Parent Support Specialist: Parenting Support Services- 7356

CHR Career • Norwich, CT

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Parenting Support Services provides 8–10 in-home sessions using an evidence-based curriculum. The program assesses parent-child interactions, applies intervention skills to a range of child and teen behaviors, and uses relationship-enhancement strategies to promote parental autonomy. The work aims to reduce corporal punishment and other coercive parenting strategies while helping parents build more positive relationships with their children.

The Parent Support Specialist provides interventions and case management to families, generally serving an average caseload of 10 families with a maximum average service length of four months per family. The role includes individual and group sessions, community-based client contact, collaboration with DCF workers and permanency teams, and participation in supervision and peer-support meetings. The position offers some schedule flexibility based on client availability, while requiring evening and weekend hours as needed.

Requirements

• Direct experience working with children and families.
• A bachelor's degree in human services or a related field is preferred; alternatively, candidates with an associate's degree and two years of related experience, or a high school diploma and at least four years of related experience, may be considered with an approved funder waiver.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evening and weekend hours as needed.

Nice To Haves

• Experience conducting home-based work with families is preferred.
• Training in Triple P and/or Circle of Security is preferred; training will be provided upon hire if not already completed.

Responsibilities

• Carry an average caseload of 10 families receiving intervention, with an average maximum service length of four months per family.
• Complete the PSS initial assessment within the first two visits and complete other model-specific assessments as required.
• Provide Level 4 Standard Triple P and Level 4 Teen Triple P curriculum interventions in accordance with model fidelity, generally lasting 10–16 sessions of 1–2 hours each.
• Provide Circle of Security Parenting intervention, generally lasting 10–16 sessions of 1–2 hours each, or 8–10 sessions when provided as a group.
• Provide case management consistent with the Wraparound philosophy, including helping families identify and prioritize needs, navigate community resources, create a family budget, select and provide substitute caregivers, connect with services and support systems, and identify transportation options.
• Provide crisis planning to anticipate potential crisis situations and offer assistance.
• Maintain frequent contact with DCF workers regarding the progress of families with open DCF cases.
• Attend Permanency Team meetings for in-home or out-of-home cases.
• Participate in supervision and peer-support meetings as required by the model.
• Work a flexible schedule that meets caregiver needs, including evening and weekend hours as needed.
• Demonstrate competency in age-related or specialty issues and developmental needs for each population served.
• Facilitate parenting groups as well as individual client sessions.
• Meet with clients in their homes or other community settings.

Benefits

• Health insurance.
• Paid time off, including birthday time off.
• Employer contributions to a 403(b) retirement plan.
• Competitive insurance premiums with discounts on pet, home, and auto insurance.
• Tuition reimbursement and professional development programs, including tuition discounts at local colleges and universities.
• Career development opportunities.
• Free training curriculum, including a Clinical Training Series.
• Clinical supervision and/or mentoring in several programs.
• Wellness program, including an annual wellness stipend, a Calm app subscription, and six confidential counseling sessions through the Employee Assistance Program.
• Employee appreciation and involvement activities, including contests, lunch-and-learns, appreciation events, and employee-led resource groups.
• Mileage reimbursement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level