Family Engagement Specialist, School-Based

About Our Organization:

St. Catherine’s Center for Children is a leading non-profit organization in New York’s Greater Capital District. Our comprehensive range of human services reach more than 1,000 children, 600 families, and hundreds of adults across Upstate New York each year. Our multi-faceted programs are designed to offer hope, foster growth, and improve the lives of the children, families, and adults we serve. We offer residential and therapeutic foster care programs for children and youth, Kinship support, homeless and community-based services for adults and families, a special education elementary school for ages 5-13, and so much more.

St. Catherine’s employs more than 300 full and part-time staff. Our spectrum of services for children, families and individuals suffering from the lasting effects of abuse and neglect, family instability, mental illness, homelessness and other ongoing traumas, continues to grow. We are committed to cultivating a culture where all employees can bring their authentic and best selves to the workplace. Our DEI-B initiatives are designed to support and build a more equitable, inclusive and diversified workplace, one which exemplifies true respect and dignity.

Position Overview:

The Family Engagement Specialist will work closely with the Lansingburgh Central School District and be part of a collaborative school-based interdisciplinary team aimed to provide comprehensive mental health support to the students and families of the district. The Family Engagement Specialist will be a resource for students and their families by being an agent for needs assessment and a vital linkage to community-based services. The Family Engagement Specialist will work with an eye toward identifying and addressing the Social Determinants of Health needs impacting the youth and their families in order to improve health and educational outcomes. The Family Engagement Specialist will also provide Children’s Health Home Care Management as a form of after-care for those youth who qualify. As such, the position requires cross-training in that program.

This full-time position is Mon - Fri, 8am to 4pm, with some flexibility.

Duties & Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Accept referrals from the school and engage with families within 24 hours.
• Conduct Social Determinants of Health assessments to identify factors impacting physical and mental health.
• Develop home-based Crisis and Safety Plans that align with existing safety plans, treatment plans and/or school-based support plans (i.e. IEP, 504 plans).
• Conduct ACE Screenings on youth and other family members, when appropriate.
• Link families to supports within the community.
• Meet with families in their homes or in neutral settings (coffee shops, parks, playgrounds) Frequency will be determined by the needs of the family.
• Transport families to and from appointments, when needed.
• Attend school-based events (in-person and on-line) for parents to promote the service and encourage family participation.
• Attend school-based planning meetings for youth as part of an interdisciplinary education and care team.
• Collaborate closely with school personnel to ensure a coordinated approach to support the youth and their family. This will include regular and timely in-person communication, phone and email communications, and written summaries as requested.
• Collaborate closely with other providers including home-based services, and health and mental health providers.
• Document all contacts and significant case events in the agency’s EHR following all agency guidelines.
• Carry out all of the responsibilities of the Children’s Health Home Care Manager for those youth enrolled in that program and assigned to them.
• Other position-related duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Organizational Relationships:

• Will work under the supervision of the Supervisor of Community Outreach and Care Coordination.
• Collaborates with the personnel of the Lansingburgh Central School District and Rensselaer County Mental Health and works as part of an interdisciplinary school-based team.
• Internally, works closely with other Community Based Services programs, including Children’s Health Home Care Management and Children’s Community Based Treatment and Support Services.

Position Specifications:

• MSW or Master’s Degree in human service field preferred. BSW or Bachelor’s Degree in human service field with at least two years’ experience in service planning or care coordination may be accepted.
• Must possess a professional record of integrity and strong advocacy for at-risk families in a community setting.
• Competent clerical and organizational skills: Ability to type well and operate in an electronic health record with accuracy.
• Must have a clean and valid NYS driver’s license; be actively licensed for at least one year and have a reliable (fully insured) vehicle for transporting clients to appointments, as needed.) - with proof of 100/300 liability insurance coverage.
• Ability to work effectively in a shared decision-making model as a team member, while respecting the roles of others.
• Strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to build strong working relationships with collaborative partners including school district personnel, community agencies, and social service providers.
• Proficiency in various computer applications: Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Google Business Workspace Suite (Gmail, Google Docs, Meet, Sheets, etc.); and secure Internet practices.
• Ability to handle sensitive data with strict confidentiality.
• Eagerness to learn new theories and practice models to enhance effectiveness and to achieve program outcomes.
• Ability to pass required pre-employment background checks, to include fingerprinting.

Essential Functions:

• Ability to write and understand the written word with special emphasis on required documentation including client progress notes and treatment plans; and to carry out written and electronic documentation as required by St. Catherine’s policy and as required by regulating agencies that have oversight responsibility for St. Catherine’s programs.
• Ability and willingness to maintain up-to-date information regarding standards and mandates set by St. Catherine’s Center for Children, the New York State Education Department, the New York State Office of Mental Health, the New York State Office of Child and Family Services, and other regulatory bodies.
• Must be able to respond to family crises in a timely manner, either in person or by phone.
• Ability to make home visits to client homes and other communication locations based upon client need.
• Ability to legally operate a motor vehicle and meet the criteria outlined in the Revised Policy for Agency Drivers.
• Flexibility to work hours outside of regularly scheduled work hours, within reason.
• Ability to interact with a wide range of people, including those who are culturally and socio-economically diverse, as well as people with various developmental and functional levels.
• Ability to understand, communicate, represent and carry out the mission, values, philosophy and policies of St. Catherine’s Center for Children.
• Ability to organize and effectively manage, in a timely fashion, the varied tasks of the position.
• Ability to work effectively as a team member, which includes the capacity to listen attentively to others, to share one’s opinions and perspective, and to resolve disagreements respectfully.
• Ability to work collaboratively using a strength-based and family-focused approach.
• Self-motivated and engaged, with a strong attention to detail; Excellent writing aptitude.
• Demonstrated placidity and patience; flexibility and adaptability; and exhibit empathy for those in need.
• Value a nurturing family as the ideal environment for a person; and believe in the principle that people have the capacity to grow and change at their own pace and motivation.
• The ability to establish a respectful relationship with persons served to help them gain skills and confidence, empowering them to solve their own problems.
• The ability to work collaboratively with other personnel and/ or service providers or professionals.
• This position will have full and complete access to client Protected Health Information (PHI) in order to carry out the duties and responsibilities for this position. Therefore, the ability to meet HIPAA requirements and maintain strict client confidentiality is essential.

What We Offer*:

• Competitive Pay with an Excellent Benefits Package
• Health Insurance options: Medical, Dental and Vision
• Generous Combined Leave Time and LOADS of PAID Holidays
• $500 Employee Referral Bonus*
• Professional Development & Career Growth Opportunities
• We are a 501(c) (3) agency, which is a qualifying employer for eligible staff under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program*
• Pension Plan with Aggressive Agency contribution
• Life Insurance – Automatic Benefit, at no cost to you
• Paid Training* including TCI and CPR/AED/First Aid Certification Update courses, if role appropriate
• Tuition Reimbursement*
• Travel/ Mileage Reimbursement*
• Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging
• The Comfort of a Business Casual Environment.

*To qualify, certain conditions may apply

EEO Statement: St. Catherine’s Center for Children is committed to creating a diverse environment and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, reproductive health and pregnancy, family history and genetics, disability, age, military status, veteran status, politics, or other beliefs, and any other characteristics protected by law.

Background Checks: We run a thorough and complete pre-employment background check on all candidates being considered for a position, this includes fingerprinting. All candidates must successfully clear the pre-employment background check process, which follows NYS/DOJ requirements. We pay for all pre-employment background checks