HFLW Brand
Senior Family Partner
When you join The Home for Little Wanderers, you join a team of professionals dedicated to creating better, brighter futures for kids. For over 200 years, The Home for Little Wanderers has helped build stable lives and hopeful tomorrows for vulnerable children and their families. Our 25+ community-based and residential programs serve thousands of at-risk youths from birth to age 26. Many of these children have experienced abuse, neglect, trauma, or a disrupted family life. As the oldest child welfare agency in America, we provide them with safe surroundings, permanent loving relationships, and a secure path toward a better, brighter future. The Cambridge/Somerville Community Service Agency (CSA) serves youth with Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED) who are enrolled in MassHealth Standard or CommonHealth and meet certain medical criteria. This program is part of the Massachusetts Children's Behavioral Health Initiative (CBHI). Under the direction of Program Director and in collaboration with the Senior Intensive Care Coordinator, the Senior Family Partner is part of the program's management team, ensuring that quality Family Partner services are provided to the youth and families enrolled in the Park St. CSA. The Senior Family Partner uniquely uses their own lived experience as a caregiver navigating child-serving systems to inform the development, training, and supervision of Family Partner staff. The Senior Family Partner uses this lived experience to advise the program as part of its management team, ensuring the integrity of Family Voice and Choice in the provision of services. Valuing Diversity We are committed to excellence in diversity, equity, and inclusion, while simultaneously creating a culture that supports those values. We believe the differences we bring enhance our ability to provide exceptional service and care to diverse children, families, and communities. Moreover, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging align with our values and our mission to help vulnerable children and their families build permanent, positive change. How You Will Be Making a Difference Participates in management activities, including but not limited to, weekly management meetings, quality assurance, training and development needs of the program, and secondary on call rotation. May be required to carry a mobile device Depending on the program, may be required to meet certain billing requirements on a weekly basis Perform other duties as assigned Provides weekly supervision to direct reports Oversees, supports, and delivers as necessary the following functions performed by direct supervisees: Works one-on-one with families and youth and maintains regular frequent contact with the parent(s)/caregiver(s) in order to provide education and support throughout the care planning process. Participates as a member of the Care Planning Team meetings and clearly outlines the goals of Family Support and Training Services. Works closely with families and any existing/referring behavioral health provider(s) to implement the objectives and goals identified in the Individual Care Plan. Teaches parents/caregiver how to promote linkages with other treatment providers and other community resources and work with the Intensive Care Coordinator. Educates parents/caregivers about how to effectively navigate the child-serving systems and about the existence of informal/community resources available; and facilitates access to these resources. Attends staff meetings. Present client/family material; consult with supervisor and team members on challenging and difficult client/family issues. Participates in regular individual and group supervision. Attends clinical training and safety practice training. Qualifications Experience as a caregiver of a youth with special needs and preferably a youth with mental health needs Experience as a caregiver navigating any of the child/family-serving systems and experience advocating for family members who are involved with behavioral health systems Bachelor's degree in a human services field from an accredited university and one (1) year of experience working with target population; or Associate's degree in a human service field from an accredited school and one (1) year of experience working with children/adolescents/transition age youth; or high school diploma or GED and a minimum of two (2) years of experience working with children/adolescents/transition age youth Must have a minimum of two (2) years supervisory experience and experience working collaboratively with state agencies, consumer advocacy, groups, and/or behavioral health outpatient facilities Fluency in a second language such as Spanish, Portuguese, or Haitian Creole is preferred but not required Must have a valid driver's license and automobile What The Home Can Offer You Generous time off including up to 15 days per year for new full-time employees, plus 11 holidays, and 5 sick days Health and Dental Insurance that is effective immediately upon hire Extensive training to new staff Tuition reimbursement of up to $2,400 per fiscal year 403(b) Retirement Plan with employer match Employer paid Long-term and Short-term Disability Insurance, plus Basic Life and AD&D Insurance And more!
