Employment, Internship, and Housing Specialist

Cayuga Centers is hiring immediately for an Employment, Internship, and Housing Specialist in NYC!

Earn $24.00/hourly

$3,000 increase for Bilingual Speaker (Spanish)

Location: Bronx, NY

Join our team and make a difference in the lives of children, youth, and families in our community!

About Cayuga Centers

Cayuga Centers is an accredited non-profit human services agency dedicated to family support and preservation, trauma-informed care, and serving vulnerable populations with the most unique needs. Founded in 1852 in Auburn, NY, we have a long history of delivering high-quality and innovative services to individuals, children, youth, and families. We have offices in 10 cities and serve over 10,000 individuals and families annually. Join us!

At Cayuga Centers, we embrace Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DIB). We do this by taking a firm stance against hatred, inequality, bias, and injustice. We do this by providing our staff with the training, coaching, and resources necessary to grow and serve with cultural humility, acceptance, and understanding. We are responsive to the diverse needs of those we serve and staff, and are committed to ensuring that everyone feels respected, valued, and a sense of belonging.

About the Program and Position:

The ACS Program supports foster youth in the custody of the Administration for Children's Services in New York City. Our Enhanced Family Foster Care (EFFC) program serves 137 youth ages 0-21+. It supports them with a multidisciplinary team that includes a Case Planner, Health Services Team, Psychiatrist, Behavioral Support Specialist, Family Advocate, Case Aide, Family Team Conferencing Coordinator, Education Workforce Specialist, Employment/Internship and Housing Specialist, Fair Futures Coach, Foster Home Recruiter and Licensor and Clinician. Our therapeutic approach to foster care includes direct access to Clinicians and foster parents trained at a treatment foster care level implementing the ARC framework. This makes a difference because our team approach provides a space for healing while providing skill-building and future-focused planning for youth in our care.

We seek a dedicated Employment, Internship, and Housing Specialist to join our NYC Enhanced Family Foster Care (EFFC) program. As an Employment, Internship, and Housing Specialist, you will be crucial in facilitating employment and internships, and assisting with housing for those families involved in the EFFC program. This staff will provide training, guidance, and advocacy for the youth and families of the program to meet their goals related to employment, education, and Housing.

How you get to use your skills…

• Maintain a caseload and act as the advocate/liaison related to employment, internships, and Housing needs for those we serve
• Oversee any onsite job readiness program(s) (e.g., YA WORC, Mentored Internship Program), including enrollment and scheduling of program cycles and assist young people identify, apply for, and enroll in appropriate internship programs
• Meet with young people who are not on a college-bound track (or who have left college) to explore alternative post-secondary pathways and career paths in line with their interests and skills
• Help young people apply to external programs, including vocational and workforce development programs (after speaking with their Coach)
• Engage in career planning with young people who are enrolled in college.
• Build relationships with external programs and employers to create employment opportunities for youth in our care Check-in with employers after the 3-month, 6-year, and 1-year mark to verify persistence.
• Assist youth who are seeking employment and/or internships, including assistance with resume writing, applications, interviewing, attending career fairs as well as other employment related learning opportunities.
• Work with young people who are aging out of foster care to submit all forms of housing applications by age 18
• Stay up to date with all NYC, NYS or Federal housing initiatives, including NYCHA, Section 8, and ACS Housing Subsidies
• Check-in on young people's application status and follow-up with NYCHA and supportive housing residences, as needed
• Help young people apply to permanent housing, when applicable, by helping them obtain Section 8 vouchers, apply to the NYC affordable housing lottery, etc.
• Hold monthly community outreach and psychoeducational events for youth
• Document all contacts and goal plans in applicable databases
• Collaborate with youth's assigned treatment team to ensure efficient coordination of services.
• Attend required training to maintain service provision standards.
• Attend and play an active role in Family Team Conferences (FTC's), Interdisciplinary Treatment Team (ITT), and other meetings
• Appear in Family Court hearings related to the children and families served
• Perform other related duties as requested by immediate supervisor, senior leadership and CEO.

• Bachelor's degree and at least two years of experience working with at-risk or system-involved young people
• Foster care and/or significant experience working with vulnerable youth in a professional manner preferred
• Must be able to work from a strength-based, trauma-informed, youth development lens
• NYC ACS or private agency child welfare experience preferred
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Strong time-management, organizational skills, and attention to detail; Ability to troubleshoot, advocate, and navigate obstacles where there is not always a clear-cut pathway
• Open to learning how to use and interpret data to inform decision-making
• Ability to effectively collaborate in team settings and build relationships with external partners
• Ability to use Motivational Interviewing techniques
• Knowledgeable about youth resources and services
• Ability to facilitate monthly youth groups
• Ability to work well with people from many cultures, including recent immigrants, non-English speakers, and LGBTQ children
• Bilingual English/Spanish strongly preferred
• Willingness to travel
• Valid NYS Driver's License required

Physical Requirements:

• Word processing: Including responding to e-mails, composing letters, and transcribing minutes for meetings, involves sitting at a computer for several hours a day
• Completing paperwork and electronic documentation
• Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds
• Sit/ride in vehicles and/or public transportation for lengthy periods of time
• Walk up/down stairs
• Walk several blocks to get to the required locations

Schedule: Non-Exempt

• Regular hours entail 9:00am - 5:00pm, Monday through Friday. Must be able to flex schedule to meet program needs.
• Weekend and evening hours required

• 120 hours of paid vacation time and 12 sick days per year
• 10 Holidays, 3 Personal Days, Medical Appointment Time
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Pet and Legal Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• FSA, Transit, and Parking savings accounts
• Supplemental life insurance, critical illness, enhanced short-term disability benefits
• 401(k) match up to 6 %
• Corporate Discounts Program
• Sick Leave Pool
• Identity Protection
• Hybrid remote working

Why Cayuga Centers?

• Certified Great Place to Work ®
• Workplace Wellness Award Finalist
• Council on Accreditation (COA) Accredited
• Implement best practices and evidence-based interventions
• Committed to employee professional development and advancement
• We embrace change, innovation, and opportunities
• Our diverse workforce acts and leads with human sensitivity and respect
• Large and growing national footprint