Prevention Family Specialist - Schenectady Intensive Prevention Program
About The Position
The Prevention Family Specialist works to preserve family units by providing supportive casework counseling in homes and empowering parents with tools and resources to promote children’s safety, well-being, and permanency. The role also advocates for families to ensure they receive quality services. The Schenectady County Intensive Prevention Program is trauma-informed, strength-based, and family-focused, with the aim of preventing out-of-home placement and supporting successful reunification for youth and families involved in the child welfare system. Family Specialists work with parents and caregivers to meet court-ordered and case plan goals, strengthen parenting skills, improve family relationships, and address barriers to family stability. Services may include parenting education; referrals to mental health and substance use treatment; assistance with housing and basic needs; coordination with schools and healthcare providers; transportation support; and connections to community resources. For families involved in kinship care, foster care, or congregate care placements, the role provides reunification support, visitation coaching, and ongoing services to help prevent future placements. This position is based at the Capital Region Office in Albany, New York, with travel of up to 50%. The schedule is listed as day shift, with flexible variable hours that may include evenings, on-call hours, and occasional weekend field work.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in human services or a related field.
- At least one year of experience working with at-risk youth and families and in case management.
- Ability to work a flexible schedule with variable hours, including day, evening, and on-call hours; evening or weekend field work may be required.
- Valid driver’s license with driving history acceptable to the Agency.
- Reliable vehicle and ability to travel for work.
- Ability to work with economically and culturally diverse populations.
- Ability to handle crisis intervention in a solution-focused manner.
- Written, verbal, and listening communication skills.
Nice To Haves
- Bilingual ability.
Responsibilities
- Assess families’ strengths, needs, and problem areas, and use treatment modalities and resources to support growth and change.
- Participate in developing, implementing, and evaluating comprehensive treatment and discharge plans.
- Develop alternative placement or permanency resources for youth who may not return to their families.
- Complete a comprehensive discharge summary at least eight weeks before discharge.
- Provide case management, including scheduling counseling sessions as needed and ensuring children receive required medical and dental examinations.
- Track and monitor services and complete documentation in a timely and comprehensive manner.
- Ensure compliance with confidentiality standards, parental consent requirements, and necessary releases of information.
- Conduct casework contacts with families in their homes and community settings as needed, and at least twice per month, focusing on treatment goals.
- Engage youth and families by developing effective, caring relationships.
- Help ensure children are maintained in a safe, secure environment.
- Develop and maintain relationships with community schools to support each child’s educational experience and with community resource agencies.
- Coordinate and plan travel efficiently for visits and appointments.
- Participate in the on-call rotation in collaboration with a Program Coordinator.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
