Family Response Team

Job Description

Job Description

FLSA: Non-exempt  

DEPARTMENT:  Housing Services

JOB OVERVIEW:                                                                                                               

The Family Response Team Member (FRT) acts as the first point of contact within the Family Solutions Center (FSC) and provides screening, triage, crisis intervention, access to crisis housing, and transportation services to homeless families in SPA 7.  The FRT quickly screens all homeless families referred, diverts families from the shelter system, connects homeless families to crisis housing and addresses families’ immediate needs.  The FRT is responsible for assisting families navigate the homeless system from receipt of referral to acceptance into appropriate permanent housing programs.

The purpose of the FRT is to assist families in achieving transitional housing and access medical, educational, social, prevocational, rehabilitative, or other needed community services for eligible clients and families who have become homeless.  Targeted population includes children (Birth to age 18) and their families who are at risk of becoming homeless or are currently homeless utilizing a Community Based Scattered Site Model.  The Community Based Scattered Site Model is designed to maximize family independence, minimize family disruption, and result in stronger, more viable housing permanency outcomes. 

SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITY :    

The FRT provide an array of services in support of the Family Solution Center/Family Housing Programs.  FRT gathers pertinent information from the family and complete pre-screening/triage tool which is designed to assist service providers target families towards the most appropriate housing intervention.  The FRT will implement, based on information gathered, the crisis housing portion of the family’s coordinated assistance plan to address the family’s immediate housing and other crisis needs.   

The FRT promotes a strengths based approach to service that empowers families, supports a community based philosophy of service, and ensures that all services are aligned with the agency’s mission, vision, and core values.  

BENEFITS:

• Full benefits package to all positions after 30 days of employment.
• Employer-paid standard HMO Health, Dental, and Vision plans offered to employees.
• 401k plan with 4% employer match.
• 40 hours of paid sick time annually
• Paid vacation time that accrues to 80 hours annually.
• 14 Paid Holidays annually.
• Opportunity for growth. We love to promote from within.
• Bilingual Stipend if applicable.
• $23.00 an hour starting pay.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:                                                                                                           

• Conducts standardized screening and triages families imminently at-risk and homeless
• Works in coordination with the FSC Case Management team and HFSS crisis housing providers to ensure seamless and integrated care for homeless families
• Diverts families to other sources of assistance when possible
• Screens and immediately addresses safety concerns; Conducts child safety screenings
• Develops and implements crisis housing plans
• Connects families to immediate supportive services as needed such as mental health, health, substance abuse, child care, employment, etc.
• Data entry to HMIS
• Coordination with the DPSS Homeless Case Manager for initial eligibility assessment  of CalWorks benefits
• Follow-up activities to ensure completion of the crisis housing plan 
• Provides individual and group rehabilitation services under HUD, DMH, DPSS and city contracts.
• Completes and submits progress notes in a 24 hour timeframe utilizing the agency’s electronic health record system (HMIS).
• Assists family with identifying internal and external resources to assist with multiple stressors as it relates to homelessness, domestic violence, substance abuse issues, etc.
• Provides interagency and intra-agency consultation, communication, coordination and  referrals.
• Attends community meetings as requested by Housing Manager to present on housing  services, referral process and eligibility criteria.
• Represents the agency at community resource fairs.
• Follows up with families to ensure successful placement and housing permanency.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, or other mental health related discipline is preferred, but not required.
• Minimum of 1-4 years of work experience related to providing case management or rehabilitative services in a mental health setting.
• Fluent in Spanish

Required:

• High School Diploma

The Whole Child is an equal employment opportunity employer and no candidate for employment will be rejected on account of race, color, religion, national origin, age, marital status, or sex.  Candidates with physical impairments will be considered so long as it can be reasonably demonstrated that the duties and responsibilities can be effectively performed without hazard to the individual, fellow employees, or clientele.