FIT Family Partner

Our Open • Somerville, MA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

When you join The Home for Little Wanderers, you join a team of professionals dedicated to creating better, brighter futures for kids. For over 200 years, The Home for Little Wanderers has helped build stable lives and hopeful tomorrows for vulnerable children and their families. Our 25+ community-based and residential programs serve thousands of at-risk youths from birth to age 26. Many of these children have experienced abuse, neglect, trauma, or a disrupted family life. As the oldest child welfare agency in America, we provide them with safe surroundings, permanent loving relationships, and a secure path toward a better, brighter future. To learn more about the incredible impact our employees have on the lives of children and families, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXedSArtYbg

How You Will Be Making a Difference
Under the direction of the Program Director and Senior Fit Clinician, the FIT Family Partner provides support to youth under the age of 21 with a Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED) SUD, ASD, IDD and their families under the CBHI framework. The FIT Family Partner uses their lived experience as a parent or caregiver of a child with emotional, behavioral, mental health needs to support caregiver to navigate systems to improve skill building, emotional regulation, and advocacy. The FIT Family Partner works closely with the FIT clinician and FIT paraprofessional to help implement identified tasks on the youth/family’s treatment plan.

Requirements

• Personal experience as a parent/caregiver navigating child, family, or behavioral health systems, including advocating for family members.
• Computer literate with the ability to learn new software applications
• Excellent written and communication skills
• Required to operate a vehicle with a valid driver’s license and satisfactory driving record.
• Required to have access to a personal vehicle for work.
• May be required to transport clients
• Bachelor's degree in a human services field and one (1) year working with target population preferred OR Associates degree in a human service field and one (1) year working with children/adolescents/transition age youth OR High school diploma or HiSet and a minimum of two (2) years of experience working with children/adolescents/transition age youth; and experience navigating any of the child and family-serving systems and supporting family members who are involved with the child and family serving systems

Nice To Haves

• Preferably knowledgeable about the communities we serve
• Fluency in a second language (e.g. Spanish, Haitian Creole) is a plus
• Experience with CBHI services preferred but not required
• Knowledge of trauma-informed care service delivery and family systems theory preferred

Responsibilities

• Provide caregivers with tools to build advocacy and navigate community resources and larger child-serving systems.
• Support caregivers with advocating for the needs of their youth
• Coach families on how to implement effective strategies to address emotional, behavioral, mental health needs
• Provide education around child development, parenting strategies, mental health and trauma
• Connect families to resources in their community to address the identified needs
• Participate in monthly meetings facilitated by the FIT clinician
• Complete progress notes in the electronic health record system
• Maintain regular communication with FIT team regarding status updates on progress and challenges
• Collaborate with CBHI service, emergency provider, families and other relevant supports identified by the family
• Provide coaching in support of decision-making in both crisis and non-crisis situations
• Work with assigned youth and family 3-5 times weekly managing a caseload of 5-6 families
• Participates in individual, dyad, and group supervision, weekly supervision, and regular staff meetings and training as required.
• Other duties as assigned

Benefits

• Generous time off including up to 15 days per year for new full-time employees, plus 11 holidays, and 5 sick days
• Health, Dental and Vision Insurance available
• Extensive training to new staff
• Tuition reimbursement of up to $3,000 per fiscal year
• 403(b) Retirement Plan with employer match
• Employer paid Long-term and Short-term Disability Insurance, plus Basic Life and AD&D Insurance
• And more!

What This Job Offers

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