Prevention Family Specialist - Schenectady Intensive Prevention Program

Capital Region Chamber; City of Schenectady (NY); Hybrid; USD 32,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

Together for Youth in Schenectady is seeking a Prevention Family Specialist to preserve family units through in-home counseling, strengthen parenting, and connect families with resources. This role works with the Schenectady County Intensive Prevention Program to prevent out-of-home placement and support reunification, coordinating with schools, healthcare providers, and community agencies.

A Bachelor’s degree and at least one year of experience with at-risk youth and families are required;

Qualifications

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree in human services or related field.
• 1 year of experience working with at-risk youth and families and case management.
• Flexible schedule with variable hours including day, evening, and on-call hours.
• On-call requirement coordinated with Program Coordinator; possible evening/weekend field work.
• Valid Driver’s License with acceptable driving history; travel required.

Responsibilities

• Assess family strengths and needs; identify problem areas and plan resources.
• Develop and implement comprehensive treatment and discharge plans; arrange permanency resources and complete discharge summaries.
• Provide case management; schedule counseling, ensure medical/dental exams, document thoroughly and protect confidentiality.
• Conduct in-home and community visits at least twice a month; build trust and engage youth and families; coordinate with schools and community agencies.
• Maintain relationships with schools and community resource agencies to support the child’s education and well-being.

Skills

Crisis intervention

Communication skills

Flexible schedule

Bilingual (a plus)

On-call coordination

Driving required

Education

Bachelor’s degree in human services or related field

Job description

Prevention Family Specialist - Schenectady Intensive Prevention Program

The Prevention Family Specialist's goal is to preserve the family unit by providing supportive casework counseling in the home and empower parents with tools and resources to ensure children's safety, well-being and permanency while providing advocacy to ensure quality services.

The Schenectady County Intensive Prevention Program is a trauma-informed, strength-based, family-focused program dedicated to preventing out-of-home placement and supporting successful reunification for youth and families involved in the child welfare system. Family Specialists work closely with parents and caregivers to achieve court-ordered and case plan goals, strengthen parenting skills, improve family relationships, and address barriers that impact family stability. Services include parenting education, referrals to mental health and substance use treatment, support with housing and basic needs, coordination with schools and healthcare providers, transportation assistance, and connections to community resources. For families involved in kinship care, foster care, or congregate care placements, staff provide reunification support, visitation coaching, and ongoing services to help prevent future placements.

Pay Rate Range

$23.08 - $24.04/hourly, depending on education and experience

Job Responsibilities

• Conducts assessment of family’s strengths and needs; assesses problem areas and utilizes various treatment modalities and resources to effect growth and change.
• Participates in development, implementation and ongoing evaluation of comprehensive treatment and discharge plan. Develops alternative placement or permanency resources for youth that may not return to their families. Completes a comprehensive discharge summary at least eight weeks prior to discharge.
• Delivers effective case management services, including ensuring counseling sessions are scheduled as needed and children receive required medical and dental examinations. Tracks and monitors services provided, completes all documentation in a timely and comprehensive manner. Ensures compliance with confidentiality standards, parental consent and necessary release of information.
• Conducts casework contacts with families, as needed but at least twice a month, in their homes and community settings to focus on treatment goals. Engages youth and family by developing effective and caring relationship. Ensures children are maintained in safe, secure environment. Develops and maintains relationships with community schools to ensure the best educational experience for each child and with community resource agencies.
• Develops and maintains relationships with community schools to ensure the best educational experience for each child and with community resource agencies.

Job Requirements

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree in human services or related field.
• Must have a minimum of 1 year of experience working with at-risk youth & families and case management.
• Must be able to work a flexible schedule with variable hours including day, evening, and subject to call hours.
• Subject to call: Family Specialist is required to be on call in collaboration with a Program Coordinator. May require evening/weekend field work. On Call is in rotation with the program Family Specialists.

Must have a Valid Driver’s License with acceptable driving history to the Agency, and a reliable vehicle. Travel is required. Ability to coordinate and plan travel for visits and appointments in efficient manner.

• Ability to work with economically and culturally diverse population.
• Skills: Ability to handle crisis intervention in solution focused manner as well as communication skills including written, verbal and listening skills.
• Bilingual is a plus!

Equal Opportunity Employer

Together for Youth is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, military status, sex, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, disability, marital status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive, equitable, and accessible environment where diversity is valued and recognized as a source of strength and enrichment. We seek to attract talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds and cultures.

As a federal contractor, Together for Youth will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

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