Family Specialist I

Compensation

We offer a range of $23.00 to $27.39 per hour, with additional benefits such as a 7.5% bilingual differential, 8% license differential for certain certifications, and a hiring incentive of $2,000.

Benefits

We provide a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision coverage, a 401K employer match up to 4%, and competitive time off plans. Eligibility requirements vary based on employment status.

Job Summary

Within a team process, you will develop a strength-based relationship with youth and caregivers. You will intervene with maladaptive behaviors while fostering the youth's strengths and interests. Your role involves linking to community resources, transferring skills to caregivers, and helping create permanent connections for youth and families.

Responsibilities

• Provides direct services to youth and families, documenting in alignment with MediCal regulations and meeting productivity expectations.
• Manages and builds relationships with parents, youth, and others involved in the family's care.
• Utilizes strengths of youth, families, and others to support goal achievement and positive behavior change.
• Works with youth and family teams to support family-driven, strength-based planning and interventions.
• Conducts observations, tracks progress, and modifies plans to support desired outcomes.
• Engages caregivers, family members, and other natural supports in building youth-specific parenting responses that promote positive behavior change and family relationships.
• Supports families in accessing community-based programs and resources that continue to support them over time.
• Develops resources within the community to serve children and families.
• Assists youth and family teams in meeting specific service needs and monitoring outcomes.
• Participates in family finding team activities by identifying needs, obtaining authorizations, creating teams, conducting searches, and setting deadlines.
• Completes Connectedness Maps as needed.
• Documents interactions and practices in a timely manner.
• Maintains administrative expectations and meets or exceeds all direct service expectations and documentation requirements.
• Develops program responses to needs identified across multiple youth and families where natural community resources are not available or appropriate.
• Fosters and maintains cooperative, culturally responsive relationships with youth and families, as well as community resources.
• Facilitates and/or co-facilitates, supports, and models participation in healthy group dynamics within various settings.
• Performs other responsibilities as assigned to support department/business needs.

Qualifications

• A high school diploma or GED, along with one or more years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience (two years of relevant experience equals one year of education).
• Experience providing direct behavioral support to individuals with mental health, developmental, or behavioral challenges.
• Experience implementing behavior intervention plans and supporting clients with complex behavioral needs.
• Familiarity with trauma-informed care, positive behavioral support, and data collection for behavioral outcomes.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating with multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience in school-based, residential, or community mental health settings.
• Certification in CPI, PCM, or other crisis intervention models, or willingness to obtain.

Physical Requirements

The employee must remain physically fit enough to keep children and themselves safe. They are required to perform the following physical tasks when necessary: stand, walk, sit, use hands to handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls, reach with hands and arms, climb stairs, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, talk or hear, taste or smell, and adjust focus. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.