Youth & Family Specialist
: Job Details :

DescriptionTASKS OF THE POSITIONYouth and Family Engagement and Placement and Permanency Planning. Welcomes youth and family when a youth enters into care with Vista Maria. Provides welcome phone call within 48 hours to family. Meets with family members in home setting as appropriate and provides information, handbooks and other guides.Maintains regular weekly contact with Family and works with family to be actively involved in their child's treatment and education.Assist with planning/organizing family engagement activities.Gathers feedback from youth and family regarding safety and crisis care plans. Aid family to prepare for youth visits and home passes. Debriefs with family as assigned to strengthen reunification planning. Assist in ensuring a safety net of support by involving the client's parents, family members, and other informal and formal key players.Regularly prepares for and participates in supervision meetings, team meetings, ITP/ISP, UTP/USP, PPR, and other Vista Maria meetings; schedules and facilitates transitional meetings for discharge services.Assists therapist in writing initial and updated client assessments including ISP/ITP, USP/UTP, Residential Release Plan, Release Disposition, aftercare, Foster Care Action Summary, court reports, Court Summary, 90-Day Aftercare Report, and discharge plans, monthly progress reports to CMOs as needed (per contract), etc.Assists with recommendation of placement planning and follows through with the permanency planning preparation at intake to discharge. Engage the clients through relationship development, implementing restorative tasks, person-centered planning, and a focus on their future.Provides direct service to clients as needed, including supervising client visits, monitors client mail, sets up home passes for clients after approval from therapist and faxes to CMO/DHS for approval, etc.; and requests for clothing vouchers. Notify family members of medical/dental appointments and supply MDHHS workers of the appropriate paperwork. Attend Integrated Behavioral Health team meeting, and provide input regarding appropriateness of program, youth needs, etc. Updates information/demographics on internal databases; updates/inputs information on JAIS/JJOLT systems, including incident reports, contacts, notice of truancies, etc.; completes and distributes Client Absence/Discharge form as needed. Attends court hearings, conducts home assessments.Discharge and After Care SupportConducts crisis counseling as needed with youth and family. Promotes family collaboration and communication techniques. Responsible for Transitional services to include Foster Care Action Summaries, administering ACLSA and CAFAS once client is discharged and includes all aftercare reports (30, 90 and 180 days).Conducts visits in home or community-based setting and provides services to the youth and family for a minimum of 6 months to ensure permanency and youth-family engagement. Aids creation or updating of youth and family developed aftercare goals including connection to community-based services. Aids and supports development of youth and family driven plan to address the family's needs, to assist the family in meeting the needs of the youth in placement, and to attain the family goals,Assist with Family Finding/Family Search and Engagement practices for every youth in placement for whom there is no identified family.Assist with the development of needed supports identified by the family, including a referral to CMH for Wraparound and establishing community supports. Professional Development Plans and organizes work to meet all job requirements according to Vista Maria standards, various funding contracts, and professional standards.Performs all other duties as required or requested by the Clinical Unit Manager/Senior Program Manager, keeping within the scope of this position, or as professional development.Assists in training and supervision of Associate or Bachelor's-level interns.Stays informed of current practice developments within the profession, and uses educational and training opportunities to ensure continued professional competence.KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES Demonstrated computer literacy skills as required;Demonstrated ability to interact positively in a culturally diverse environment.Effective organizational and communicative skills (both written and verbal)Demonstrated effective time management skills.Ability to work independently in the field.Understands TIP system and mission as demonstrated by knowledge of each transition domain and component and the TIP tools and processes for working and planning with youth and family.Demonstrates personal integrity and professional demeanor in accordance with the Vista Maria's ethics and the profession.Proficiency in specific family engagement evidence-based model. SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITYThis job has no supervisory responsibility.RequirementsQUALIFICATION (EDUCATION / TRAINING)Required:Bachelor's degree in a human services discipline or related major.Three (3) years of experience in clinical assessment and intervention techniques; demonstrated knowledge of group/family therapy.Valid driver's license without relevant restrictions.Preferred:More than one (1) year of experience with group therapy, crisis counseling, and case managementDemonstrated leadership skills in the same or similar position.Physical Requirements:Ability to participate in the physical management of clients when needed per Non-Violent Physical Crisis Intervention method.Ability to be flexible with the working conditions indoors or in outdoor weather conditions.Ability to provide back-up support when needed.