Prevention Family Specialist - Schenectady Program - Bachelor's Degree

Description

The Prevention Family Specialist goal is to preserve the family unit by providing supportive casework counseling in the home and empower parents with tools and resources to ensure children's safety, well-being and permanency while providing advocacy to ensure quality services.

Together for Youth’s Intensive Prevention works with youth, ages 0-17, as well as their families. The goal of the Intensive Prevention Program is to keep families safely intact who have been identified by the Schenectady County Department of Social Services and/or the Juvenile Justice Center as being at risk of separation due to neglectful or abusive family dynamics, and/or youth involvement in the juvenile justice system.

Through a trauma-informed lens, application of the Sanctuary Model, and the implementation of the evidence based Motivational Interviewing model, we work intensively with stakeholders to reduce the need for out-of-home placement as well as shorten the length of placement and dependence upon the social services system. By identifying risk factors and creating safety plans and family goals, we focus on empowering and strengthening families to problem solve, plan for safety, increase independence, productivity, and family functioning within their home community.

We work with families on reunification and increasing family stability. We also work with parents to increase their involvement in their children’s schools and community resources.

• Conducts assessment of family’s strengths and needs; assesses problem areas and utilizes various treatment modalities and resources to effect growth and change.
• Participates in development, implementation and ongoing evaluation of comprehensive treatment and discharge plan. Develops alternative placement or permanency resources for youth that may not return to their families. Completes a comprehensive discharge summary at least eight weeks prior to discharge.
• Delivers effective case management services, including ensuring counseling sessions are scheduled as needed and children receive required medical and dental examinations. Tracks and monitors services provided, completes all documentation in a timely and comprehensive manner. Ensures compliance with confidentiality standards, parental consent and necessary release of information.
• Conducts casework contacts with families, as needed but at least twice a month, in their homes and community settings to focus on treatment goals. Engages youth and family by developing effective and caring relationship. Ensures children are maintained in safe, secure environment. Develops and maintains relationships with community schools to ensure the best educational experience for each child and with community resource agencies.

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree in human services or related field.
• Must have a minimum of 1 year of experience working with at-risk youth & families and case management.
• Must be able to work a flexible schedule with variable hours including day, evening, weekend, holiday and subject to call hours.
• Subject to call:
  Family Specialist is required to be on call in collaboration with a Program Coordinator. May require evening/weekend field work. On Call is in rotation with the program Family Specialists.
• Must have a Valid Driver’s License with acceptable driving history to the Agency, and a reliable vehicle. Travel is required. Ability to coordinate and plan travel for visits and appointments in efficient manner.
• Ability to work with economically and culturally diverse population.
• Skills:
  
  Ability to handle crisis intervention in solution focused manner as well as communication skills including written, verbal and listening skills.
• Bilingual is a plus!

Together for Youth is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, military status, sex, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, disability, marital status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive, equitable, and accessible environment where diversity is valued and…