Family Support Specialist

The Opportunity Alliance • South Portland, ME

10d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Family Support Specialist (FSS) works with the Children’s Behavioral Health Home (CBHH) and High-Fidelity Wraparound programs to support families and help achieve desired outcomes. CBHH uses an integrated approach to coordinate children’s physical and mental health needs and connect children and families with social services, transportation, and other supports. Service planning draws on individual services and natural supports based on each family’s needs.

The FSS’s primary role is to support family members of youth involved in CBHH by empowering them to contribute their voice and choices. Drawing on lived experience, the FSS builds relationships, fosters hope, helps develop natural and community supports, and assists with strength-based problem solving. In partnership with families, the FSS participates in service meetings, groups, and community activities to maximize parent involvement in CBHH and High-Fidelity Wraparound.

The FSS also serves as a “values speaker” within agencies and organizations, helping team members understand services from a family’s perspective and strengthening family-professional partnerships. The FSS must have a family member who is receiving or has received services and supports related to a mental illness diagnosis and be willing to self-identify this connection to CBHH members.

This is a full-time, hourly position scheduled for 40 hours per week, generally Monday through Friday. Some evening and weekend work may be required. The office is in South Portland, while work is primarily performed in the community serving York and Cumberland counties. Some paperwork may be completed remotely. The position may require driving to meetings and trainings, meeting clients offsite, transporting clients, or traveling to an agency location to complete work. Work is performed under the supervision of the Director of Youth Services.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Be a family member of a person with complex emotional or medical needs that include involvement with mental health services.
• Complete the designated Maine Office of Child and Family Services curriculum for peer supports and maintain certification, or be willing to complete the certification upon hire.
• Familiarity with CBHH and ability to provide support according to the values and steps of the process.
• Ability to model strengths-based approaches to problem solving.
• Good communication skills and ability to establish rapport with families and other Wraparound participants.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends.
• Computer proficiency with Microsoft Office and email.
• Successfully pass criminal background, child protective service, and sex offender checks.
• Must not be on the state or federal suspension and disbarment list.
• Good driving record.

Responsibilities

• Support family members of youth involved in CBHH and empower them to bring their voice and choices into the process.
• Use lived experience to build relationships, foster hope, develop natural and community supports, and assist with strength-based problem solving.
• Participate with families in service meetings, groups, and community activities to maximize parent involvement in CBHH and High-Fidelity Wraparound.
• Serve as a “values speaker” within agencies and organizations, offering a family perspective on services.
• Consult with team members to increase awareness and improve the effectiveness of family-professional partnerships.
• Drive to meetings and trainings, meet with clients offsite, and, when needed, transport clients or travel to an agency location to complete work.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off accrual.
• 9 paid holidays per calendar year and up to 3 floating holidays per calendar year.
• Medical benefits at reasonable cost.
• Dental and vision insurance options.
• Agency-paid basic life insurance and short- and long-term disability insurance.
• 403(b) retirement plan with an agency match; all employees are eligible.
• Tuition reimbursement offered once per year through an application process.
• The Opportunity Alliance is a qualified employer under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: High school or GED