Family Support Specialist
About The Position
The Family Support Specialist (FSS) works with the Children’s Behavioral Health Home (CBHH) and High-Fidelity Wraparound programs to support family-level outcomes for youth with mental health and potentially medical needs. CBHH uses an integrated approach to coordinate physical and mental health care and help children and families access social services, transportation, and other supports. Service planning is based on individual needs and may involve both formal services and natural supports. The FSS supports family members of youth involved in CBHH by helping them bring their voice and choice into the process. Drawing on lived experience, the FSS builds relationships and hope, helps develop natural and community supports, and assists with strengths-based problem solving. The FSS participates with families in service meetings, groups, and community activities to encourage parent involvement throughout the CBHH and High-Fidelity Wraparound process. In a secondary role, the FSS acts as a “values speaker” within agencies and organizations, offering consultation to team members to promote understanding of services from a family’s perspective and improve 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 to BHH members. The position is supervised by the Director of Youth Services. It is a full-time, 40-hour-per-week hourly position, Monday through Friday, with some evening hours and flexibility to work evenings and weekends. 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. Driving may be required for meetings, trainings, occasional off-site client meetings, transportation of clients, or travel to an agency location.
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 the certification, or be willing to complete it upon hire.
- Familiarity with CBHH and ability to provide support according to its values and 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 a state or federal suspension and disbarment list.
- Good driving record.
Responsibilities
- Support family-level outcomes in the Children’s Behavioral Health Home and High-Fidelity Wraparound programs.
- Empower family members to bring their voice and choice into the service process.
- Use lived experience to build relationships, infuse hope, develop natural and community supports, and assist with strengths-based problem solving.
- Participate with families in service meetings, groups, and community activities to maximize parent involvement.
- Serve as a “values speaker” by consulting with team members and helping agencies view services from a family’s perspective.
- Support stronger family-professional partnerships and improve their effectiveness.
- Complete required paperwork and travel to meetings, trainings, and occasional off-site client meetings as needed.
Benefits
- Generous paid time off accrual.
- Nine paid holidays per calendar year and up to three floating holidays per calendar year.
- Medical benefits at a 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.
- Qualified employer under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Education Level
High school or GED
