Children’s Services Coordinator - Domestic Violence Shelter

Equinox is a non-profit human services organization in the Capital Region.

For more than 40 years, Equinox has reached out to people who need us most with innovative and effective programs that truly change lives, allowing us to fulfill our purpose of helping those we serve move forward on their paths to recovery, healing, and independence.

Equinox is Albany County’s primary provider of services for victims of domestic violence. Our Domestic Violence Programs provide safety for victims of Domestic Violence, including the elderly, and offer the support, assistance and tools they need to escape abusive situations and take control of their lives. Domestic Violence Services are available to all victims and their dependent children, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, or sexual orientation.

Position Summary: The Children’s Services Coordinator is responsible for ensuring the needs of children residing in the shelter are met, which includes coordinating with parents, shelter staff and community resources to meet the children’s daily educational, medical, recreational, social and creative needs. The Children’s Services Coordinator is responsible for organizing and implementing daily age-appropriate children's activities, groups and coordinates recreational activities for parents and children.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Completes needs assessments and service plans with parents for children’s needs. Works with parents to alleviate barriers to success.
• Enrolls or re-enrolls children of residents into school immediately upon admission. Coordinates with Homeless/School Liaison.
• Develops and maintains good working relationships with community services. Connects residents to appropriate community services. Assures that local service organizations are aware of the services provided by the shelter.
• Communicates and coordinates with all shelter staff regarding children’s needs.
• Works with individual children and groups of children to provide developmentally appropriate, social and recreational activities and programs.
• Provides information about child development and parenting techniques to parents.
• Ensures parents are informed and compliant with safe sleep practices.
• Provides child care for residents when needed.
• Researches, develops, organizes and maintains program and activity resource file.
• Maintains all toys, games, art and craft supplies at shelter ensuring they are stored properly and safely. Ensures playrooms are maintained and clean.
• Answers the 24 hour hotline, providing telephone counseling, information and referral, conducting shelter intakes, and assists residents of shelter as needed.
• May represent the agency in formal and informal groups related to domestic violence services.
• Enter relevant notations in logs and case notes, communicate resident information to other staff.
• Attend supervision and other meetings as required.
• Reports suspected cases of child abuse/maltreatment as a mandated reporter.
• Acts in accordance with Equinox and Domestic Violence Services Program mission.
• Complete other assigned duties for the enhancement and continuation of programming.