Child and Family Support Specialist - School Based

Community Mental Health Affiliates Inc; Town Plot Hill (CT); On-site; USD 23,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance

403(b) retirement plan with CMHA match

Paid holidays and wellbeing days

PTO and sick leave

Job summary

Community Mental Health Affiliates, Inc. (CMHA) is seeking a School-Based SBS Child and Family Support Specialist to work on-site in Waterbury and New Britain, CT.

The role provides case management and crisis intervention to students and families, coordinating with schools and social services to support behavioral, emotional, and social development. The CFSS works within a multidisciplinary team, assisting with treatment planning, referrals, and wrap-around services, while maintaining thorough

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in social work or related counseling field required.
• CT driver’s license and ability to provide own transportation.
• Certified in Mandt, First Aid and CPR (or obtained within three months of hire)
• Bilingual/Bicultural preferred (English/Spanish/Portuguese) and knowledge of cultural values, traditions, and practices of the communities we serve.
• Minimum of 1 year of experience working with youth with social/emotional/behavioral difficulties or related internship/education to compensate for lack of experience.

Responsibilities

• Respond to students’ social and emotional needs on-site at assigned schools alongside staff.
• Facilitate debriefing for staff, students, and caregivers after behavioral incidents.
• Support transitions back to school after crises or disciplinary actions.
• Provide case management services, communicating with schools, pediatricians, DCF, juvenile court, and other agencies.
• Provide crisis intervention to child and family in home, office or community as needed.
• Collaborate with CMHA clinical team to ensure wrap-around services are coordinated.
• Maintain timely documentation per CMHA policies (progress notes, treatment plans, logs, etc.).

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Verbal and written communication

Problem solving

Flexibility

Cultural sensitivity

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in social work or related counseling field