When you join The Home for Little Wanderers, you join a team of professionals dedicated to creating better, brighter futures for kids. For over 200 years, The Home for Little Wanderers has helped build stable lives and hopeful tomorrows for vulnerable children and their families. Our 25+ community-based and residential programs serve thousands of at-risk youths from birth to age 26. Many of these children have experienced abuse, neglect, trauma, or a disrupted family life. As the oldest child welfare agency in America, we provide them with safe surroundings, permanent loving relationships, and a secure path toward a better, brighter future. The Cambridge/Somerville Community Service Agency (CSA) serves youth with Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED) who are enrolled in MassHealth Standard or CommonHealth and meet certain medical criteria. This program is part of the Massachusetts Children's Behavioral Health Initiative (CBHI). Under the direction of Program Director and in collaboration with the Senior Intensive Care Coordinator, the Senior Family Partner is part of the program's management team, ensuring that quality Family Partner services are provided to the youth and families enrolled in the Park St. CSA. The Senior Family Partner uniquely uses their own lived experience as a caregiver navigating child-serving systems to inform the development, training, and supervision of Family Partner staff. The Senior Family Partner uses this lived experience to advise the program as part of its management team, ensuring the integrity of Family Voice and Choice in the provision of services. Valuing Diversity We are committed to excellence in diversity, equity, and inclusion, while simultaneously creating a culture that supports those values. We believe the differences we bring enhance our ability to provide exceptional service and care to diverse children, families, and communities. Moreover, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging align with our values and our mission to help vulnerable children and their families build permanent, positive change. How You Will Be Making a Difference Participates in management activities, including but not limited to, weekly management meetings, quality assurance, training and development needs of the program, and secondary on call rotation. May be required to carry a mobile device Depending on the program, may be required to meet certain billing requirements on a weekly basis Perform other duties as assigned Provides weekly supervision to direct reports Oversees, supports, and delivers as necessary the following functions performed by direct supervisees: Works one-on-one with families and youth and maintains regular frequent contact with the parent(s)/caregiver(s) in order to provide education and support throughout the care planning process. Participates as a member of the Care Planning Team meetings and clearly outlines the goals of Family Support and Training Services. Works closely with families and any existing/referring behavioral health provider(s) to implement the objectives and goals identified in the Individual Care Plan. Teaches parents/caregiver how to promote linkages with other treatment providers and other community resources and work with the Intensive Care Coordinator. Educates parents/caregivers about how to effectively navigate the child-serving systems and about the existence of informal/community resources available; and facilitates access to these resources. Attends staff meetings. Present client/family material; consult with supervisor and team members on challenging and difficult client/family issues. Participates in regular individual and group supervision. Attends clinical training and safety practice training. Qualifications Experience as a caregiver of a youth with special needs and preferably a youth with mental health needs Experience as a caregiver navigating any of the child/family-serving systems and experience advocating for family members who are involved with behavioral health systems Bachelor's degree in a human services field from an accredited university and one (1) year of experience working with target population; or Associate's degree in a human service field from an accredited school and one (1) year of experience working with children/adolescents/transition age youth; or high school diploma or GED and a minimum of two (2) years of experience working with children/adolescents/transition age youth Must have a minimum of two (2) years supervisory experience and experience working collaboratively with state agencies, consumer advocacy, groups, and/or behavioral health outpatient facilities Fluency in a second language such as Spanish, Portuguese, or Haitian Creole is preferred but not required Must have a valid driver's license and automobile What The Home Can Offer You Generous time off including up to 15 days per year for new full-time employees, plus 11 holidays, and 5 sick days Health and Dental Insurance that is effective immediately upon hire Extensive training to new staff Tuition reimbursement of up to $2,400 per fiscal year 403(b) Retirement Plan with employer match Employer paid Long-term and Short-term Disability Insurance, plus Basic Life and AD&D Insurance And more!