CUA Quality Parenting Initiative Specialist

Starting Salary:  $44,000 plus benefits

Job Type: Full Time, Exempt

Work Schedule: Mondays through Fridays 8:30 am to 5 pm

Location: CUA 5 - 3300 Henry Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19129

ABOUT APM & CUA

Asociación Puertorriqueños en Marcha (APM) has been helping families achieve their greatest potential since 1970 by providing early childhood education, foster care & adoption, child welfare, mental & behavioral health, community and economic development, housing, community school services, and violence intervention services to the North Philadelphia communities.  

Do you have a passion to help improve the safety, stability and well-being of children and their families? APM CUA is looking for compassionate and committed social workers who want to create long-lasting impacts in the lives of children and families. CUA stands for Community Umbrella Agency. APM CUA 5 services the Logan/Olney region.   

JOB SUMMARY

The Quality Parenting Initiative (QPI) is an approach based on relationships by strengthening foster care and refocusing on excellent parenting for all children in the child welfare system. The QPI Specialist supports resource families and kin by clearly articulating the high expectations the system has for them; works with the child welfare system and other key stakeholders to provide relevant tools, resources, practices, and policies that help resource parents be success; and enables caregivers, agency staff, and birth parents to work as a team to support children and youth.

Key job tasks/duties/responsibilities of Quality Parenting Initiative (QPI) Specialist:

• Function as part of the larger CUA team responsible for achieving the target goals of improving safety, permanency, and well-being of children, youth, and families.
• Attends QPI meetings and conferences.
• Evaluates training videos pertaining to QPI, and how they can be implemented within the surrounding areas.
• Collaborate with partnering agencies in designing Parent Cafés that bring biological parents and resource parents together for discussions.
• Facilitates QPI Icebreaker meetings and meetings between subcontractor agencies to assist with the growth of the QPI mission.
• Works collaboratively with the CUA Team in identifying biological parents and resource parents that can benefit from QPI.
• Identifies potential Bio parents and Resource parents that we can create a group model to start the QPI program.
• Tracks biological and resource parents that are going through QPI to assess their process.
• Hosts events and support groups that will strengthen the relationships between biological and resource parents.
• Is the point of contact between biological and resource parents.
• Identifies issues that are creating the disconnect between biological and resource parents
• Creates Life Books for children in care
• Is able to establish relationships with both the bio/foster parents where they can feel comfortable to come to our events, support groups and icebreakers.
• Function as part of the larger CUA team responsible for achieving the target goals of improving safety, permanency, and well-being of children, youth, and families.

BENEFITS

• Independence Administrators Medical Insurance Plan or $100/month Reimbursement with Proof of Current Plan
• Livongo for Diabetes Prevention, Hypertension, and Weight Management (Only for Employees Who Elect Our Medical Insurance)
• Sword, A Virtual Physical Care Program for Back, Joint, and Muscle Pain (Only for Employees Who Elect Our Medical Insurance)
• WondrHealth for Weight Management (Only for Employees Who Elect Our Medical Insurance)
• Sun Life Financial Insurance Plans for Dental, Vision, Life and AD&D, Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital Indemnity
• Basic Life Insurance (100% Employer Funded)
• Short-term and Long-term Disability Insurances
• 403B Retirement Plan through Mutual of America
• Flexible Spending Accounts for Health, Childcare, Public Transportation, and Parking Expenses through The Harrison Group
• AllOne Health Employee Assistance Program at No Cost
• Employee Referral Program (You Can Earn Up to $600)
• 20 Days of Paid Time Off include Illness, Vacation, Appointments, and Emergencies
• 12 Days of Paid Holidays
• Mileage Reimbursement
• Free parking lot on Henry Ave location

• EDUCATION: Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, Sociology, Psychology, Criminal Justice, or a related field and two (2) or more years of work and/or internship experience required. Applicants without a Bachelor’s require five (5) or more years of work and/or internship experience.
• EXPERIENCE: Two (2) years in social services setting working in parent education preferably.
• Proficiency in English and Spanish preferred but not required.
• Pennsylvania Child Abuse Clearance, Request for Criminal Clearance, FBI clearances, Valid PA driver’s license and driving record no more than 60 days old. Medical Exam must be completed within one year of employment
• Knowledge of social services, child welfare and family systems services
• Culturally sensitive to the needs and diversities of multi-cultural communities
• Knowledge of community resources and ability to work as a team member
• Practices good customer service skills in all working relationships
• Experience facilitating public meetings, and other public forums
• Strong interpersonal skills, respectful, and courteous nature
• Strong writing and oral presentations skills
• An applied understanding of social work ethics and confidentiality
• Must demonstrate genuine empathy and concern for individuals as indicated in our corporate vision, mission and values statements
• Able to work independently, demonstrating good judgment and prioritizing
• Ability to attend evening and weekend community events and meetings without incurring difficulty
• Maintain a high degree of discretion dealing with confidential information
• Skills in typing, basic computer operations, Microsoft, PowerPoint, Excel

KEY COMPENTENCIES:

• Planning and organizing
• Problem assessment and problem solving
• Information gathering and information monitoring
• Ability to work in a flexible schedule and adapt to changing situations
• Ability to set priorities in critical situations.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as a team.
• Strong Customer Service insight.
• Must be accurate and detail oriented