Family Unification Specialist

Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch, Inc.; Missoula (MT); On-site; USD 28,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch, Inc. in Missoula, MT is seeking Family Unification Specialists to support families in crisis and those involved with Child and Family Services.

Positions may be part-time or full-time, with a starting hourly wage between $20.38 and $22.94 depending on education and experience. The role emphasizes reunification, safety, documentation, and collaboration with state agencies, judges, and the community.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in human services or mental health-related field.
• Two years of experience with youth, families, or child protective services.
• License to operate a passenger vehicle.
• 21 years old or older.
• Ability to engage individuals with mental health, chemical dependency issues, or disabilities.
• Understanding of family systems, divorce/separation and related dynamics.
• Good computer skills and ability to learn agency software.

Responsibilities

• Provide identified Child Welfare Prevention and Support Services to families as assigned by the immediate supervisor.
• Support families through ongoing coaching, training, and monitoring for safety while providing educational, emotional, and community support systems, risk assessment, and confidentiality to maintain a healthy relationship conducive to client growth through the reunification process (including supervised visitation).
• Complete training as assigned by immediate supervisor to enhance services offered through the CWPSS program, such as Visit Coaching.
• Complete, update and maintain documentation within COA, MT ARM's, Contracts, and YBGR Policy and Procedures.
• Be a professional representative of YBGR to all DPHHS partners and judicial court representatives.
• Contribute to the agency's strategic goals and PQI outcomes; participate as a team member.
• Adhere to policies, safety requirements, and procedures.
• Identify problems and seek solutions; be a professional representative to outside stakeholders.
• Participate in monthly supervision/coaching meetings with the supervisor.
• Be aware of cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of those served.
• Engage in required training relevant to the position.
• Participate in emergency on-call rotation as assigned.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Listening and communication

Problem-solving

Teamwork

Computer skills

Verbal and written communication

Education

Bachelor's Degree in human services or mental health-related field

Experience + education substitution considered

Tools

First Aid/CPR Certification

Violence Intervention Prevention Certification

Job description

Position Summary: At Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch, we count on our Family Unification Specialist(s) to support a trauma-informed environment. They are primarily responsible for providing services to families in crisis, who are involved with Child and Family Services, or during a divorce or parenting plan. Family Unification Specialists will provide services to families both in and out of the client's home. A Family Unification Specialist will support the approach that in most cases, reunification is in the children’s best interest when the home and parents are safe. They must be mission and values-driven and possess a strong work ethic, reliability, and desire to be a positive role model in our youth and families' lives. There are both part-time and full-time Family Unification Specialists positions available in Missoula.

Starting Salary Range

Full Time Positions: $20.38 - $22.94 per hour. Salary reflects steps 1-5 of an 11-step pay schedule. The starting salary will be determined based on the applicant’s education and relevant experience.

Part-Time Positions: $19.21 - $21.62 per hour. Salary reflects steps 1-5 of an 11-step pay schedule. The starting salary will be determined based on the applicant’s education and relevant experience.

Daily And Monthly Responsibilities

• Provide identified Child Welfare Prevention and Support Services to families as assigned by the immediate supervisor.
• Support families through ongoing coaching, training, and monitoring for safety while providing educational, emotional, and community support systems, risk assessment, and confidentiality to maintain a healthy relationship conducive to client growth through the reunification process (including supervised visitation).
• Complete training as assigned by immediate supervisor to enhance services offered through the CWPSS program, such as Visit Coaching.
• Complete, update and maintain all necessary documentation within the guidelines set by COA, Montana ARM's, Contracts, and YBGR Policy and Procedures.
• Be a professional representative of YBGR to all DPHHS partners, and judicial court representatives.
• Contribute to the strategic goals and outcomes of the agency as measured by the development and achievement of individual, departmental, and organizational goals and outcomes. Participate in Performance Quality Improvement (PQI) goals of the organization both individually and as a team member.
• Deal constructively and helpfully with all other members of the organization.
• Fully support and model the mission and values of YBGR.
• Adhere to all policies, systems, safety requirements, and procedures of the organization.
• Take the initiative to identify problems and seek out solutions.
• Be a professional representative of the organization to those outside it.
• Participate and engage in monthly supervision/coaching meetings with the supervisor.
• Be aware of the cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of the persons served.
• Participate in required training as appropriate to the position and beneficial to YBGR.
• Participate in emergency on-call rotation as assigned by supervisor.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's Degree from an accredited university in a human services or mental health related field of study.
• A combination of previous professional experience and formal education from an accredited university may be considered in lieu of degree.
• 21 years old or older
• Previous Professional Experience: A minimum of two years of experience working with youth, families, or child protective services.
• License and/or Certification: License to operate passenger vehicle
• Competencies or Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA's)
• Demonstrated knowledge working with families in the following areas: divorce/separation, family break ups, parenting skills, child abuse and neglect and correlated problems, child development, low income and cultural issues, as well as an understanding of out-of-home placement issues.
• Understand the role of the family and family system, whether the family is biological, kinship, state foster care, or therapeutic foster care.
• Must be able to engage individuals suffering from mental health, chemical dependency issues, physical and/or mental disabilities. Shall demonstrate personal characteristics such as being non-judgmental, compassionate, and can establish and maintain a trusting relationship with clients and outside stakeholders.
• Good computer skills and able to quickly learn and use YBGR selected software solutions.
• Good judgment and decision-making skills
• Obtain and maintain certification in First Aid/CPR and Violence Intervention Prevention
• Display regular, predictable, and reliable attendance at work
• Adept at listening, problem-solving, and teamwork
• Ability to communicate effectively, verbally, and in writing
• Criminal / Child Abuse Clearance: Must pass criminal record and child abuse registry background check as required by the State of Montana.