MFT Advocate

About the role

The MiFamily Together (MFT) Advocate is responsible for delivering in-home services for up to 180 days, with approved extensions up to 270 days total. This position will serve Benzie, Manistee, and Mason counties. The role supports the department's goal to reduce the number of children who experience out-of-home care and the associated trauma of being removed from their family.

Responsibilities

• Delivers in-home services for up to 180 days, with approved extensions up to 270 days total.
• Maintains face-to-face contact with families in accordance with the contract defined frequency and based on individual needs.
• Completes all required MDHHS and MFT documentation within established timeframes.
• Engages family members using Motivational Interviewing to build rapport and assess strengths, needs, culture, and values.
• Conducts assessments with each family to gain a better understanding of prevention goals for each family member.
• Provides and assists families in accessing concrete supports and resources, including housing, transportation, employment, education, benefits, and other needs.
• Provides direct services to help the family strengthen protective factors and increase family well-being via practicing within the Two-Generation (2Gen) framework and attain goals outlined in the Prevention Plan Reports.
• Creates proactive and reactive safety plans to address risk factors.
• Teaches and models life-skills, household management, parenting skills, and community resource navigation.
• Makes appropriate referrals for caregivers and children to additional services and collaborates with all service providers involved with the family, as well as the referring case manager, to support the family in achieving identified goals.
• Flexible work schedules must be maintained to ensure appointments are scheduled based on families' needs and to allow for timely crisis intervention.
• Attends court hearings and provides testimony at the request of the family, MDHHS, or Placement agency Foster Care (PAFC) referring case manager.
• Attends training and meetings as required by MDHHS and Agency.
• Completes, and/or attempts to complete, face-to-face follow-up visits with each family served at three- and six-months following closure of the case to review sustained goal achievement and case closure safety planning and to assess if there is any further assistance needed to support maintaining the child in the home safely.
• Transports clients utilizing personal vehicle, as needed.

Requirements

• Knowledge of the 2Gen Framework and Motivational Interviewing techniques.
• Knowledge and skills necessary to provide services appropriate to families and children 0-18.
• Knowledge and skills in substance abuse and mental health disorders.
• Knowledge of the MFT philosophy and intervention strategies.
• Ability to have a non-judgmental positive attitude toward families in crisis.
• Ability to empower families to help them solve their problems.
• Ability to work in partnership with other team members and/or service providers.
• Ability to demonstrate sensitivity and responsiveness to cultural differences present in the Agency’s service population.
• Ability to forge a mutually respectful partnership with individuals and families in which they are helped to gain skills and confidence in addressing issues and problems.
• Reliable transportation.
• Valid driver’s license and good driving record with zero work restrictions.
• Personal auto insurance as required by law with minimum bodily injury coverage limits of $250,000 per person/$500,000 per incident or $500,000 combined.
• Flexible schedule based on needs of the clients served.
• Participation is required in initial and ongoing training provided by MDHHS and Agency.
• Submission to agency-approved background checks.

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in any human services or education field is required or;
• An associate’s degree or equivalent in any human services or education field with 2 years of prior work experience working with children and/or families and actively pursuing a bachelor’s degree to be obtained within 6 months of hire.

Skills

• Knowledge of the 2Gen Framework and Motivational Interviewing techniques.
• Knowledge and skills necessary to provide services appropriate to families and children 0-18.
• Knowledge and skills in substance abuse and mental health disorders.
• Knowledge of the MFT philosophy and intervention strategies.
• Ability to have a non-judgmental positive attitude toward families in crisis.
• Ability to empower families to help them solve their problems.
• Ability to work in partnership with other team members and/or service providers.
• Ability to demonstrate sensitivity and responsiveness to cultural differences present in the Agency’s service population.
• Ability to forge a mutually respectful partnership with individuals and families in which they are helped to gain skills and confidence in addressing issues and problems.

Benefits

Wage Up to $47,715.20 annually; $22.94/hour based on relevant work experience.

Pay

Up to $47,715.20 annually; $22.94/hour based on relevant work experience.

Schedule

Flexible work schedules must be maintained to ensure appointments are scheduled based on families' needs and to allow for timely crisis intervention.