Adverse Childhood Experience Response Team (ACERT) Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

The ACERT Specialist is an opportunity to make a meaningful difference for children and families following stressful, traumatic, or disruptive experiences. As part of Archways’ ACERT program, the Specialist builds supportive relationships with families, helps identify strengths and immediate needs, and connects families with resources and supports that can promote stability and well-being.

Working collaboratively with participating police departments, schools, Lakes Region Community Services (LRCS), and other community partners, the ACERT Specialist provides voluntary, family-centered, trauma-informed, and non-investigative support. This position is well suited for someone who values relationship-based work, enjoys connecting with families and community partners, and is committed to helping families build upon their strengths and make informed choices.

The Specialist works within Archways’ policies, the established Principles of Family Support, and the collaborative ACERT framework.

Key Responsibilities

1. Work collaboratively within each family's existing structure and support family choice while respecting cultural, religious, values-based, and other individual differences.
2. Provide trauma-informed guidance, information, referrals, and practical family support in homes and other approved community settings.
3. Assist families in maintaining, strengthening, and safeguarding the health, safety, and well-being of their children within the scope of the ACERT program.
4. Identify family strengths, concerns, immediate needs, and barriers, and help families build upon their existing strengths and protective factors.
5. Document intake contacts and other required ACERT interactions accurately and promptly, including family-identified needs, priorities, goals, and agreed-upon next steps.
6. Support families in making informed choices and in identifying practical steps that promote stability following traumatic or disruptive incidents.
7. Connect families with appropriate community resources through information, referrals, warm handoffs, and follow-up consistent with family choice and program scope.
8. Conduct all work professionally and consistently with trauma-informed practice, the Principles of Family Support, established professional boundaries, and Archways standards of conduct.
9. Exercise appropriate initiative and sound judgment in carrying out assigned responsibilities, recognize the limits of the role, and seek supervisory guidance or elevate concerns when needed.
10. Maintain complete, accurate, timely, and secure documentation of services provided and participate in required reflective supervision.
11. Participate in required ACERT and Archways meetings, approved in-house training, role-specific professional development, and outside conferences when authorized or required.
12. Collaborate appropriately with each family's identified support network, participating police departments, schools, and community partners, sharing information only as permitted by consent, law, policy, and program requirements.
13. Perform all ACERT responsibilities in accordance with Archways policies and procedures, applicable requirements, confidentiality obligations, and established Family Resource Center practices.
14. Perform other related duties as assigned, provided those duties remain consistent with the ACERT appointment, the employee's qualifications and training, Archways responsibilities, and the scope of the LRCS agreement.

Qualification & Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent required; associate or bachelor's degree in human services, social work, psychology, education, family studies, criminal justice, or a related field preferred.
• Relevant experience supporting children and families through family support, education, behavioral health, victim advocacy, recovery support, community outreach, home visiting, or a related setting.
• Ability to engage families respectfully and without judgment following potentially traumatic events and to maintain clear professional boundaries.
• Strong communication, collaboration, organization, documentation, time-management, problem-solving, and follow-through skills.
• Ability to maintain accurate records, use approved electronic systems, complete required program and grant documentation, and protect confidential information.
• Valid New Hampshire driver's license, current registration and insurance, reliable transportation, and ability to travel throughout the ACERT service area.
• Successful completion of and continued eligibility under all screenings required by Archways, law, or contract, including applicable criminal-history, Central Registry, motor-vehicle, and exclusion or sanction checks.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a Family Resource Center, recovery-community organization, family-support program, home-visiting program, victim-service initiative, educational setting, or coordinated community-response program.
• Experience collaborating with law enforcement, first responders, school districts, behavioral health providers, and child- and family-serving organizations.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed practice, the Strengthening Families™ Protective Factors Framework, Two-Generation practice, Motivational Interviewing, and community resources serving children and families.