CSA Family Partner

CHILD & FAMILY SERVICES INC•New Bedford, MA

4d•$19 - $23

About The Position

The Family Partner provides support and advocacy to parents and caregivers and facilitates peer support groups for caregivers. Under the supervision and direction of the Senior Family Partner, the role supports families whose youth have behavioral health needs. The Family Partner is directly responsible to the Senior Family Partner and the Program Director of the Community Service Agency. Services are strength-based, culturally and linguistically appropriate, and delivered primarily in person across home and community settings. The Family Partner works collaboratively with families and care teams to develop a family vision and treatment goals, connect families with community resources and providers, and support families in navigating education, healthcare, and other systems. Travel is required to provide services in different settings and attend agency meetings, events, and trainings. Evening and weekend availability is sometimes required.

Requirements

Be an experienced adult who is the parent or caregiver of a youth with a Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED); experience as the parent or caregiver of a youth with mental health needs is preferred.
Understand systems of care.
Be able to work collaboratively with a team.
Have effective interpersonal and communication skills.
Have a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation that meets the CFS Driver Policy.
Travel to provide services in different settings and attend agency meetings, events, and trainings.
Demonstrate cultural competency, including awareness of personal attitudes, beliefs, biases, and assumptions; knowledge of dimensions of diversity; respect and openness toward cultural differences; cultural knowledge of populations served; and the ability to communicate and interact across cultures while helping create an inclusive, equitable, and welcoming environment.

Nice To Haves

Experience as the parent or caregiver of a youth with mental health needs.
Ability to speak Cape Verdean Creole, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Spanish, or ASL; eligible languages receive a $1 per hour language differential.

Responsibilities

Help families understand the scope and services of the CSA and their roles and responsibilities in the program.
Engage parents and caregivers with home and community resources that address goals on the youth’s treatment plan or Individual Care Plan (ICP).
Teach parents and caregivers how to network, make connections, and secure necessary community resources and treatment providers.
Provide home and community mentoring and education to strengthen problem-solving, parenting effectiveness, and communication.
Participate in the youth’s Individual Care Planning Team and develop clear, outlined goals.
Collaborate with the family to create a family vision that serves as a centerpiece for the youth’s treatment plan.
Model and educate families on how to access community resources.
Maintain regular contact with guardians and youth, primarily through in-person, face-to-face meetings scheduled and agreed upon with the family.
Develop a comprehensive narrative assessment of the family in collaboration with them, highlighting family strengths, needs, and cultural identities.
Deliver strength-based, culturally and linguistically appropriate services under the supervision of a Senior Family Partner.
Promote connections with outpatient providers by helping youth and families attend outpatient appointments.
When requested by the family and clinically appropriate, attend and support youth and families at meetings related to the youth’s behavioral health needs and treatment.
Support families in the education system by attending school meetings and participating in the development of school plans and IEPs, and support them in other systems, including courts, state agencies, and community organizations.
Monitor family readiness for transition and satisfaction with CSA services.
Participate in systems of care committee meetings.
Perform other duties as required.

Benefits

Medical insurance through Harvard Pilgrim/HealthPlans Inc.
Dental insurance through Unum.
Vision insurance through EyeMed.
Employee wellness program through Wellworks for You.
Accrued vacation: two weeks over the first year, three weeks after three years, four weeks after five years, and five weeks after 20 years.
12 sick days, 10 paid holidays, and two personal days per year.
Flexible spending accounts for medical expenses and dependent care.
401(k) with employer matching: the first 1% is matched at 100%, and 2%–6% of annual earnings are matched at 50%.
Employer-paid life insurance.
Employer-paid long-term disability and AD&D insurance.
Supplemental/voluntary life, AD&D, accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity insurance available for employees and their families.
Tuition reimbursement up to $1,500 per calendar year.
Professional licensure reimbursement for LICSW and LMHC.
24-hour travel assistance.
Mileage reimbursement.
Discounted Healthtrax gym membership.
Employee appreciation events.