Family Support Specialist

Opportunity Alliance; Portland (ME); On-site; USD 30,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Medical benefits

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

403(b) retirement with match

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

The Opportunity Alliance in South Portland, ME is seeking a Family Support Specialist to assist families involved in the Children’s Behavioral Health Home and Wraparound programs. The role emphasizes empowering families, coordinating services, and community engagement.

The FSS works with a care team to provide holistic support, with some paperwork from home and a schedule of 40 hours per week, primarily in the community across York and Cumberland counties.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent is required.
• Experience working with families in behavioral health settings is preferred.
• Ability to engage with youth and families using strengths-based approaches.

Responsibilities

• Provide support to CBHH/Wraparound families to empower their voice and choice.
• Attend service meetings and community activities with families.
• Collaborate with a care team including a coordinator, nurse, and medical/psychiatric consultants.
• Assist with planning and coordinating services to meet family needs.

Skills

Communication skills

Rapport with families

Flexible schedule

Driving

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Family Support Specialist# Careers## Family Support SpecialistApply: South Portland, ME: Full time: Posted 4 Days Ago: JR101057# **Family Support Specialist :**# **Children’s Behavioral Health Home (CBHH)/Wraparound : York County** **Pay range:** $22 - $24/hour CBHH serves Cumberland, York and Androscoggin County, your caseload is built with driving times in mind, so you have more time for clients. This is a team based case management model to include working with a care coordinator, nurse care manager, and medical/psychiatric consultants to provide holistic care coordination for children with mental health and possibly medical needs. The **Family Support Specialist (FSS)** works closely with our Children’s Behavioral Health Home (CBHH) and High-Fidelity Wraparound programs to obtain desired outcomes at the family level. The Children’s Behavioral Health Home is an integrated approach for management of physical and mental health needs. For children with any emotional or behavioral disturbance, it offers a new reference of managed care. This service can also help the child and family access social services, transportation, and other supports. Service planning is accomplished through individual services and natural supports around the child and family, based on their individual needs. The FSS’s primary role is to provide support and assistance to family members who have youth involved in the Children’s Behavioral Health Home by empowering all family members to bring their voice and choice into the process. This support utilizes life experiences to establish relationships, infuse hope, build natural and community supports, and assist with problem solving from a strength-based perspective. The FSS, with families, participates in service meetings, groups, and the community to maximize parent involvement throughout the CBHH and High-Fidelity Wraparound process. The secondary role of the FSS is to serve as a \"values speaker\" within agencies and organizations supporting all individuals to view services through a family's perspective. In this role, the FSP provides consultation to all team members in an effort to increase awareness and improve the effectiveness of family-professional partnerships. The FSS is an individual who has a family member who is receiving or has received services and supports related to the diagnosis of a mental illness, and who is willing to self-identify on this basis with BHH members. Work is performed, reviewed, and evaluated under the supervision of the Director of Youth Services. **Schedule**: Full-time, 40 hours per week, hourly position. Monday – Friday; some evening hours may be required. **Location**: Office is located in South Portland. Work will primarily be performed in the community, serving York and Cumberland county.\\*Ability to do some paperwork from home/remotely. **Qualifications:*** High school diploma or equivalent required.* The FSS must be a family member of a person with complex emotional or medical needs that include involvement with mental health services.* Has completed a designated Maine Office of Child and Family Services curriculum for peer supports and receives and maintains that certification or is willing to complete this certification upon hire.* Familiarity with CBHH and able to provide support according to the values and steps of the process required.* Ability to model strengths-based approaches to problem solving required.* Good communication skills and an ability to establish rapport with families and other Wraparound participants required.* Ability to work a flexible work schedule, including evenings, and weekends required.* Computer proficiency with Microsoft Office and Email is required.* Must be able to successfully pass a criminal background, child protective service check & sex offender check.* Must not be on the state or federal suspension and disbarment list.* Normal office conditions such as sitting, with occasional standing, walking, reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling, crouching, typing and lifting up to 10 pounds.* Driving may be necessary to attend meetings and trainings and for the occasional need to meet with clients offsite and within the program service area. This may include transportation of clients **or** driving to agency location to complete work. *A good driving record is required*. **Benefits**: **Our benefits include but are not limited to:**(offered to full-time and part-time employees)* Generous paid time off accrual* 9 paid holidays per calendar year and up to 3 floating holidays per calendar year* Excellent medical benefits at very reasonable cost* Dental and Vision insurance options* Agency paid basic life insurance and STD & LTD disability insurances* 403(b) retirement with a generous agency match (all employees are eligible)* Tuition Reimbursement – offered once per year through an application process* The Opportunity Alliance (TOA) is a qualified employer under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.To learn more about our benefits please visit, **https://www.opportunityalliance.org/explore-our-benefits****Who we are****...**The Opportunity Alliance is “Helping People Reach for a Brighter Future”.Mission: The Opportunity Alliance works with people to build better lives and stronger communities. We provide advocacy, leadership, and support to identify the goals and address the needs of individuals, families, and communities.The Opportunity Alliance (TOA) is a dynamic, results-focused Community Action Agency providing approximately 50 integrated community-based and clinical programs serving more than 20,000 people annually throughout the state of Maine. With over 50 years of experience, TOA draws from a comprehensive set of programs which address issues such as mental health, substance use, homelessness, lack of basic needs, and access to community supports. Through an extensive array of services, TOA provides opportunities for individuals to stabilize fragile situations and then works with them to achieve self-sufficiency. TOA is client-focused with extensive experience working with diverse client populations. TOA programming includes four key sectors of service:* Mental Health & Wellness* Community Building* Family & Early Childhood Education* Economic Resources \\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_\\_**If you are viewing this posting on a third-party site, please visit our website at**https://opportunityalliance.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/Careers**to apply***.***Please submit a cover letter and resume along with your application.**