Developmental Disabilities Unit Liaison

Developmental Disabilities Unit Liaison

THE SELECTED CANDIDATE WILL BE OFFERED A SALARY OF $39.970.00.

The Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) protects and promotes the safety and well-being of children and families through child welfare and juvenile justice services and community supports. ACS manages community-based supports and foster care services, and provides subsidized child care vouchers. ACS child protection staff respond to allegations of child maltreatment. In juvenile justice, ACS oversees detention, placement and programs for youth in the community.

The New York City Administration for Children’s Services is responsible for the protection of New York City’s children and the support of the City’s families. The Office of Child & Family Health (OCFH), and the Developmental Disabilities Unit (DDU) in the Division of the First Deputy, is charged with ensuring that all foster children served by Children’s Services have timely access to quality, comprehensive physical, developmental and mental health services, and that these services are provided in a continuous and coordinated manner. The Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) Office of Child and Family Health (OCFH) delivers direct medical services to children entering foster care and ensures that the health care provided is comprehensive and appropriate. OCFH also offers individualized case consultations and training to ACS staff and foster care agencies on a variety of health-related topics, and provides clinical expertise in developing medical and mental health policies, programs, and initiatives that support best case practice agency wide.

The Developmental Disabilities Unit (DDU) engages in activities to help individuals (children/parents), suspected or diagnosed with an intellectual and/or developmental disability (I/DD) receive the community-based services, supports and care during the protective, preventive and foster care phases of their ACS involvement. The DDU also provides technical assistance, case specific consultation and training to ACS staff as well as its external stakeholders. The DDU partners with the NYS Office of People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) on behalf of young adults (ages 18-21) aging out of foster care who require Adult Residential Housing Opportunities and Community Based Services within the OPWDD Comprehensive Waiver.

Scope of Work

Reporting to the Clinical Manager and/or Resource Manager, the Developmental Disabilities Unit (DDU) Community Assistant will have the following responsibilities in support of the role:

- Assist in improving community services by performing liaison functions among or between City agencies such as NYC Department of Education (NYC DOE) and NYC Health+Hospitals, community -based organizations and groups and the individuals with an intellectual and/or developmental disability (ID/DD) they represent and service.
- Participate in meetings and trainings with City agencies including but not limited to NYC DOE and NYC H+H regarding the DDU’s function, NYS Office of People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) eligibility requirements, supports and resources involved in providing appropriate permanency and service planning for this ID/DD special needs population.
- Assist in community outreach efforts, and community meetings, and serve as a DDU representative to community-based organizations on ID/DD related issues and services including representing ACS in community-based meetings and conferences.
- Maintain resource directory library of community services and resources for children and families of the ID/DDs special needs population.
- Review lists of identified parent/ children screened for or suspected of ID/DD clinical documents submitted by child/case planners and assembling materials from community-based providers so that completed referrals may be forwarded to OPWDD for eligibility review.
- Assist in the maintenance of the unit’s database of list of parents /children awaiting an OPWDD state services.
- Refer children with ID/DD to Children’s Health Home(s), and provide technical assistance navigating eligibility and enrollment process for Care Management and other community-based services such as NYS DOH Children’s Waiver (HCBS)
- Refer individuals with suspected or confirmed ID/DD for psychological and psychosocial evaluations and assist in maintaining electronic records
- Assist in reviewing/preparing referral packets for OPWDD Eligibility for “Age-Out” referral submissions
- And other duties as assigned


ADDITIONAL INFO:
Section 424-A of the New York Social Services Law requires an authorized agency to inquire whether a candidate for employment with child-caring responsibilities has been the subject of a child abuse and maltreatment report.

The Administration for Children’s Services is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing access to all individuals. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact Simone Campbell at eeo.adacoordinator@acs.nyc.gov or (212) 676-6955.

COMMUNITY ASSISTANT - 56056

Qualifications

1. There are no formal education or experience requirements for this position. However, the ability to understand and carry out simple instructions is required.
2. Candidates must be able to understand and be understood in English.

Additional Information

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.