Family Support Specialist - Child First

The Youth Counselor; Hartford (CT); On-site; USD 48,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

The Village in Hartford, CT is seeking a Family Support Specialist for the Child First program. The role provides intensive, home-based case management and mental health services to families with children from prenatal to age six.

Team-based supervision, documentation, and collaboration with schools, medical, and community providers are required. Responsibilities include assessments, treatment planning, and coordination of services, with a focus on attachment and family functioning.

Qualifications

• BA in the human services field or BSW required.
• Three years’ experience in a comparable position in a human services agency preferred but not required.
• Excellent oral and written skills and ability to communicate comfortably with children, parents, and school personnel.
• Organized and able to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Cultural competency to serve targeted populations.
• May be required to maintain valid driver’s license and ability to drive or otherwise obtain transportation to provide services throughout the service area.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office and spreadsheet applications.

Responsibilities

• Provides direct services to children and their families which may include: assessments and engagement.
• Develops treatment plans and contracts for services.
• Implements treatment plans, modifying it as appropriate during the course of treatment.
• Discharge planning with follow-up and connection to community services.
• Provides case management services.
• Works with community groups in collaborative ventures.
• Completes clinical documentation and reports, as required by agency policies and funding sources.
• Develops and maintains collaborative relationships with other community agencies and organizations to provide comprehensive treatment services.

Skills

Oral and written communication

Organization

Cultural competency

Multi-tasking

Driver's license

Education

BA in human services or BSW

Tools

Microsoft Office

Spreadsheet applications

Job description

About us:The Village was one of the first agenciesin the country to provide homes for neglected children. Today, wecontinue to achieve our mission “to build a community of strong,healthy families who protect and nurture children” by providing a fullrange of behavioral health, early childhood and youth development,substance use treatment and support services for children, adults andfamilies in the Greater Hartford, Connecticut region.

Named a Connecticut Top Workplace for six consecutive yearswithnationaldistinction for workplace culture and diversity, equityand inclusion practices, you can be sure you’re joining anorganization that’s just as committed to your success as we are tothose we serve.

Starting salary: $53,000 commensurate with experience

PROGRAM SUMMARY

The children served within the Child First program range in age fromprenatal to six years old. Child First operates from a team approachand consists of a Clinician and Family Support Specialist, both ofwhom participate in sessions and treatment meetings. The FamilySupport Specialist provides intensive home-based case managementservices to children and families, and participates in implementationof treatment plan, modifying as appropriate during the course ofservice. Services provided arein the home, office or host setting,to meet the unique needs of families served.Each team member isprovided weekly individual, team, and group reflective supervision andis responsible for maintaining documentation acccording tolicensing,accreditation, Medicaid, and Child First requirements. Purposes ofservices are to facilitate the attachment relationship between thechild and caregiver, improve family functioning overall, and connectthe child and family with the community and community serviceproviders in a positive way. There is expected consultation and carecoordination with medical and Psychiatric providers if appropriate.Must maintain productivity targets determined by the Scope of Serviceand remain current on all model training requirements.

JOB SUMMARY

TheFamily Support Specialistis responsible forprovision of case management, support services, mental health servicesto children and families, or community programs, in coordination withother agency and community services and documentation of services asrequired by program policies and funding sources. Provides service inthe home, office, or host setting, to meet the unique needs offamilies served.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provides direct services to children and their families which may include:
• Conducts comprehensive assessments and engagement
• Develops treatment plans and contracts for services
• Implements treatment plans, modifying it as appropriate duringthe course of treatment
• Discharge planning, which may include plans for follow uptreatment and connection to community services and programs
• Provides case management services
• Works with community groups in collaborative ventures
• Completes clinical documentation and reports, as well as any otherdocumentation and reports required by agency and program policiesand funding sources, accurately and timely.
• Develops and maintains collaborative relationships with othercommunity agencies and organizations, in order to providecomprehensive and effective treatment services for clients (i.e.,schools, courts, hospitals, etc.).
• Works as a team member with other clinical and administrativestaff to respond to client and programmatic needs.
• Contributes to agency organizational life by participating inagency wide task forces, committees or problem solving teams as appropriate.
• Contributes to agency visibility and development of communitylinkages by representing The Village in community groups orcommittees, as assigned by supervisor.

Experience and Skills

EDUCATION

BA in the human services field or BSW required.

EXPERIENCE

• Three years’ experience in a comparable position in a humanservices agency preferred but not required.
• Excellent oral and written skills and ability to communicatecomfortably with children, parents, and school personnel.
• Organized and able to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Flexible and able to multi-task.
• Cultural competency to serve targeted populations.
• Experience working with inner-city children.
• Commitment to Results/Performance Based Accountability.
• May be required to maintain valid driver’s license and ability todrive or otherwise obtain transportation to provide servicesthroughout the service area.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office and spreadsheet applications.Possess solid general computer skills. Familiarity with specificapplications used by The Village a plus