Therapist - Foster Care

WHO WE ARE:

Annually serving over 1,400 youth and families, Lawrence Hall is a community-based organization committed to helping Chicago's youth, families, and communities heal from the adverse effects of childhood trauma. For more than 150 years, Lawrence Hall has been delivering high-quality care throughout the Chicago metropolitan area and is a statewide leader in highly effective, evidence-based, and innovative therapeutic treatment. Their core programs-Child and Family Treatment Center, Therapeutic Day School, Creative Therapies, Foster Care, Transitional/Independent Living Program, Workforce Development, and Community Wellness-have met the changing and complex needs of youth and families by not only becoming more community based, but also by developing more preventative programs that help curb violence in Chicago's communities.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Reports directly to the Clinical Services Manager or designated supervisor. Provides individual, group and family therapy as assigned, including in-home therapy, and transportation of youth in agency or personal vehicle. Provides emergency clinical intervention, parent coaching, placement stabilization and ongoing support during family crises and placement disruptions. Utilization of good verbal and written communication with employees, referring agencies, community resources and youth/families.

Maintains flexibility to adjust work schedule according to the needs of the program. Lawrence Hall fosters a culture built upon four core values:
Respect, Empowerment, Safety, and Teamwork. These values are deeply embedded within our organization's philosophy of trauma-informed care and directly influence every position. Must be able to effectively use both verbal and physical intervention skills with individuals six (6) through twenty-one (21) years of age. Physical intervention skills require the ability to kneel and return to standing without assistance. Therapist has on-call responsibility for cases in crisis.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Carries a selected caseload of foster care youth, biological families involved with DCFS and families as assigned, focusing on the use of individual, group and family treatment modalities
• Develops and frequently reviews Mental Health Assessments and Treatment Plans with supervisor
• Requires knowledge of typical child and adolescent development and an understanding of trauma exposure and traumatic stress signs and symptoms.
• Practice will include using strategies that support healing, recovery, and that resist re-traumatization
• Engage caregivers, parents, family members and others by sharing strengths and challenges experienced by program participants
• Facilitates clinical staffing meetings to provide consultation for treatment team members
• Works with treatment team, collaterals, and families in completing assessments and developing the treatment plan
• Attends Agency and other professional seminars and conferences to increase professional knowledge and skills
• When necessary, liaison to DCFS or other agency (courts, school districts, etc.), communicating goals and progress toward outlined objectives
• Works with the team on meeting youth needs for community programs (schools, recreation, jobs, vocational opportunities, medical, etc.)
• Documents contact with youth and families (clinical documentation requirements) according to Medicaid Part 132, agency, and DCFS standards
• Participates in psychotropic medication reviews
• Assists with psychiatric hospitalizations and follow up
• Uses active and reflective listening skills and affirmations to demonstrate respect and empathy, avoiding negative and derogatory labels that foster disrespect
• Understand that behaviors, responses, attitudes, and emotions are a collection of survival skills often developed in response to traumatic experiences
• Maintain confidentiality of employees, volunteers, and program participants to provide a safe environment
• Attend at least two trainings related to being trauma informed in a twelve month period
• Ability to work effectively with program participants and family members, employees and vendors in a culturally diverse environment to support healing and recovery
• Maintains electronic calendar to provide accounting for daily activities and provides permissions for viewing to the appropriate individuals
• Performs the above tasks with weekly support, supervision, training, and direction of the designated supervisor
• Participates in the development and implementation of continuous quality improvement activities as assigned
• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master's degree in Social Work or related Human Service field with one year of related experience required. LSW or LPC and LCSW or LCPC preferred and required upon eligibility.
• Mast take and pass LPC/LSW exam within 3 months after hire.
• Knowledge of childhood trauma and prior experience working in settings with youth and families that have been exposed to trauma or experiencing traumatic stress preferred
• Knowledge of youth development, adolescent issues,…