Director

About Graham Windham 

In full partnership with families & communities, Graham Windham strives to make a life-altering difference to children, youth and families affected by abuse, neglect and delinquency by providing each child we serve with a strong foundation for life: a safe, loving, permanent family and the opportunity and preparation to thrive in school and in the world. With over 600 full-time employees serving children and families in multiple programs throughout Westchester County, Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn and Harlem, Graham Windham provides an exciting & enriching work experience. 

Graham Windham is one of the first organizations in the New York City to implement Solution -Based Casework (SBC). Solution-Based Casework helps children and families to be the solution to the seemingly insurmountable problems in their lives, from generational cycles of poverty, abuse, and neglect to unemployment, domestic violence and severe health problems. By recognizing and reinforcing their innate strengths and ability to cope, we at Graham Windham empower them to take the lead in making change in their lives. 

About the Program 

The Family Treatment/ Rehabilitation Program (FTR) located both in Bronx and Brooklyn offers intensive preventive case management services to families at risk of removal of children to foster care due to neglect and abuse. Risk factors for families served by the FTR program are sometimes advanced as a result of caretakers’ drug use and/ or mental illness. The stressors of poverty, substance use, instability and criminal justice involvement can greatly compromise a parent’s capacity to care for her children, despite strong desires to be engaged. Our goal is to partner with families to keep them together while ensuring that children will be safely cared for. 

Position Overview 

The FTR Preventive Director in partnership with the Associate Vice-President of Graham’s NYC Based Preventive Services, alongside the Preventive management team will insure that the multi-site and multi-method programs have a consistently strong approach to partnering with families to promote the safety and wellbeing of all children; insure that the agency practice approach (Solution-Based Casework) is used to partner with families to help develop and encourage families to build connections to positive supports in their community who will help them sustain their progress; collaborate effectively with all internal and external programs to insure that our families and staff have access to high-quality programs and resources that meet their needs. Manage the day to day function of the community-based Intensive FTR Programs according to New York State, New York City Administration of Children mandates and in accordance with the Agency’s Pillars (Treat all with respect; Promote Safety and Well-Being; Encourage learning; Support opportunities for growth and Thrive in life) so as to strengthen families and protect children. Engage and forge strong community linkages that support the program, assist the community and aid families. 

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES (but not limited to): 

• Drives the implementation of practices, policies and procedures consistent with Graham Windham’s Prevention Program Plan for Performance Excellence.
• Maintains a consistently urgent focus on safety and risk, including regular supervision of preventive supervisors to advance the practice and strengthen supervisors ‘capacity to supervise their staff.
• Ensure that supportive and rehabilitative services are provided to children and families to avert disruption of the families that could result in foster care placement; enable a child in care to reunite with their family at an earlier time or prevent re-entry of a child into foster care.
• Work with program leadership to insure that all staff are trained and certified in Solution Based Casework and that staff remain proficient in the skills.
• Monitor all case planning components by tracking appropriate quality assurance issues including ACS evaluation items.
• Hire and train appropriate staff to ensure an unbroken continuum of services to clients.
• Ensure ongoing staff training in accordance with employee’s need and agency policy.
• Support agency policy by use of progressive discipline.
• Directly supervise support and case planning team in the absence of supervisors.
• Present the Preventive Program to the community, maintain and establish community linkages and collaboration with community groups, elected officials, health facilities and other agencies.
• Represent program at external and internal meetings with funders (OCFS, ACS).
• Monitor site operations to ensure smooth, satisfactory and safe working conditions.
• Consider staff moral a major area of responsibility, initiate and suggest policies and practices to ensure retention staff.
• Provide ongoing management direction and support to staff ensuring correct implementation of agency policies and procedures.
• Maintain and apply a current knowledge of Preventive Service regulations.
• Attend regularly scheduled supervision, courses and seminars for the purpose of maintaining and enhancing social work, supervisory and management skills.
• Respond to agency/ client emergencies within or outside office hours.
• Assume additional assigned responsibilities as dictated by Agency/ Program need.
• Assist in the development and oversight of outcome measures. 

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: 

Master's Degree in Social Work or in a related Human Services' field required; Five (5) or more years of managerial experience in a child welfare setting; Demonstrated strategic thinking and problem solving abilities; Excellent verbal and written communication skills; Working knowledge of ACS Prevention Standards and Policies, as well as CONNECTIONS and Promise data systems. 

Full-time position; salary commensurate with experience. Graham Windham offers eligible employees a comprehensive benefit package including medical, dental, and vision coverage, paid time off, holiday pay, retirement savings plan, and much more. 

EOE