Family Engagement Specialist

Summary/Objective:

CHJC’s Family Permanency Program (FPP) is funded through the New York State Office of Children and Family Services and serves families in Jefferson, Lewis, Oswego and St. Lawrence Counties. The target population is exclusively families who have finalized the adoption of their child(ren), families with legal guardianship of their child(ren), with or without a KinGap agreement, and families with formal or informal custody agreements.

The program model is trauma-informed, child-centered, and family-focused, and culturally responsive. The model takes a strength-based approach to family engagement and is non-judgmental and affirming. Program services are evidence-based, easily accessible, as well as flexible and adaptable to the family’s needs.

The program model is designed to:

• Promote permanency for post-adoptive, post-guardianship, and kinship families.
• Provide assistance to families so children may be cared for in their own homes with their adoptive parent(s), legal guardian(s), or kinship caregiver(s); and
• Strengthen post-adoptive, post-guardianship, and kinship families to avoid foster care or other out-of-home placements.

The FES works as a member of the treatment team to deliver high intensity case management to assigned youth and families.

Essential Functions:

• Assists in gathering essential documentation for program enrollment
• Collaborates with clinical staff to completes required assessments and work with the family to create treatment plans/goals
• Monitors progress toward treatment plans/goals
• Schedules/facilitates regular treatment team meetings
• Identifies areas of concern/barriers to goal achievement, discusses immediate needs and concerns with youth and caregivers, assists in the development of safety/emergency plans
• Provides regular and ongoing support, conducts required home visits
• Monitors physical, mental, and behavioral health concerns, obtains regular updates from providers
• Performs risk and safety assessments in the family home
• Links and refers family members to necessary services
• Completes all OCFS/CHJC mandated reports and forms in a timely fashion, maintains case records, prepares all monthly reports, and provides thorough documentation of all casework activities
• Assists in the scheduling/facilitation of peer support group activities for youth and parents
• Assists in the facilitation of engagement/enrichment activities
• Maintains contact with all members of the treatment team
• Assists in recruitment and community education efforts
• Is knowledgeable of adoption and kinship and provides education to families

Special Requirements:

Work Environment: Office environment will require occasional travel to recruitment events, conferences and/or meetings and moderate travel within the community to include off-site/in-home visits. May have contact with service recipients that are agitated and/or are in crisis. Some risk involved working with service recipients with mental illness. Works in an office setting with a controlled temperature environment. Occasional exposure to inclement weather conditions may occur depending upon assignments.

Equipment: This position is required to maintain a working knowledge of related office equipment including personal computers and printers, audio-visual equipment, telephone systems, copiers, fax machines, etc.

Physical Demands: Must be able to sit, stand, walk, lift, carry, push/pull, climb, bend, and stoop. Must be able to perform fine motor skills, read, and type. Must be able to sit for long periods of time. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:

Full-time, traditional hours required along with occasionally some non-traditional hours. This position is required to work on-site, and offsite/in home visits.

Travel:

Travel is required throughout service area (Jefferson, Lewis, Oswego, and St. Lawerence County).

Requirements

Required Education and Experience:

Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in social work, psychology, or human services, or a bachelor’s level degree in any fields with at least two years of case management experience; or an associate level degree in psychology or human services with at least two years of experience. Understanding of and experience with Strength-Based and Individualized Care Approach to working with children and families. Requires self-direction, tact, diplomacy, and the ability to be clear, courteous, and professional. Must demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills and the ability to work cooperatively with others. Must be detail oriented.

Skills/Abilities/Knowledge:

Strong organizational abilities and office skills are essential for this position. This person must also have excellent people skills and be a team player. Ability to work with diverse populations. Must demonstrate effective and excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to work cooperatively with others. Must be detail-oriented and possess excellent time-management skills. Requires self-direction, tact, diplomacy, and the ability to be clear, courteous, and professional. Able to react to change productively and handle other duties as assigned.

Additional Eligibility Qualifications:

Must maintain privacy of confidential information. Successful completion of routine pre-employment requirements as mandated by the New York State Department of Health, Office of Mental Health and Office of Children and Family Services along with ongoing clearances and exclusion checks. These requirements are to include employment health requirements, reference checks, criminal background checks/fingerprinting, State Central Registry clearance and your eligibility to work in the United States. A valid NYS driver’s license required. Corporate Compliance, HIPAA Privacy Security, and Workplace Harassment and Discrimination Training will be required following date of hire.