Family Support Specialist

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 full-time 40 hours per week Family Support Specialist. This position will be located at 255 Bank St. Waterbury, CT. (Mon-Fri 9:00am – 5:00pm).

Compensation: The salary range for this position starts at $20.00 per hour.

Compensation 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.

Position Summary: Provides support, education, and intervention in the home, community or office setting to assist caregivers in optimizing functioning in order to minimize family risk factors. Family Support Specialists (FSS) will work independently and part of a team in a solution-focused manner to help families develop the skills necessary to ensure a safe and secure home environment for their children. Such tasks may include, supporting families to access basic needs, household organization, parenting strategies and attachment, support around mental health and substance use challenges and reintegration of the children back into the family. FSS candidates should have a passion for supporting families outside of a traditional behavioral health office setting, ability to independently problem-solve in times of crisis, flexibility in scheduling, strong decision-making and organizational/documentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Implement responsibilities set by specific scope of service.
• Conduct thorough assessments based on program responsibilities.
• Provides short-term case management services, advocacy, and linkages to services.
• Develop an understanding of parenting skills, child development and caregiver/child attachment.
• Develops, implements, and reviews on an ongoing basis targeted treatment/service plans.
• Maintains appropriate caseload as determined by CMHA and funders.
• Collaborates with community providers and funders as needed.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Benefits

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 calm app
• Annual Company Picnic
• CMHA-sponsored Loan Reimbursement Program and Scholarship Program

Free 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 repayment

Public 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 forgiveness

Community Mental Health Affiliates is an Affirmative Action and 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, sec, 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 View email address on jobradars.com ID#460

Qualifications

Education

Bachelor’s Degree preferred in behavioral health (Social work, Human service or related field). Relevant experience equal to a bachelors’ degree will be considered.

Credentials And Licenses

• Valid CT driver’s license and ability to provide own transportation.
• Certified in BMT, First Aid, and CPR.
• Accredited Triple P Parent Educator (all training provided).

Experience

• Successful experience working with children and families in child welfare, daycare, school settings; preferably a minimum of three years.
• Beginner to intermediate experience with Microsoft Office products including Word and Outlook.
• Experience in or the ability to learn how to use an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system; which includes appointment scheduling, authorization tracking, assessments, treatment plans, progress notes, and discharge summaries.
• Ability to learn and use date collection systems to help increase compliance with funders.

Competencies

• Effective interpersonal skills, ability to problem solve and use good judgment.
• Flexibility and ability to adapt creatively to stressful situations.
• Awareness/sensitivity to all types of issues related to client diversity.
• Ability to ensure the security and confidentiality of client information and records in a manner consistent with professional and CMHA codes of ethics.
• Strong organization abilities.
• Strong and effective written and verbal communication skills.