Ohel Children’s Home & Family Services is seeking aFamily Enrichment Center (FEC) Directorfor its new center which we are planning to open in Brooklyn within the borders of Community Board 14. Family Enrichment Centers are warm, welcoming places where communities can gather and where any family or individual can come for support and information. They are also places where families can choose to participate in or lead activities. Each FEC is unique incorporating a home-like setting designed with and for members of the community where they can connect as neighbors and contribute to the community and each other. 

FECs are based on the premise that the community members design and drive the FEC’s activities or offerings. The FEC works with families and community members to develop offerings that promote one or more family protective factors to increase well-being. The Center for the Study of Social Policy’s lists key protective factors the FEC focuses on:

• Parental Resilience- managing stress and functioning well even/and when faced with challenges, adversity and trauma

• Social Connections- positive relationships that provide emotional, informational, instrumental and spiritual support

• Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development- understanding child development and parenting strategies that support physical, cognitive, language, social and emotional development

• Concrete Support in Times of Need- access to concrete support and services that address a family’s needs and help minimize stress caused by challenges

• Social and Emotional Competence of Children- Family and child interactions that help children develop the ability to communicate clearly, recognize and regulate their emotions and establish and then maintain relationships

The FEC builds on family and community strengths, it is guided by community interest, dreams, goals and desires and it does this without being intrusive. It also does not use a case management approach. They do not follow traditional social service delivery approaches to the services provided. The FEC is 100% voluntary, is a safe place that welcomes all and respects each person’s privacy and their ability to decide how and when and how often to interact with the FEC. 

Position Description

The FEC Director is responsible for the day to day operation of the Family Enrichment Center. The FEC is funded by the New York City Administration of Children Services (ACS) and the Division of Child and Family Well-Being (CFWB). CFWB coordinates with communities to design and offer primary services that raise awareness about the challenges families face, address challenges they face and leverage family’s strengths so that children and caregivers can thrive and avoid unnecessary child welfare involvement. 

The FEC Director embodies and creates a culture of openness, creativity and flexibility, is a true partner and servant leader in the community and is committed to social justice. Responsibilities include; recruiting, hiring and supporting a diverse staff in a collaborative work environment, building partnerships with stakeholders from multiple sectors to support FEC and building an FEC Advisory Board to guide the vision, decision making and programming of the FEC. The FEC Director must be committed to a community-driven approach to organizing and collaborating. The FEC Director will also ensure the FEC is run with fidelity to the model, serve as a liaison to ACS, implement co-design and co-implementation strategies. The FEC Director will be expected to participate in learning collaboratives with other FEC Directors and stakeholders across the city and to collaborate with ACS external partners to develop and implement quality assurance and quality improvement mechanisms. 

Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Represent and conduct outreach at community events and venues, attend public forums, including community board meetings, and communicate with public officials to highlight the needs of the FEC community and raise awareness about and support for the work of the FEC

• Manage the budget of FEC in partnership with FEC Advisory Council/Board and manage hiring, training, and coaching of FEC staff/team members

• Identify community members via a series of virtual and in-person meetings who are interested in being part of the FEC and engage them in discussions about community needs, assets, and strengths to inform FEC vision and offerings

• Help to identify and secure a physical space for the FEC and ensure that the space is co-designed with the community to be a welcoming, encouraging, and positive environment

• Bring the model of co-design to life by ensuring that members have substantial roles in creating a vision for the FEC and designing offerings that promote one or more of the seven family protective factors (Resilience, Relationships, Knowledge, Support, Communication, Economic Mobility, & Community)

• Develop and support an Advisory Council/Board of FEC members to guide the strategic vision for the FEC, and participate in management decisions

• Create a culture of teamwork and collaboration among staff, FEC members, and Advisory Council/Board members that is built on equity, inclusiveness, and non-hierarchical decision making

• Supervise a team of Community Liaisons and Family Advocates to 1) build partnerships with community organizations and public institutions to raise awareness of the FEC, bring expertise to complement FEC offerings, and help members connect to local resources, and 2) conduct outreach to community members, engage them in co-designing offerings, promote and participate in offerings, and engage participants in QA/QI of offerings

• Create a culture of equity by ensuring that FEC team members interface with community members as partners, not clients, and a culture of respect built on the belief that families and communities possess the inherent strengths and knowledge needed to succeed given the right access to opportunities and support

• Maintain consistent communication with the ACS Division of Child and Family Well-Being to discuss progress and ensure that all contractual responsibilities are being adhered to

• Ensure that the FEC is known as an entity separate from the contractor, not marketed as a “program” of the contractor, and that the contractor allows the community to create its own FEC identity

• Leverage additional resources through donations and additional funding opportunities

• Participate and engage FEC team in learning collaboratives facilitated by ACS with other FEC teams from across the city

• Support ongoing quality assurance and quality improvement to assess FEC impact and ensure fidelity to frameworks of equity, co-design, Appreciative Inquiry (AI), and protective factors by working with FEC members, ACS representatives, contracted agency staff, and/or consultants

• Complete other duties as assigned and required

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s Degree and at least three (3) years of relevant experience, or a Bachelor’s Degree and at least five (5) years of relevant experience, or a high school diploma and at least seven (7) years of relevant experience

• Experience should be in a leadership position managing community organizations and/or organizing community driven programs. Experience can be a combination of professional, paid experience or verifiable volunteer experience. Ideal candidates will be from or have deep connection with the community they will be serving

• Flexibility in work hours; be available to work some nights and weekends

• Knowledge of – and commitment to – the Brooklyn community

• Outstanding community organizing, collaboration, and advocacy skills

• Management skills in collaborative team environments that include supporting paid and volunteer team members, managing budgets, and monitoring milestones and outcomes

• Commitment to and ability to implement strategies related to cultural competency, equity, and diversity and inclusion

• Strong interpersonal skills, facilitation skills, and the ability to connect with people with diverse and intersecting identities

• Strong verbal and written communication skills

• Proficient in Google Documents and Google Sheets

• Ability to perform multiple tasks effectively in a fast-paced, challenging, and constantly changing environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to communicate in English, Yiddish, Hebrew, Spanish

• At least five (5) years of experience living and/or working in Brooklyn

• At least two (4) years of experience working with children and families

• Knowledge of one or more of the FEC frameworks (equity, co-design, Appreciative Inquiry, Family Protective Factors) or other frameworks/approaches with similar components

This full-time position 40 hours per week; evening and weekend work may be required and is located in Midwood, Brooklyn. Position includes a competitive benefits package. Ohel is committed to a diverse workforce, and we seek diversity among applicants for this position.

Salary: $70,000-$80,000 Annually