Family Specialist of Lighthouse Women's Residence


RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Manages parenting and children's services for assigned caseload of families.
  • Establishes service plans, reviews and updates plans quarterly.
  • Participates in case conferences
  • Completes children and parenting assessments of assigned families.
  • Provides interventions to promote children's positive behavior, increase resiliency and reduce
  • the risk of later substance abuse by the children.
  • Links children to needed services in the community and coordinates external services with
  • programming in the residence (e.g. school, daycare)
  • Provides support around custody issues including court related activities.
  • Utilizes a variety of techniques to increase clients' parenting skills and confidence, including
  • modeling and demonstrating appropriate responses to children's behavior and reinforcing
  • effective parenting in the milieu.
  • Conducts individual and group sessions for mothers focusing on parenting.
  • Supports parent involvement in decision-making about children's services and school
  • involvement.
  • Provides crisis intervention to mothers and children.
  • Flexible and/or unusual hours including a regularly assigned weekend and/or evening schedule
  • and emergency on-call.
  • Availability of a car, a valid New York State Driver's License and a clean driving record.
  • Schedule and assigned duties are subject to change based on the needs of the program and the
  • clients we serve.


REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

  • Must have knowledge of child development, effect of in utero drug and alcohol exposure,
  • impact of addiction and recovery on family functioning.
  • Must have awareness of strategies for improving parenting skills.
  • Must have knowledge of substance abuse prevention theory and techniques.
  • Must be familiar with community resources providing services to children.
  • Must be knowledgeable of and sensitive to the cultural differences in family structure and
  • parenting style.
  • Must have effective intervention skills with children and families.


QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Master degree in related field (Psychology, Social Work, Education), and two (2) years relevant
  • paid direct service experience in an agency providing women's substance abuse treatment or
  • family and/or children's services

OR

  • Bachelor degree in behavioral health or human service field and QHP status plus four (4) years
  • relevant experience.

AND

  • A valid NYS drivers' license.
  • Automobile in good working order.
  • Must have Accredited NYS Defensive driving course; or obtain within 15 days of hire.
  • Must maintain Active NYS Defensive Driving class every 3 years, upon expiration.
  • If driving one's own vehicle, must maintain valid inspection and automobile insurance.
  • Must provide proof of insurance upon hire and when requested.