SEARCH CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

GENERAL SUMMARY OF POSITION:

Under the general direction of the Senior Family Advocate or designee, the Care Partner is responsible for a wide range of hands-on family support and advocacy activities including coordination of resources from families, neighborhoods, schools, primary medical care, child welfare, mental health, special education, juvenile justice, and public health services.

Provides trauma informed education, coaching and support for caregivers of children in foster care and their families both on and off-site with a special focus on resilience promotion, trauma evaluation, symptom risk management and prevention.  Applicants should have experience as a foster parent and be familiar with evidence based trauma therapies.  Experience as peer mentor, counselor, or coach preferred.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide mentoring and information to parents pertaining to the wraparound process of service planning.
• Promote and support collaboration between and among the parents participating in the services provided and state and private agencies, systems, and organizations.
• Develop and implement outreach strategies to support engagement and active participation in services provided..
• Provide ongoing parent-to-parent support (including support groups) and modeling of positive collaboration and advocacy strategies for parents, youth, and young adults.
• Locate services and supports to meet the needs of family members as identified in the individual care plans.
• Attend meetings with parents/professionals as appropriate/needed.
• Perform other duties as required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• 2 years’ experience in providing support to families of children, adolescents, and young adults with severe mental, emotional and behavioral disturbance, or equivalent.
• Demonstrated knowledge of and experience with state laws and systems pertaining to mental health, special education (Chap. 766, IDEA, etc.), child welfare (DCF), juvenile justice (DYS and the Courts), and other state agencies and entitlements.
• Experience with and knowledge of the cultures, languages and leaders in Worcester neighborhoods.
• Ability to work with families, staff, and others in a culturally sensitive manner.
• Ability to deal with complex and multiple tasks.
• Ability to work with groups, as well as individuals, using a team approach.
• Ability to travel to off-site locations

Ability to speak/communicate in Spanish necessary