Family Support Specialist (Youth Community Crisis Stabilization)

Job Description

Schedule: Tue-Sat 10am-7pm

Salary: $ / hour

The YCCS Family Support Specialist will provide supportive services to parents and caregivers for Youth ages 13-18 with behavioral health, mental health, substance use disorder, and co-occurring disorders.

The Youth Community Crisis Service (YCCS) program is a 24/7 short stay community-based alternative to hospitalization for youth. The YCCS will provide individualized, short-term crisis stabilization and treatment in a culturally appropriate, youth and family-friendly environment that provides active treatment for youth and adolescents experiencing acute symptoms that result in their being unable to live and function in a less-restrictive environment.

The YCCS Family Support Specialist also:

• Creates a welcoming environment for parents, families, and other community members who identify as supporters in which families/supporters are respected and valued. Orients them to the services their loved one may receive at YCCS; share personal experiences with and engage their participation in helping the youth to meet their treatment goals.
• Provides hope, encouragement, information, and one-to-one support to youth's parents/families, and other supporters during the behavioral health crisis and after.
• Participates in assessment to collect current and historical family/supporters information with focus on understanding the youth's family/supporter relationships and their impact on the youth. Assists parents/families and supporters to identify, understand, and plan for the strengths and needs of the youth.
• Provides family psycho-education to families, supporters, and guardians. Refer families/supporters to resources in the community for family support and education when appropriate
• Assists families and caregivers in understanding and navigating systems.
• Trains and mentors colleagues in maintaining a family/supporter perspective in their work.
• Provides competency-based clinical evidence-based interventions and best practices
• Helps develop and sustain the VBH Advisory Council and support families/supporters who express interest in joining.
• Performs other related duties, as assigned.

Why Vinfen?

We are committed to you! We offer great training, great benefits, career growth and job security!

• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance for employees working 30 hours or more
• 15 days of Vacation, 12 Paid Holidays, 10 Sick Days and 3 Personal Days per year (for employees scheduled for 20 hours or more)
• Education Assistance and Tuition Remission Programs as well as innovative Student Loan Payment Programs. Employment with Vinfen counts toward your Public Student Loan Forgiveness eligibility
• Professional Development programs including year-round online training courses and opportunities to earn CEUs
• Retirement savings programs, including a fully funded, employer sponsored retirement plan and an employee funded 403 (b) plan
• Company paid Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary Term, Whole Life, Accident and Critical Care Insurance
• Flexible Spending Reimbursement Accounts (Health and Dependent care)
• $500 -- $1,000+ Employee Referral Bonuses with no annual cap!
• Other generous benefits including discounted memberships, access to wellness programs and more!

About Us

Established in 1977, Vinfen is a nonprofit, health and human services organization and a leading provider of community-based services to individuals with mental health conditions, intellectual and developmental disabilities, brain injuries, and behavioral health challenges. Our services and advocacy promote the recovery, resiliency, habilitation, and self-determination of the people we serve. Vinfen's 3,200 dedicated employees are experienced, highly-trained professionals who provide a full range of supportive living, health, educational, and clinical services in 318 programs throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut. For more information about Vinfen, please visit

Vinfen is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, or disability status.

KEYWORD: vinfenccs

Requirements

• A high school diploma or equivalent is required.
• First-hand experience, primary responsibility for, or substantial involvement with, a child or family member receiving services through the mental health system strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge of behavioral health systems and services, DMH and DCF resources, special education law and services, as well as other social services resources, including how to access such services is strongly preferred.
• Preference to those representative of the demographics of the youth served by the program, and / or are bi-lingual or multi-cultural.
• Must be able to become CPR and First Aid Certified within two weeks of hire. Trainings are provided by Vinfen upon hire.
• Must be able to successfully pass a CORI, SORI, education, employment verification and drivers record check.

Driving Requirements

No Drivers License check or vehicle required