Intervention Specialist, Post Release Services

Requisition #: req12715

Location: Houston, TX

Hours: Full- Time (40 hours/ week)

$3000 Incentive Bonus Available
($1,500 at time of hire and $1,500 after 6 months)
Bethany is changing the world through family. We began our work by serving one child more than 75 years ago. Today, Bethany is an international Christian nonprofit partnering with communities in more than 30 states and in several countries around the world. We strengthen and preserve families, support displaced people fleeing danger, and find safe, loving families for children who need them. Bethany is at the forefront of creating and implementing solutions to meet the growing needs of vulnerable children and families in the U.S. and around the world.

The PRS Intervention Specialist is responsible for providing intensive case management and crisis intervention services to unaccompanied children and their families. They advocate aggressively for clients to obtain all services entitled to them by community providers. The PRS Intervention Specialist develops comprehensive safety plans and treatment plans focused on concrete goals developed with the families served.

The position is expected to function effectively with moderate supervision while following the guidelines given on procedures, along with agency, federal, and state regulatory requirements.

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide culturally and linguistically appropriate intensive clinical case management and crisis intervention services to unaccompanied children and families;
• Maintain a caseload in compliance with contract terms and agency expectations;
• Conduct home visits in accordance with contract requirements, when needed;
• Create safety plans and treatment plans according to the standards of the program;
• Provide psychoeducational information, referrals, outreach, advocacy, and support to children and families, when needed;
• Conduct regular visitation with families, as prescribed by the program, focused on family stabilization and preservation as well as additional therapeutic support;
• Refer and connect families to available resources on an on-going basis;
• Assess the safety and appropriateness of the placement on an ongoing basis using child welfare principles and social work best practices;
• Serve clients within the entire state of the respective location, as assigned;
• Participate in mandatory training requirements and ongoing trainings monthly and annually to meet all federal, state, and agency expectations;
• Attend weekly meetings with site and clinical leadership to consult on cases, and to review case plan and directions;
• Participate in peer-to-peer support opportunities within the branches for growth and sharing of innovation and case consultation within the sites;
• Provide psychoeducation and support on the impact of prolonged family separation and trauma;
• Continually assess the level of need in service areas such as legal, medical, behavioral, education, healthy relationships, concrete needs, etc.;
• Educate children and families on identifying risks surrounding child exploitation, trafficking, substance abuse, physical/emotional abuse, coercion by gangs, etc.;
• Work with Case Support Worker to provide thoroughly vetted referrals to children and families;
• Stay abreast of all agency, federal, and state regulatory requirements related to social services;
• Complete other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, or other relevant behavioral science in which direct clinical experience is a program requirement; or a Bachelor’s degree in Human Services, Social Work or an equivalent field of study from an accredited university with at least five years of clinical employment experience in the behavioral sciences.
• Licensed, or eligible for licensure;
• Bilingual in Spanish/English;
• Demonstrated knowledge of trauma impacts during child and adolescent development and have experience working within a cross cultural context;
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills;
• Must exhibit an ability to apply the principles of logic, analytics, and critical thinking with problem solving;
• Computer skills sufficient to perform essential functions including knowledge of Microsoft Office suite;
• Demonstrate ability to work effectively on a multi-disciplinary team;
• Possess the ability to travel, as needed;
• Demonstrated clinical, therapeutic, and crisis intervention skills;
• Demonstrated experience working with unaccompanied children and families, preferred;
• Must be 21 years old with a valid driver’s license with at least 3 years driving experience in the U.S. to operate a vehicle on behalf of Bethany. Must also pass a Motor Vehicle Records (MVR) check and maintain a reliable vehicle with proof of adequate insurance coverage;
• Pass a criminal history screen, including state and local child protection agency registries;
• Subscription to and integration of the agency Statement of Faith and Mission Statement