Tools

Microsoft Office

EMR system

Word

Outlook

Job description

Why CMHA?Community Mental Health Affiliates, Inc. (CMHA) is a private non-profit treatment provider headquartered in New Britain, with seven locations throughout the city and in Waterbury. We partner with clients and the community to promote recovery from mental illness and substance use, treating more than 7,500 adults and children each year. CMHA is Connecticut’s first fully Joint Commission accredited Behavioral Health Home and is a SAMHSA Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC). Visit cmhacc.org to learn more.Internal mobility and career pathing is a focus at CMHA with many employees growing from individual contributors to leaders.CMHA is looking to hire a Child and Family Support Specialist- School Based. This position will be located at Waterbury and New Britain.Compensation Range: The salary range for this position starts at $20.00 per hourCompensation for each position is determined not only by years of relevant experience, education, and skills, but also by maintaining internal pay equity. CMHA also takes into consideration our benefits and paid time-off package to provide a well-rounded and competitive approach to the applicant’s overall compensation.Summary: The SBS Child and Family Support Specialist (SBS-CFSS) serves as an active member of a multidisciplinary team that provides assistance and support to facilitate client’s behavioral, emotional and social development and learning in school and within the community. This includes co-facilitation of daily social and emotional support interventions to decrease recurrence of behavioral health related issues and absenteeism. The CFSS will also provide case management services to students and their families, both in school and in the community, who are in need of additional wrap-around support. Case management services may include treatment planning, advocacy, linkage, referrals, and crisis intervention.Essential Responsibilities and Target Outcomes:•While on-site at assigned schools, case manager will respond to students’ social and emotional needs when it is appropriate to intervene alongside school staff.•Facilitate debriefing for school staff, students, and their caregivers when appropriate following a behavioral incidence at school that may or may not have resulted in disciplinary outcomes or crisis interventions for the student.•Support students and their caregivers as well as school staff with transitioning student back to school following a behavioral health-related crisis intervention (i.e., ED visit, hospital admission) or disciplinary outcome (i.e., suspension).•Provides case management services, such as communicating with schools, pediatricians, DCF, juvenile court, and other social service agencies•Supports client’s recovery plan goals•Provides crisis intervention to child and family in the home, office or community if need arises.•Provides case management services, advocacy, and assistance to clients with linkage to services.•Collaborates with integrated CMHA clinical team to ensure all services provided are communicated with whole team to be an effective wrap around model.•Assures timely documentation is maintained in accordance with CMHA policies and procedures, including but not limited to progress notes, treatment plans, authorizations, program orientation, consent to treat, activity logs, and monthly targeted case management notes.•Maintains appropriate caseload as determined by CMHA and funder•Performs other related duties as assigned.Principal Customers: Students grades K-12 in contracted public school districts and their familiesEducation: Bachelor’s Degree in social worker or related counseling field required.Credentials and Licenses:•Valid CT driver’s license and ability to provide own transportation.•Certified in Mandt, First Aid and CPR (or obtained within three months of hire)•Bilingual/Bicultural preferred (English/Spanish/Portuguese) and knowledge of cultural values, traditions, and practices of the communities we serve.•Experience working with children and family systemsExperience:•Minimum of 1 year of experience working with youth with social/emotional/behavioral difficulties; or comparable education and/or internship experience within a human service-related bachelor’s level program to compensate for lack of work experience.•Beginner to intermediate experience Microsoft Office products including Word and Outlook. Experience in, or the ability to learn how to use an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system to which includes appointment scheduling, authorization tracking, assessments, treatment plans, progress notes, and discharge summaries.Competencies: Behavioral Skill Sets:•Effective interpersonal skills, ability to problem solve, use good judgment and work independently•Flexibility and ability to adapt creatively to stressful situations•Awareness/sensitivity to all types of issues related to client diversity•Strong organizational abilities and verbal and written communication skills•Ability to ensure the security and confidentiality of client information and records in a manner consistent with professional and CMHA codes of ethics.We care about our employees by offering benefits that strike a harmonious work-life balance. We also care about your future. CMHA offers:•Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance packages•403(b)-retirement savings plan with CMHA matching starting after 1 year of service•11 observed holidays•3 Wellbeing days off on a Friday throughout the year to extend a long weekend•2 CHMA/Personal days to use throughout the calendar year•Up to 24 days of PTO that increases with years of service•Paid agency closure between Christmas and New Year’s (except 24/7 programs) *must be approved annually•Company paid Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability•A comprehensive Employee Assistance Program (EAP) that offers counseling, coaching, and wellness resources for staff as well as members of their household•Higher education tuition discounts at participating schools through the Alliance’s academic partnerships•Free ongoing professional development opportunities and continuous access to Continuing Education Units (CEUs), featuring comprehensive training in Evidence-Based Practices, such as EMDR, DBT, and CBT.•Employee discounts for shopping, the New Britain YMCA, travel, and entertainment•Free employee subscriptions to the Wellable app•Annual Company Picnic•CMHA-sponsored Loan Reimbursement Program and Scholarship ProgramFree Student Loan Wellness for eligible employees and their family members access to:•Student loan consolidation and refinancing•Loan payoff projection dashboard•Coaching and support via chat, email, and phone•College cost calculator•College financial planning•3 NHSC-approved sites for federal student loan repaymentPublic Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Enhancement for eligible employees' access to:•Automated Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) form management for past and present employers•Automated reminders for annual (PSLF) recertifications to help you stay on track•Resources and ongoing communications that make PSLF understandable•The opportunity to receive the national average of $72,000.00 in forgivenessCommunity Mental Health Affiliates is an Equal Opportunity Employer except in the case of a bon fide occupation qualification or as otherwise permitted or required by law, does not discriminate of the basis of race, color, age, disability, sex, childbirth (including pregnancy) or related medical condition including by not limited to lactation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, religion, national origin, ancestry, marital or familiar status, genetic information, status with regard to public assistance, citizenship status or any other characteristic protected by applicable equal employment opportunity laws.Any individual needing assistance in completing an online application should contact CMHA's Human Resources Department at [e-mail].