Overview

Children’s Aid provides comprehensive community services to children of all ages and their families residing in underserved communities. An array of services supports families from cradle to college to alleviate societal challenges that can interrupt a child, adolescent or young adults’ abilities to thrive and maximize their potential.

Children’s Aid offers a continuum of short -term interventions of varying levels of intensity, in five boroughs. The prevention services continuum consists of Family Support, therapeutic and Family Assessment Program (FAP) program services as well as the Safe Way Forward Program for families impacted by Domestic Violence. Our prevention service interventions are charged with the responsibility to avert current, future or repeat involvement child welfare or juvenile justice systems.

SWF (A Safeway Forward) is a therapeutic program in our Prevention continuum of services. It is a home-based intensive model for families in the Bronx where Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) has put the family at risk of having their children placed outside the home. The model works with both the person causing harm and the survivor and provides both child-welfare prevention services and clinical therapeutic intervention services to all members of the family, using a trauma-informed, client-centered approach, to help families establish long-term safety and heal from the trauma of emotional and physical abuse. 

Position Summary:  The Safe Way Forward (SWF) Prevention Program Director will provide administrative supervision to four supervisors and the management of a group of innovative child welfare professionals, implementing comprehensive service delivery at two separate sites, one for survivors of IPV and their children, and the other for persons causing harm (PCH). The supervisor is responsible for ensuring that the SWF team meets all ACS accountability mandates to ensure positive outcomes on all ACS measurements. The SWF Prevention Program Director also acts as the main point of contact with ACS and is responsible for referral management and case assignment. Under the direct supervision of the SWF Program Director, the SWF Program Director will work closely with the SWF Clinical Director of IPV Prevention and Intervention Services to collaboratively provide both child welfare prevention services and clinical therapeutic intervention services to all members of the family, using a trauma-informed, client-centered approach, to help families establish long-term safety and heal from the trauma of emotional and physical abuse. This position is responsible for ensuring the program is compliant with Children’s Aid policies, procedures, and is aligned with the mission of Children’s Aid and the Division’s goals and strategic priorities.

 Responsibilities:

  • Oversee the daily operations of two sites in the South Bronx and travel to sites as needed;
  • Provide direct supervision to 3 Program Supervisors and Family Team Conference facilitator.
  • Collaborate with Director of IPV Prevention and Intervention services to develop and implement all aspects of program start-up, including staff hiring, staff training, development of intake and service coordination protocols and case/record documentation;
  • Provide weekly coaching, trauma informed supervision and professional development to supervisors.
  • Promote self-care and healthy work-life balance activities. Maintain positive work environment to support productivity and staff retention.
  • Ensure that the program comply with ACS accountability mandates which result in excellent ratings on Performance Evaluation (VENDEX), OCFS and PAMS reviews.
  • Ensure a culture of strength-based, respectful, anti-racist, and culturally relevant service delivery to a diverse group of primarily low income, child welfare system-involved families;
  • Maintain utilization expectations to satisfy Performance based funding requirements for sustainable funding
  • Responsible for administrative aspects of ACS accountability systems including PROMIS & CNNX
  • To supplement QA oversight, conduct random review of case records, monitor Child Not Seen, Supervisor Monthly Reviews, FASP Timeliness Reports and PROMIS and CONNX entries, to ensure compliance and best practice.
  • Act as liaison with ACS Program Development (APA), Community based Initiatives, Referral Management, Family Team Conferencing and DCP staff in regard to audits, training, and other inter-agency matters.
  • Manage all referrals to program including: reviewing, tracking, assigning to Survivor/PCH team;
  • Oversee and coordinate comprehensive multifaceted clinical case management services to 65 families, being served at two separate sites in the Bronx – one site for the person causing harm, the other site for the survivor and children;
  • Attend implementation meetings as scheduled with ACS’ Division of Prevention Services throughout program development and launch;
  • Responsible for review of all supervisory documentation, manage case consultation;
  • Collaborate with Program Director of DV Clinical Services to coordinate and provide regularly scheduled all staff meetings
  • Conduct outreach to Bronx-based community service providers and domestic violence networks to build partnerships, develop referral resources and advocacy supports for families;
  • Collaborate with other CA EBM Program Directors to develop policies, procedures that are uniform across similar models/programs
  • Arrange and coordinate external and internal training. Ensure scheduling of and compliance with Workforce Institute training mandates.
  • Collaborate with Director of Security and Re-Entry Team to ensure agency safety protocols are maintained.
  • Partner with the Director of IPV Prevention and Intervention services to develop ACS contract budgets, modifications, oversight of spending and reconciliations.
  • Attend meetings and network in the community to obtain referrals, build linkages and strengthen interagency collaborations
  • Attend required ACS meetings, such as the quarterly Prevention Directors meetings, COFCCA meetings as indicated. CA internal meetings including Administrative meetings, Regional Cabinets, Executive Outcomes meetings, etc., and budget meetings as indicated.
  • Ensure compliance with all CA internal fiscal and accountability procedures and policies including payroll issues, purchasing procedures and New York Times Neediest approvals. Ensure timely and accurate usage of Time Force system by program staff at the site.  
  • Ensure that all staff demonstrate ICREATE competencies in the execution of daily responsibilities, comply with TMHR conditions of employment as delineated in the Employee Handbook and that staff meet performance and behavior standards of Code of Conduct and Anti-harassment policies. Utilize progressive disciplinary process when indicated.
  • Familiarize self and staff with agency and Division Objectives and Strategic Priorities which are integrated into practice that enhance overall agency operations and improve outcomes.
  • Collaborate with Division Recruitment Specialist to identify appropriate candidates to fill program vacancies in a timely fashion. Ensure that new hires receive a comprehensive onboarding. Collaborate with CA OPM, Division CQI, Quality Assurance Directors and Accountability Specialist to ensure prevention standard compliance and best practices. Submit Monthly CWFS Report.
  • Ensure optimal integration and cross collaboration with other CA Divisions/ programs, as well as, other community based services.
  • As an implementation ancillary team member, support the Sr. Team’s efforts, complete tasks as delegated, foster stakeholder buy-in, facilitate a continuous feedback loop between Sr. Team and program staff, market new program services internally and externally, coordinate training, support positive change climate, develop documentation and help build sustainability.
  • Accept tasks as assigned by Director of IPV Prevention and Intervention services and/or Deputy Division Director of Prevention Services

 Qualifications: 

  • Licensed Master’s degree in social work, mental health, or other related field preferred;
  • Strong knowledge and experience with Preventive Services, child welfare, and ACS mandates;
  • Minimum of 3 years’ post masters supervisory experience;
  • Knowledge of Connections and PROMIS database systems; strong computer literacy skills;
  • Knowledge of policies and issues related to the intersection of domestic violence systems and child welfare and social service providers strongly recommended;
  • Prior experience working with all family members impacted by abuse and/or trauma: survivor, persons causing harm, children/teens exposed to IPV strongly recommended;
  • Knowledge of New York City domestic violence service system, public benefits, housing, legal, and other social service systems;
  • Bilingual Spanish/English fluency preferred;
  • Strong oral and written communication skills;
  • Ability to multitask, prioritize, and strong organizational skills;
  • Ability to work evenings as needed, maintain a flexible work schedule, and provide some on-call support. 
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