated and engaged, with a strong attention to detail; Excellent writing aptitude.
Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong working relationships with regulatory bodies.
Ability to work effectively in a shared decision-making model as a team member, and work collaboratively with other personnel and service providers or professionals.
The capacity to maintain a helping role and to intervene appropriately to meet service goals, while setting appropriate limits.
Ability to exercise independent judgment and discretion.
Ability to handle sensitive data with strict confidentiality.
Flexibility to work hours outside of regularly scheduled work hours, within reason.
Ability to pass required pre-employment background checks, to include fingerprinting, is required.
What We Offer*:
Competitive Pay with an Excellent Benefits Package
Health Insurance options*: Medical, Dental and Vision
Generous Combined Leave Time and LOADS of PAID Holidays*!
$500 Employee Referral Bonus*
Professional Development & Career Growth Opportunities
We are a 501(c) (3) agency, which is a qualifying employer for eligible staff under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program*
Pension Plan with Aggressive Agency contribution*
Life Insurance – Automatic Benefit, at no cost to you!
Paid Training* including TCI and CPR/AED/First Aid Certification Update courses, if role appropriate
Tuition Reimbursement*
Travel/ Mileage Reimbursement*
Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging
The Comfort of a Business Casual Environment.
*To qualify, certain conditions may apply
EEO Statement: St. Catherine’s Center for Children is committed to creating a diverse environment and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, reproductive health and pregnancy, family history and genetics, disability, age, military status, veteran status, politics, or other beliefs, and any other characteristics protected by law.
Background Checks: We run a thorough and complete pre-employment background check on all candidates being considered for a position, this includes fingerprinting. All candidates must successfully clear the pre-employment background check process, which follows NYS/DOJ requirements. We pay for all pre-employment background checks!