Full Time
Who We Are: CAMBA is a community of staff, volunteers, clients, donors, neighbors and partners who work together to build an inclusive New York City, where all children and adults have access to the resources and supports they need to thrive. We take a comprehensive approach by offering more than 160 integrated programs in: Education & Youth Development, Family Support, Job Training & Employment Support Services, Health, Housing, and Legal Services. We reach more than 65,000 individuals and families each year at our 90 locations, including 10,000 youth. CAMBA serves a diverse cross section of New Yorkers from new mothers in Brownsville to job seekers in the Rockaways. More than half of our clients are immigrants and refugees from around the globe. Over 85% of our families are in living in poverty, reflecting the challenges faced by nearly 1.7 million New Yorkers today.
CAMBA launched the Ready Set Go! (RSG) Program at the Evergreen Family Residence in 2022 with excellent results, and is now expanding to the Park Avenue and Kings Inn residences. RSG engages and enables parents with children ages 0-3 in active learning to keep their children on track in the years leading up to formal schooling. Through a private grant, CAMBA is able to provide parents and children with educational resources including children’s books, development toys and blocks for early learning. Resources for new mothers include breastfeeding support, breast pumps, bras and nursing pillows. Providing these necessary items builds confidence, and helps engage new parents in RSG activities. These include weekly ‘Circles of Support’ that are intimate group meetings of Moms and their babies which includes educating mothers on early learning and the importance of playtime that will keep their children on track. These sessions reduce stress within the family by providing a time for laughter and joy which carries beyond the session time. Participants have noted the value of meeting other parents and children interacting with other children, and the overall support it has provided during difficult circumstances. The program focus is ensuring parents feel and express the joy of parenting which is indicative of successful parenting, and is especially critical for those parents having mental health or other challenges. Our goal is to give parents these tools and experiences while they are living in shelter, so they continue good parenting practices once they have moved to permanent housing. The end goal is to ensure children meet milestones for language development and build the foundation for both home and school learning.
Position: Bilingual Parent Coordinator
Reports To: Senior Vice President, Family Shelters
Location: Ready Set Go! Evergreen and Park Avenue Residence (Bronx) and Kings Inn (Queens), Evergreen Family Shelter, Park Avenue Residence Family Shelter, Kings Inn Family Shelter
What the Bilingual Parent Coordinator Does:
With expansion to an additional two shelters, we are seeking a Bi-lingual Parent Advocate with knowledge on the specific challenges and opportunities facing new parents living in shelter. Travel between shelters is required, with 3-4 days allocated to the Bronx sites and 1-2 days allocated to the Queens site, based on planned events and need. The Advocate will report directly to the SVP for Family Shelters.
The Advocate will work individually with families, assessing strengths and challenges, and help them find the services to achieve success for themselves and their children during their time in shelter and for 6 months after transition to independent housing.
The person filling this position is expected, under close supervision, to:
- Assist clients in attaining their goals by encouraging and incentivizing participation in RSG, and particularly the ‘Circles of Support’ and Tummy and Floor Time events
- Work with Shelter Directors on creating and promoting relevant engagement events (e.g. baby showers)
- Work with the DARE division on surveys and program evaluation
- Assist Program Director and Social Service by being a client liaison with outside agencies regarding such matters as education, healthcare,
Minimum Education/Experience Required:
Bachelor’s Degree (B.A. or B.S.) and/or equivalent experience.
Other Requirements:
- Must obtain State Central Registry (SCR) clearance, The Register of Substantiated Category One Cases of Abuse or Neglect aka Staff Exclusion List (SEL) clearance and Criminal history information checks via fingerprinting with New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services prior to start of employment.
- Ability to maintain clearances throughout the duration of employment.
- Must be bi-lingual in Spanish
- Travel is required
Compensation: $55,00-$60,000 annually
Status: Full-time (35 hours per week)
Benefits: CAMBA offers a comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, dental insurance, 403(b) retirement plan with employer match, paid time off (vacation, personal, and sick time), and paid holidays.