The New York City school system is the largest in the nation, serving nearly 1 million students and employing over 75,000 teachers across more than 1,600 schools. Each year, nearly 10% of our student population is affected by homelessness or Foster Care. This includes students living in doubled-up housing arrangements, shelters, domestic violence safe housing, or foster care. Research consistently shows that students in temporary housing and foster care placements face distinct academic challenges. They are more likely to experience chronic absenteeism, lower academic performance, and delays in or failures to achieve graduation compared to their housed peers.

These unique circumstances highlight the urgent need for targeted interventions and support to ensure that all students have the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their housing situation.

The New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) Office of Students in Temporary Housing & Foster Care (STH/FC) supports all schools as places where children have opportunities to learn, gain skills, create joy, ignite curiosity, and discover their passions and talents. STH/FC is committed to advancing equity, using a “whole child, whole community” approach—looking holistically at students, families, and communities to ascertain their most pressing needs and deciding together which services will best address those needs.

The Students in Temporary Housing and Foster Care Support Liaison (“STHFC Liaison”) will provide a range of supports in NYC HERRCs and other emergency shelters. Work tasks may include but are not limited to the following:

• Check-in routinely with their STH/FC supervisor to ensure that all logistics are considered and managed, acting alongside the STH/FC team management and offering guidance on promising practices to deliver high-quality services.
• Attend relevant workshops and trainings that will allow the STHFC SL to turnkey important information to families.
• Greet families as they enter into a shelter or emergency center, conduct an initial needs assessment, identify and facilitate tailored supports for students and families, and support students and families to access those supports.
• Support STH/FC families in navigating enrollment, transportation, and immunization processes.
• Act as an escalation point for schools in cases of emergencies, including attendance support.
• Visiting different shelter sites/foster care agencies, charter schools to ensure data is aligned and accurate.
• Help to remove barriers impacting student academic success, and identify additional resources within the school or community, supporting students to thrive academically and personally.
• Conduct ‘home’ visits to on-site rooms in HERRCs, shelters, children center as needed.
• Collaborate with STH/FC team on workshops for parents to increase parental awareness about NYCPS and how to support students academic success including but not limited to the importance of attendance, relevant school programs such as high school access, prek/kindergarten enrollment, summer programming, etc..
• Work collaboratively with HERRC staff, Health & Hospitals, HPD, ACS. Foster Care agencies, Foster Coordinators and other providers in supporting families and students.

The STHFC SL will report to a dedicated manager/Director. The Director/managers are responsible for supporting NYCPS personnel in both shelters and schools. The STHFC SL will serve alongside team members inside the shelters, schools and central office. The STHFC SL will work to support removing barriers to school attendance and identify additional resources within the school or community to support the students and families.

The STHFC SL will ensure consistent adherence to NYCPS policies and federal laws and regulations regarding STH families and students. This includes compliance with the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, Foster Care ACT and policy, Chancellor’s Regulation A-780, federal Fostering Connections to Success, Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 and the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015. Performs related work.

Minimum

• A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and two years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to the duties described above; or
• High school graduation or equivalent and six years of experience in community work or community centered activities in an area related to the duties as described above; or
• Education and/or experience which is equivalent to "1" or "2" above. However, all candidates must have at least one year of experience as described in "1" above.

• Strong skills in relationship management and project implementation.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including conflict management and de-escalation techniques.
• Strong facility with Excel; moderate knowledge of other Microsoft Office applications, e.g., Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• An understanding of the complexities of systems that homeless students and their families face, and of the intersections of issues, including trauma, mental health, and domestic violence.
• Understanding trauma informed best practices.
• Knowledge of McKinney Vento regulations and their application to school environments.
• Familiarity with community-based programs serving homeless youth and families and related youth development programs.
• Experience working in school-based or shelter based settings, with knowledge about trauma informed strategies, nonprofit student support services, and youth development approaches.
• Ability to work effectively with school aged youth, educators, families, and communities from a wide range of cultural, social, and economic backgrounds.
• Understanding of the social-emotional needs of students in temporary housing and of trauma-informed practices.
• Bilingual preferred.

• Professional Resume
  • Resume outlining your academic, professional, and personal experiences, certifications, and fit for the role.
• Reference Request Details
  • Three references required
    • Minimum two professional references
    • One personal reference
• Google Application
  • Please apply for the STHFC Support Liaison role using this Google Form.