The Bureau of Children, Youth, Families & Developmental Disabilities (CYF-DD) is responsible for planning and monitoring much of NYC's comprehensive network of child and adolescent community mental health services. Grounded in a commitment to equity, the CYF-DD's mission is to promote the mental health of all children, youth and families and to empower individuals with developmental disabilities to lead integrated and fulfilling lives. To achieve this, we work to improve policies, plan and fund services, conduct research and evaluation, support community based partners and connect children and youth to needed services. CYF-DD's Office of Policy and Planning supports the bureau's mission by understanding community needs, conducting mental health and intellectual/developmental disabilities systems-level planning, shaping effective policy changes, and ensuring that program models and initiatives are fiscally viable and responsive to need. DUTIES WILL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO: - Research community planning approaches and best practices to conduct community engagement and facilitate collaborative action planning, including Community-based Participatory Action Research (CBPAR). - Develop and support implementation of a bureau community engagement strategy that includes direct input from youth and family members, such as our Youth Committee on Mental Health. - Analyze and synthesize community feedback for bureau staff to inform further planning decisions. Report findings in the form of written and/or oral summaries, presentations and reports to bureau staff and community stakeholders, including youth and families. - Develop tools to track the bureau's use of and response to community feedback received. - Lead the implementation of the NYC Health Department's Youth Committee on Mental Health to ensure effective collaboration among its youth members and support for its adult allies. - Manage relationships with external vendors and partners working with the bureau to implement community engagement strategies. - Collaborate with the bureau staff and leadership to strengthen the bureau's capacity to implement community engagement best practices. PREFERRED SKILLS: - A minimum of 3-years of experience as project manager of community engagement initiatives including but not limited to CBPAR. - Familiarity with the local mental health system for children and adolescents - Qualitative analytic skills and experience with qualitative analytic software. - Experience with synthesizing and reporting information to various stakeholders including youth and families. - Strong ability to prioritize and manage multiple assignments within tight timelines. - Ability to work in a team environment as well as work independently. - Excellent written, verbal, presentation and interpersonal skills. - Proficiency in Microsoft Suite including Word, Excel and Powerpoint. - Loan Forgiveness: As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal/state loan forgiveness and repayment assistance programs that lessen your payments or even fully forgive your full balance. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education's website (https://studentaid.gov/pslf/) - Benefits: City employees are entitled to unmatched benefits such as: o a premium-free health insurance plan that saves employees over $10K annually, per a 2024 assessment. o additional health, fitness, and financial benefits may be available based on the position's associated union/benefit fund. o a public sector defined benefit pension plan with steady monthly payments in retirement. o a tax-deferred savings program and o a robust Worksite Wellness Program that offers resources and opportunities to keep you healthy while serving New Yorkers. - Work From Home Policy: Depending on your position, you may be able to work up to two days during the week from home. - Job Security - you could enjoy more job security compared to private sector employment and be able to contribute to making NYC a healthy place to live and work. CITY RESEARCH SCIENTIST - 21744 Qualifications 1. For Assignment Level I (only physical, biological and environmental sciences and public health) A master's degree from an accredited college or university with a specialization in an appropriate field of physical, biological or environmental science or in public health. To be appointed to Assignment Level II and above, candidates must have: 1. A doctorate degree from an accredited college or university with specialization in an appropriate field of physical, biological, environmental or social science and one year of full-time experience in a responsible supervisory, administrative or research capacity in the appropriate field of specialization; or 2. A master's degree from an accredited college or university with specialization in an appropriate field of physical, biological, environmental or social science and three years of responsible full-time research experience in the appropriate field of specialization; or 3. Education and/or experience which is equivalent to "1" or "2" above. However, all candidates must have at least a master's degree in an appropriate field of specialization and at least two years of experience described in "2" above. Two years as a City Research Scientist Level I can be substituted for the experience required in "1" and "2" above. NOTE: Probationary Period Appointments to this position are subject to a minimum probationary period of one year.