Rise is hiring a Parent Advocate Training Coordinator to prepare NYC parents impacted by the child welfare system to work as parent advocates within the child welfare system (preventive and foster care agencies) as well as in impacted communities. The Training Coordinator will take over and develop new trainings for Parent Advocates and provide ongoing support to Parent Advocates working citywide.
Led by parents impacted by the child welfare system, Rise believes that parents have the answers for their families and communities. Our mission is to support parents’ leadership to dismantle the current child welfare system, eliminate cycles of harm, surveillance and punishment and create communities that invest in families and offer collective care, healing and support.
The ideal candidate for the Parent Advocate Training Coordinator role is a parent advocate with 3-5 years of experience working at a foster care, preventive, or family defense organization; who has been personally impacted by the child welfare system; and is experienced in leading teams and facilitation. Rise anticipates training up to two dozen Parent Advocates annually in upcoming years.
This is a full-time role. All work will be remote for now because of COVID-19 but this position will be based in Rise’s NYC office when possible.
The Parent Advocate Training Coordinator is a newly created role to build out Rise’s work of training Parent Advocates to prevent and reduce system involvement. The Training Coordinator will:
- Report to and work with Rise’s Assistant Director for Training and Policy, Jeanette Vega;
- Join in training and supporting Rise’s current class of 10+ advocates working in preventive service agencies and co-facilitate a class of 10 advocates working in foster care agencies, which will begin this winter, as well as new classes of advocates hired in child welfare;
- Be trained to facilitate Restorative Justice Peacekeeping Circles and support advocates through circles on an ongoing basis;
- Contribute to designing and implementing technical assistance to agencies bringing new Parent Advocates on staff to support their meaningful involvement in case decision-making;
- Become a partner in Rise’s Reunification Collaborative, working with 6 foster care agencies to improve practice with parents in the first 90 days;
- Support development of Community Advocate and Peer Advocate roles for parents working and volunteering in impacted communities to provide support and reduce child welfare involvement;
- Connect advocates with Rise’s advocacy work to change community conditions for families and with coalitions and aligned organizations leading legislative advocacy to limit system impact and strengthen families;
- Participate in Rise’s learning about system abolition and contribute holistically to Rise’s organizational culture and development.
Rise envisions communities that are free from injustice, family regulation and separation, and a society that is cultivating new ways of preventing and addressing harm. We imagine a radical commitment to ensuring that all families have what they need to live beyond survival and truly thrive.
Qualifications
The ideal job candidate will have:
- Life experience being impacted by the child welfare system as a parent
- 3-5 years of experience as a Parent Advocate in foster care, preventive, or family defense agencies;
- Experience running complex projects, teaching, supervising, leading teams, and facilitation;
- Excellent public speaking and writing skills;
- Interpersonal skills to work sensitively on topics involving trauma, stress and healing;
- Basic computer skills including the Google / Microsoft Office Suite;
- Passion for parent leadership and preventing child welfare involvement.
Rise is committed to parent leadership and will provide opportunities for a self-directed learner to gain skills.
Compensation
Salary range is $50-$55,000, commensurate with experience. Excellent benefits include: medical, dental and eye coverage; 4 weeks of vacation; TransitCheks, health savings and dependent savings account, etc. Rise is a partner project of the Fund for the City of New York.
To Apply
Please email a cover letter and resume to info@risemagazine.org. Please do not apply without taking a close look at Rise’s work: www.risemagazine.org.
Anticipated hire date: Dec. 1 but position will remain open until it is filled. Candidates will be contacted for virtual interviews on a rolling basis. We are unable to respond to all applications.
Rise values a diverse workforce and culture that centers the leadership of impacted parents. We strongly encourage applications from women and people of color as well as people with prior contact with the child welfare system.