Location: Albany,NY, USA
About Us:St. Catherine's Center for Children is a non-profit organization located in the Greater Capital Region of New York. We offer a wide array of human services designed to meet the needs of vulnerable children, families and adults, including residential and therapeutic foster care programs for children and youth, Kinship support, homeless and community-based services for adults and families, a special education elementary school for ages 5-13, and so much more. St. Catherine's is committed to cultivating a culture where all employees feel safe to bring their authentic and best selves to the workplace. Our DEIB initiatives are designed to foster an equitable, inclusive and diversified workplace; collaboratively embracing mindfulness, relevance, respect and solidarity.Our Mission:St. Catherine's Center for Children provides a comprehensive range of human services designed to offer hope, foster growth, and improve the lives of the children, families and adults we serve.Job Summary:Under the leadership and supervision of the Albany County-based Family Opportunity Center Program Supervisor / Clinical Case Planner, the Clinician (Behavior Health Specialist) delivers key program services and coordinates several elements of family center operations. This position is a crucial member of the family engagement team.Position Requirements:Master's Degree in Human Services or related field, preferred.Candidates with less advanced degrees, and lived experience, will be considered.Preferred: At least 1 year of experience working with at-risk families and in community services.Preferred: Familiarity with wraparound services and implementation in a family-centered system of care.Prior knowledge of mental health, juvenile justice, and child welfare prevention programming.Must have a Clean and Valid New York State Driver's License, with driving experience for at least one year, and the ability to meet criteria as outlined in the Policy for Agency Drivers.Excellent organization, planning and time management skills.Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong working relationships with regulatory bodies; capacity to exhibit empathy for those in need.Proficiency in various computer applications: Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Google Business Workspace Suite (Gmail, Google Docs, Meet, Sheets, etc.); and secure Internet practices.Experience with AWARDS is a plus!Must be willing and able to work in close proximity with the clients we serve.Ability to pass required pre-employment background checks, to include fingerprinting.Duties & Responsibilities include:Participates in program design and the delivery of family opportunity center services, while adhering to the regulations of the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (NYS-OCFS), the policies and philosophy of St. Catherine's Center for Children, and related accrediting standards.Drives family involvement in program activities and is the primary recruiter and motivator of the program's families and potential participants.Coordinates the efforts of the family engagement specialist, parent-family advocates, and volunteers in strategic program areas; e.g., everyday access to academic resources for the school-age children and their families.Works at the direction of the Program Supervisor to provide substance abuse counseling, mental health counseling, and supporting services to those identified by the program as having behavioral health concerns.Performs essential needs and protective factor assessments and screenings, which lead to on-site support or linkage to other community-based services; follow-up is guaranteed so that warm hand-offs occur and family members make it to scheduled appointments.Screens families, identifying factors that impact the families' overall physical and mental well-being, assisting them in breaking down the barriers to social determinants so that family needs are comprehensively attended to and wraparound services are provided that bridge the gap to meaningful service delivery and ultimate goal attainment for the engaged families.Meets families “where they are at” to engage and support them – whether that is at the program site, in their homes, or in neutral settings (coffee shops, parks, playgrounds) – in the spirit of the evidence-based practice, to provide behavioral health counseling, ancillary services, etc., connecting with the families in the most impactful way.Understands and puts into practice the program's emphasis on behavioral health support, leading the charge in orienting program services towards that end -- assisting with appointment scheduling, making reminder calls, assisting with arrangements for child care, and other tasks distinctly linked to success in this fundamental program area.Cross-trains and provides back-up support for the family engagement specialist role, ensuring solid program functioning, and a service delivery structure that continually meets timelines and expectations.Engages in the program's adoption of the evidence-based practice; supports the practice's administration and application at the family opportunity center.Works with the Program Supervisor to actively interface with other community-based organizations, government entities, schools, etc., across Albany County, to ensure a strong referral stream, community connectivity, and fluid operations that meet the overall performance objectives for the family center.Trains in and implements trauma-informed treatment and incorporates the motivational interviewing model into the program milieu.At the direction of the Program Supervisor, supports the delivery of regular 1:1 and group staff supervision; e.g., this may occur with the parent family advocates or program volunteers.Ensures the quality of all program documentation is aligned with NYS-OCFS standards, the agency's electronic record (AWARDS) and other documentation connected to program expectations, agency policies, and regulatory bodies.Completes other position-related duties and responsibilities, as assigned by the Program Supervisor.What We Offer*:$2000 - $5000 Sign-on Bonuses for qualifying positions*Competitive Pay with an Excellent Benefits PackageHealth Insurance options*: Medical, Dental and Vision$600 Well-being Reimbursement Benefit*Generous Combined Leave Time (CLT) and Paid Holidays*!$500 Employee Referral Bonus*We are a 501(c) (3) agency, which is a qualifying employer for eligible staff under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program*Pension Plan with Aggressive Agency contribution*Life Insurance* – Automatic Benefit at no cost to employeePaid Training, including TCI and CPR/AED/First Aid Certification & Update courses, if role appropriateTuition Reimbursement* and Travel & Mileage Reimbursement*Professional Development and Career & Growth OpportunitiesThe Comfort of a Business Casual EnvironmentOur Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging.*To qualify, certain conditions may applyEEO Statement: St. Catherine's Center for Children is committed to creating a diverse environment and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, reproductive health and pregnancy, family history and genetics, disability, age, military status, veteran status, politics, or other beliefs, and any other characteristics protected by law.Background Checks: We run a thorough and complete pre-employment background check on all candidates being considered for a position, this includes fingerprinting. All candidates must successfully clear the pre-employment background check process, which follows NYS/DOJ requirements. We pay for all pre-employment background checks!