Position Information

NY HELPNo

AgencyChildren & Family Services, Office of

TitlePeer Specialist (YDAPS)

Occupational CategoryOther Professional Careers

Salary Grade09

Bargaining UnitISU - Institutional Services Unit (CSEA)

Salary RangeFrom $37507 to $46103 Annually

Employment Type Full-Time

Appointment Type Permanent

Jurisdictional Class Non-competitive Class

Travel Percentage 25%

Schedule

Workweek Mon-Fri

Hours Per Week 37.5

Workday

From 6 AM

To 6 PM

Flextime allowed? No

Mandatory overtime? No

Compressed workweek allowed? No

Telecommuting allowed? Yes

Location

County Rensselaer

Street Address Capital View Office Park - YDAPS

52 Washington Street, North Building

City Rensselaer

StateNY

Zip Code12144

Job Specifics

Minimum Qualifications
Two years of experience participating in self-help activities, peer support or advocacy programs, or similar organizations. Must have been in child welfare placement for two years or more above the age of 8 or had juvenile justice placement or received homeless youth services in New York State.

Duties Description The Peer Specialist (Youth Services) will provide support and technical assistance to social services districts, OCFS facilities, youth bureaus and authorized agencies that serve youth in foster care, detention, and homeless residential settings. The incumbent will be responsible for performing the following duties:

• Assist agencies in identifying areas in which youth may need additional support or resources.
• Assist in reviewing policies and practices, training curriculum and manuals
• Interact with youth and agencies from the perspective of an individual with lived experience, using discretion in sharing experiences that have been beneficial in transitioning from care.
• Support agencies in identifying developmentally appropriate goals for transition age youth and young adults
• Assist agencies and districts and local government in identifying opportunities to improve youth and family voice
• Assist agencies in providing youth with access to available community resources, benefits, and linkages to essential supports (such as legal, housing, education, medical and financial services).
• Advocate for the needs of youth by sharing knowledge and lived experience perspective with other human service providers.

Additional duties will be discussed in detail during the interview.

Additional Comments
Preferred: Experience in foster care, juvenile justice facilities, or a homeless youth program within the last 10 years.

Background Investigation Requirements:

1) All prospective employees will be investigated through a Criminal Background Check (CBC), which includes State and federal Criminal History Record Checks. All convictions must be reported; conviction of a felony or misdemeanor, or any falsified or omitted information on the prospective appointee’s employment application, may bar appointment or result in removal after appointment. Each case will be determined on its own merits, consistent with the applicable provisions of State and federal laws, rules, and regulations. Prospective employees will be fingerprinted in order to obtain a record of their criminal history information and may be required to pay any necessary fees.

2) All prospective employees will be screened against the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment (SCR). Prospective employees will be required to pay any necessary fees.

3) For Division of Juvenile Justice and Opportunities for Youth (DJJOY) prospective appointees will be checked against the Staff Exclusion List (SEL) maintained by the Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs. Prospective employees whose names appear on the SEL as having been found responsible for serious or repeated acts of abuse or neglect will be barred from appointment and may have their names removed from the eligible list(s) for the title(s) if applicable.


Candidates from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. OCFS is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. OCFS is committed to ensuring equal opportunity for persons with disabilities and workplace diversity. It is the policy of OCFS to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities to enable them to perform the essential functions of the position for which they are applying or for which they are employed. OCFS does not discriminate on the basis of disability in its hiring or employment practices and complies with all regulations promulgated by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission under title I of the ADA.

Some positions may require additional credentials or a background check to verify your identity.

Contact Information

Name New York State Office of Children and Family Services

Telephone 518-473-7936

Fax 518-473-6122

Email Address eoajobpostings@ocfs.ny.gov

Address

Street Bureau of Personnel - MEM

52 Washington Street, 231 North

City Rensselaer

State NY

Zip Code 12144

 

Notes on ApplyingQualified candidates should e-mail their resume and letter of interest to eoajobpostings@ocfs.ny.gov You MUST include the Vacancy number of the position in the subject line of your email and/or cover letter to ensure receipt of your application. In order to qualify you for the position when you have current or prior New York State employment, you may be contacted by OCFS Personnel for your social security number to confirm your employment history.