Ascentria Care Alliance

Youth & Family Specialist

Ascentria Care Alliance  •  Worcester, MA (Onsite)  •  7 days ago
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Job Description

Help us Build a Thriving New England!

Ascentria Care Alliance has been transforming underserved communities for over 150 years, providing a wide range of services to children, families, and seniors across five states. Recognized as one of the largest human services nonprofits in New England and one of the top 100 women-led businesses in Massachusetts, we envision vibrant communities where all individuals have access to resources to support one another to overcome challenges and seize opportunities.

The Youth and Family Specialist can serve dual roles in the Child and Family Services because the work supporting youth in home like settings and achieving permanency, and the work of recruiting and supporting families, needs to be a shared responsibility across the team. Each youth and each foster family will have their own Youth and Family Specialist with differing roles. Both roles require close collaboration with school personnel and educational teams, child welfare staff, Family Networks lead agencies, therapists, lawyers and court personnel, the general public and intra-agency collaterals.

Primary Responsibilities:

Demonstrate a human centered, strength-based, and trauma informed philosophy by treating all clients, families and collaterals in a non-judgmental and respectful manner while building on their strengths.

Create a trusting and safe relationship with the client and encourages personal growth of the client

Advocate for the youth’s needs to ensure equitable and quality care

Provide clinical case management working in multiple systems and settings providing services to foster children, foster families and biological families

Depending on level of training, provides group and/or individual counseling and coaching services, mediation and guidance to children and their biological and/or foster families.

Facilitates supervised family visits, and provides parent coaching as appropriate

Consistently demonstrate discretion and independent judgment with regard to assessing and making decisions around the best interest for children and families

Undertake the responsibility of “on-call” duty as assigned and is responsive to crises independently either by phone andor in person, demonstrating a calm and professional approach while assuring safety for all involved.

Facilitate treatment meetings/ foster care review, and invites the appropriate attendees, while ensuring effective interagency collaboration

Coordinate dental, medical, psychological and community support for youth

• Ensure that educational needs are met including advocacy for special education services

Attend all meetings called by collaterals and support a team approach to best serve the needs of children, youth and families

Support and participate in the development and implementation of strategic plans for program-specific foster care recruitment in conjunction with foster care recruitment across the Children and Families Service.

Recruit qualified foster homes on a continuous basis to meet the growing and challenging needs of clients

Support foster families through the recruitment and training process.

Participate in “matching process” and prepares foster parents for their work with

the child/youth and family of origin

Promote the program through community networking and positive representation to internal and external committees, government entities, etc.

Maintain an excellent relationship with state or private funding sources and other state authorities responsible for regulating foster homes or child placing agencies

Develop and maintain expertise regarding regulatory requirements for foster parent qualification and renewal including record checks, evaluations and updating of file materials

Complete all documentation required by state licensing regulations in a timely manner, including but not limited to home studies, background checks , annual foster care review and waivers

Perform other related duties incidental to the work described herein to help meet the goals of the program or the agency

Document all contacts and incidents and ensure files are up to date

Develop and complete assessments/homestudies, service planstx plans, progress notes and any other necessary documentation

Provide updates to the court both in writing and in person

Maintain organized up to date case/foster care files in accordance with contractual standards, state and federal law

Keep supervisor updated on any incidents or concerns involving clients and foster families

Attend weekly staff meetings and any other meetings or events required by the Agency

• Complete all mandatory training on a timely basis to meet certification standards, including 20-30 hours of specialized training each year including ethics, current practice and needs of the service population.

MA - Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work or a related field with

NH - Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work or a related field with

Ability to work within the Mission of the agency.

Significant experience working with children with social/emotional/physical problems desirable. Mediation and conflict resolution skills helpful.

Word processing/computer skills preferred.

Open to new ideas and desire to grow professionally. Flexibility in thinking and scheduling.

Possession of a valid driver’s license and a good driving record.

Ability to utilize independent sound clinical judgement and decision making with regards to best interest of children and families

Ability to work flexible hours and be available to meet for emergency situations.

Ability to effectively manage client behavior, foster independence, and maintain perspective and a sense of humor.

Ability to handle people and situations with compassion, diplomacy, and tact.

Ability to work independently by setting priorities; organizing resources and effectively performing tasks in a timely manner.

Ability to provide documentation such as valid driver's license, evidence of automobile insurance and a clear criminal record check.

Ability to work cooperatively in a team environment and to problem solve unexpected/unpredictable circumstances calmly.

Knowledge of federal, state and local regulations, protocols and/or procedures.

Computer skills required.

Ability to travel to meet client needs

Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills

Ability to use independent judgment and discretion; investigate, analyze and draw professional conclusions.

When you join Ascentria, you’re not just taking on a job—you’re stepping into a role that empowers you to grow personally and professionally while contributing to a meaningful mission.

Transform lives and communities with Ascentria Care Alliance.  Apply today to be a part of our mission-driven Team!

Ascentria Care Alliance

About Ascentria Care Alliance

Our Mission: Improving the wellbeing of individuals, families, and communities facing systemic barriers.

Our Vision: By 2050, Ascentria aims to shape a healthier, more equitable society by setting a new standard of care, co-created with the communities we serve, that centers on both those receiving and providing care.

Our Values: Courage, Resilience, Compassion, Dedication, Integrity

As one of the largest community service organizations in New England, Ascentria Care Alliance empowers people of all backgrounds to rise together and reach beyond life’s challenges. With 60 locations throughout Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maine and Connecticut, we use an innovative human-centered care model to help individuals and families move forward and thrive.

To learn more, please visit us at www.ascentria.org.

Industry
Healthcare & Social Services
Company Size
201-500 employees
Headquarters
Worcester, Massachusetts
Year Founded
1872
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