This position offers a $2,000 sign on bonus 60 days after hire (must remain at the agency of 1 year)

A great, entry level position to make a difference in the lives of individuals with disabilities!

Recognizing the value in self care and proper work- life balance Bridges Homeward is currently piloting "Half Day Fridays" for all staff typically scheduled 37.5 hours or more

The Family Support Specialist is a member of Bridges Homeward's Developmental Disabilities Program team, and assists families, children, youth and adult family members referred by the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) in developing life skills, setting and achieving goals, assisting in accessing resources needed to obtain goals, and engaging in activities in the community. Basic Spanish speaking capacity preferred.

HOW YOU WILL BE MAKING A DIFFERENCE:

• Coordinate and schedule parent/caregiver trainings
• Collaborate with other Bridges Homeward staff in developing and coordinating family activities and programs for individuals with developmental disabilities, and their families
• Advocate effectively for our client living with developmental disabilities, and families
• Facilitate communication with the client's collaterals, including DDS, school, medical and in-home providers and therapists
• Provide strength-based support by partnering with families to understand and meet their needs.
• Assess client and family needs through referrals from DDS
• Assist family in managing funds allocated by DDS
• Responsible for drafting bi-monthly newsletter to families

The Agency: Founded in 1873, Bridges Homeward has evolved over time into a group of dynamic, highly dedicated, mission driven professionals meeting the current needs of the Greater Boston community. Bridges Homeward is committed to strengthening and advocating for diversity, equity and inclusion, for our staff and those we serve. We are seeking staff that align with our commitment, as individuals and as a community, to continually seek to advance racial equity initiatives to address long-standing systemic racial biases and discrimination in our society. Our goal for every person we work with is for them to find permanency; a healthy, nurturing relationship with an adult that they can count on for the rest of their life. Sometimes, permanency in our work means making sure a child can remain with their biological family; sometimes it means ensuring someone with a developmental disability can live with family instead of having to move to an institutional setting; sometimes it means finding a child in foster care a forever family and for other youth it means having a safe, secure parenting relationship with a supportive adult. Join our supportive team environment today!

How we invest in our staff:

• Personal, individualized on-boarding training
• 3 weeks PTO (2 weeks vacation, 1 week personal) in first year of employment, 10 sick days and 13 paid holidays
• Recognizing the value in self-care and work-life balance, we are currently piloting half day Fridays for all employees working 30 hours a week or more
• Mileage reimbursements
• We pay 75% coverage of base health insurance plans
• Staff are provided with a laptop and cell phone to work remotely.
• Individualized opportunity for growth and professional development
• Ability to participate in staff lead enrichment committees such as Justice Equity and Action Committee, BIPOC Affinity Group, Young Professional Council, Recognition and Activities Committee and a New Hire Mentoring Program
• And more!

REQUIRED EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor's Degree in social work, psychology, education or a related field; 3 years' experience working with families, children and adults with developmental disabilities may be substituted for the Bachelor Degree.
• Minimum of 1 years' experience in working with families, children and adults with developmental disabilities.
• Knowledge of positive behavioral techniques and ABA principles preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to provide case management to families, including ability to assess needs.
• Familiarity with special education preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Basic Spanish speaking preferred

Bridges Homeward is passionate about our mission and clients, and welcome staff with lived experience. We are actively recruiting candidates with lived experience in a Bridges Homeward program area of focus which includes having been adopted yourself, adopted a child, experience with kinship care, guardianship, young parenting (age 22 or younger,) having been a youth in foster care, experience as a foster parent or in a family who fostered, having family involvement with DSS/DCF/DDS, experienced childhood trauma, have a developmental disability or have a family member with a developmental disability.

Other requirements:

• Valid driver's license and properly insured vehicle

•  Proof of COVID 19 Vaccination, or Waiver Approved by Bridges Homeward Leadership