Social Worker

New York City, NY

City Living NY

Social Worker

Job Type: Full-Time

Organizational Background

City Living NY (CLNY) empowers youth aging out of foster care across New York City to transition successfully into adulthood by providing essential resources and in-depth support to young adults ages 21-26 who have recently aged out of care. Founded in 2015, CLNY has grown to serve over 160 young adults ages 21-26 each year with a growing team. Initially, we work with the young adults to identify the home goods and furnishings they need to turn their first apartments into homes. CLNY clients are also eligible for our Comprehensive Services Program where they work with their assigned social worker to identify their needs and goals as well as provide ongoing support around a wide range of issues including education, employment, financial security, social-emotional needs, and parenting. We stay with our clients through these critical first years and provide the stability and resources so many do not have. Through a unique and holistic approach, CLNY affords clients access to the same opportunities as any young adult on the road to independence. When foster care ends, our work begins.
About the Position
CLNY is expanding our social work team and is seeking a committed and compassionate full-time social worker to work directly with our clients. We seek a social worker who shares our passion for empowering and supporting young adults who have experienced foster care, and who works from a strengths-based, culturally responsive and trauma-informed perspective. Reporting to the Program Director and collaborating with a team of social workers, each social worker typically works out of our Manhattan office and travels to meet with clients in their homes and communities throughout New York City. During Covid our staff have been working remotely but will be transitioning back to the office/community model.
This important role on our team offers an opportunity to help our clients achieve life-changing outcomes. CLNY clients remain in their homes, as well as achieve employment, educational, and financial security. CLNY social workers have a meaningful, direct, tangible impact on young adults aging out of the foster care system.

Responsibilities

Case Management (75% of time)

  • Provide ongoing case management and supportive counseling (and crisis intervention as needed) to a caseload of young adults who have recently aged out of foster care
  • Conduct intakes and assessments to identify each client’s goals and needs
  • Conduct assessment of physical home environment; assist clients in obtaining needed apartment goods and furniture through CLNY 
  • Conduct regular home and community visits with all clients.
  • Meet weekly with CSP clients to help them achieve their educational and employment goals
  • Support clients to secure and maintain stable housing
  • Support clients to develop daily living skills (such as budgeting and managing their household) and socio-emotional that lead to them living independently
  • Provide referrals to appropriate outside agencies and organizations; accompany clients to appointments as needed
  • Advocate to ensure clients receive relevant entitlements and benefits

Administrative (25% of time)

  • Maintain detailed and up-to-date progress notes and relevant case documentation
  • Actively engage in weekly team meetings
  • Complete reports and statistics needed for funders as requested by Executive Director
  • Attend agency and other meetings as needed
  • Other duties as determined by supervisor or Executive Director

Qualifications

Experience

  • LMSW or LCSW required
  • Two or more years working with at-risk teens and young adults and/or in child welfare or equivalent experience preferred
  • Experience navigating complex social service, educational and other systems, and knowledge of services for young adults in NYC
  • Experience managing, developing, coaching and empowering individuals

Skills and Interests

  • A self-starter and creative problem solver who takes initiative and demonstrates flexibility in response to continually changing situations
  • Ability to work independently, with excellent organizational skills and attention to detail, and maintain detailed and up-to-date records
  • Ability to flex hours and conduct home visits/phone contacts on evenings and/or weekends as needed to accommodate client schedules
  • Bilingual Spanish/English a plus
  • A genuine interest in CLNY’s mission of supporting young adults aging out of the foster care system transition successfully into adulthood

How to Apply

Please email youngin@cityliving.org a complete application package including:

  • Resume
  • A cover letter outlining how your skills and qualifications meet the position requirements

Resumes submitted without a cover letter will not be reviewed. No phone calls, please.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The Organization provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, disability, veteran status, genetic information, citizenship status of a protected individual, or any other characteristic protected under any applicable federal, state or local law.  For New York City employees, additional protected characteristics include creed, sexual orientation, marital status, partnership status, caregiver status, familial status, alienage status, predisposing genetic characteristics, domestic violence victim status, or any other characteristic protected under the applicable laws of the State or City of New York.  It is the obligation of every employee to adhere to the spirit as well as the letter of these practices.  This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment including, without limitation, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, lay-off, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.