*IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU FILE FOR, TAKE AND PASS THE OPEN COMPETITIVE EXAM #2023 FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE TITLE LISTED ABOVE TO AVOID BEING "BUMPED" OUT OF YOUR POSITION WHEN THE ELIGIBLE LIST FOR THIS TITLE IS ESTABLISHED. Application period is from October 6, 2021 to October 29, 2021. PERMANENT CHILD AND FAMILY SPECIALISTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY*

The Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) protects and promotes the safety and well-being of New York City’s children and families by providing child welfare, juvenile justice, and early care services. In child welfare, ACS contracts with private nonprofit organizations to support and stabilize families at risk of a crisis through preventive services and provides foster care services for children not able to safely remain at home. Each year, the agency’s Division of Child Protection conducts more than 55,000 investigations of suspected child abuse or neglect. In juvenile justice, ACS manages and funds services including detention and placement, intensive community-based alternatives for youth, and support services for families. In early care, ACS coordinates and funds programs and vouchers for close to 100,000 children eligible for subsidized care.

The Division of Family Permanency Services is looking to fill two vacancies for the Adoption and KinGAP Support Services/Post Adoption Unit. This unit is responsible for providing financial assistance, mediation, counseling, and support to adoptive families, adoptees and to relative guardians of adopted children when the adopted parents are deceased or incapacitated.
The Post Adoption Advocacy Specialist will be responsible for addressing post adoption concerns presented through phones calls and /or office visits from adopted children/youth and /or adoptive parents, ACS office of Advocacy, provider agencies, schools/hospitals, other ACS units.

In many instances, the Post adoption Advocacy Specialist role is to mediate between parent/guardian and child usually at a time of family crisis, young adults at risks of homelessness, and without vital documents required to live independently. The Post Adoption Specialist will advocate, mediate, monitor and ensure that the subsidy is being provided for the child’s support and assess the safety of the young adult in the home or the community. This position's responsibilities will include, but not limited to:

- Investigations of Proof of Support of adopted child
- Outreach to adoptive parents/ children, provider agencies, schools, hospitals,
- Referrals for families/youths for post adoption counseling services, respite, bereavement, housing, substance abuse, college, scholarship information.
- Provide non-identifying family history to adult adoptees/siblings
- Provide reports to Fair Hearings in termination cases.
- Refer cases for terminations at the conclusion of their investigation regarding non proof of support by adoptive parents.
- Call in SCR cases when the safety of the adopted child is at risk.

A Masters Degree in Social Work from an accredited school of social work and
1. A valid New York State Registration as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and at least one year of full-time, satisfactory, post-graduate experience that includes substantial experience in one or more of the following modalities of practice: facilitation of family team conferences or family group decision-making meetings utilizing a conferencing model which emphasizes family engagement and consensus based decision-making; clinical group work with children, youth, parents or individual families; or the conduct of professional training on topics related to child and family services; or

2. A valid New York State Registration as a Licensed Master of Social Work (LMSW) and at least three years of the experience required in "1" above. Up to two years of this experience may have been in the supervision of social work practice areas described in "1" above; or

3. At least three years of the experience required in "1" above. A valid New York State Registration as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Licensed Master of Social Work license (LMSW) must be obtained within one year of appointment.

Note: Employees who fail to obtain their LCSW or LMSW within one year after appointment may have their probationary periods extended for no more than six months. Failure to obtain the LCSW or LMSW by the end of the probationary period will result in dismissal.

Note: At least one year of the required experience described in "1", "2" and "3" above must have been obtained in the last five years.

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The preferred candidate should possess a MSW and be licensed, excellent organizational, and communications (verbal and written) skills required. Computer skills and ability to document clients’ progress effectively essential. This position requires will entail the use of excel spreadsheets as well as the ability to access the Connections system. Experience utilizing various ACS systems of data including: EDMS (Electronic Data Management System), CPMS (Client Payment Management System), WMS (Welfare Management System)

New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.

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.