Therapeutic Mentor

Centerstone•Fort Myers, FL

1d•$15 - $21

About The Position

The FST (Family Support Team): A multi-disciplinary clinical team consisting of a therapist, therapeutic mentor, and case manager that provides comprehensive, intensive community-based treatment to families with children aged 5-17 who have significant emotional and/or behavioral issues that puts them at risk for out-of-home placement. The primary focus of FST is to do intensive family work in order to mend family bonds and keep children in the home. Services provided: - Brief Strategic Family Therapy - Therapeutic mentoring - Case Management Service area: - Lee County - Collier County The Parenting Partner/Mentor provides active, hands-on peer support to a caseload of parent/caregivers of children and youth receiving services. The FST mentor works with children on-on-one to develop life skills, build success in school, and reach therapeutic goals. Parenting partner/Mentor support may be delivered in individual or group settings at the agency, in family homes, or in community environments. The role of the Parenting Partner/Mentor is to provide peer support but also to work collaboratively to support systems change by increasing family involvement and decreasing unintentional, bias about parents. Provides guidance based on a combination of evidence-based/evidence-informed training and personal firsthand experience and lived expertise. Empowering and coaching parents through the process with DCF, child Welfare, the courts, and other family centered community partners is an important aspect of this work.

Requirements

Ability to maintain and manage confidential information
Strong attention to detail and accuracy
Must have direct current or previous life experiences as the biological, kin, foster or adoptive parent of a youth with complex needs and receiving community mental health services, child welfare, and/or juvenile justice system.
Have tolerance and respect for individual differences, opinions, and perspectives.
Be respectful of low-income families, as well as have a good understanding of different socioeconomic populations.
Ability to work independently, and exercise ethical and swift judgment during times of crisis.
Knowledge of/linkages with diverse populations, key community stakeholders, and populations with/at risk for trauma.
Public speaking experience, excellent organizational skills, strong communication and writing skills,.
Creative problem-solving skills, and ability to coordinate multiple tasks.
Must value cultural differences, work independently and/or as a member of a team, problem solve, and be genuinely interested in working with survivors of trauma.
Must be able to travel up to 50% of the time.
High school diploma or GED required.
Experience in providing education, outreach, and collaboration with community stakeholders is required.
Must have experience working with communities of color and other underserved populations.

Responsibilities

Provide support and assistance to parents in meeting the physical, emotional, and educational needs of their children.
Work with and model for the entire family a positive, sensitive, non-judgmental manner of relating.
Assist the team in understanding the parent’s perspective, culture, and beliefs in a way that increases understanding by others while decreasing differences and highlighting similarities.
Assess and prioritize needs of a parent regarding parenting tasks or sources of self-confidence. Some examples include: Providing information on child development and parenting skills Assisting a parent in acquiring practical/organizational skills (i.e., budgeting, utilizing resources.
Assist a parent in developing their own interests and personal goals Providing information that assists the parents’ understanding of their child’s developmental needs, promotes positive parenting, and develops the parent/child relationship.
Teach problem solving skills to manage crises
Maintain appropriate documentation that outlines the services provided to the family.
Present workshops to parents and other groups
Serve on committees with project stakeholders, and serve as the parents’ voice
Coordinate with parent resource centers and provide them with special ed information and with trainings for parents
Attends IEP and school meetings as requested by the caregivers or team members.
Accompany parent into community for meetings and forums.
Coordinating with other agencies, groups and project stakeholders
Researching information needed by the parent/family
Facilitating webinars or trainings for parents/caregivers, including trauma-informed, evidence based parenting curriculum.