Family Advocate

The Jewish Board•Bronx, NY

11d

About The Position

The Youth Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) program works to improve significant functional impairments and severe symptoms experienced by youth due to mental illness or serious emotional disturbance. Clinical and rehabilitative interventions also focus on strengthening family functioning, supporting health and stability, and helping youth reintegrate when returning home after residential treatment or inpatient hospitalization. The multidisciplinary team provides family-driven, youth-guided, developmentally appropriate services addressing youth needs across family, school, medical, behavioral, psychosocial, and community domains. The Youth ACT Family Advocate works with the multidisciplinary team to provide treatment and support to families and children ages 10 through 21 who have significant behavioral health needs and are at risk of entering or returning home from high-end services. The role includes advocacy, education, family skill development, resource identification, and progress documentation. Services are provided in family or youth homes, the community, and the office, with most work taking place in the community.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalency.
Specialty credentialing in advocacy; this may be obtained during the probationary period.
Lived experience parenting a child or adolescent with a serious emotional disturbance and/or lived experience of mental health challenges.
Ability to work with a diverse population across social, cultural, and economic groups.
Background in mental health advocacy and/or the educational system.
Prior experience with electronic health records and Microsoft Office.
Excellent engagement skills.
Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Attention to detail.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Ability to read paper and electronic documents and perform significant data entry in computer programs.
Manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination to travel independently using public transportation.
Ability to travel throughout the assigned borough and occasionally throughout New York City, carrying work equipment weighing up to approximately 10 pounds.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual ability, such as Spanish.

Responsibilities

Advocate with providers across the child-serving system to raise awareness, reduce stigma, engage families, and coordinate services.
Educate families about self-help techniques and self-help group processes.
Provide psychoeducation to family members, caregivers, or social supports.
Provide individual or group parent skill development related to the behavioral health needs of the child or youth.
Teach effective coping strategies based on personal experience and assist in developing community support systems.
Identify culturally affirming formal services and informal resources for families experiencing social-emotional, behavioral, or mental health challenges.
Help families identify challenges, strengths, and areas for improvement or goals.
Monitor and document family progress in accordance with agency and regulatory policies.
Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings, staff meetings, training, and supervision.
Maintain professional behavior and ethical standards established by the licensing board, relevant professional association, and Jewish Board policies and procedures.
Use an electronic database to document demographic data, family goals, and services provided.
Provide services in the family’s home, youth’s home, community, or office.
Perform additional duties as assigned.