Description

Job Summary

As a member of the Children’s Services team provides prevention services to school age children impacted by one or more risk factors. Intervenes with children, families and schools to enhance the opportunities for school success and positive life outcomes. Staff must possess computer, typing, grammar, punctuation, proofreading, transcription, phone proficiencies and excellent communication and customer relations skills to effectively interact with staff, customers, business partners and community stakeholders. Additionally, the employee must exercise independent decision-making and work effectively in a team-based environment. The employee will complete other tasks as needed in various programs as assigned by supervisor.

Requirements

Essential Functions

• Provides individual, family, group and classroom services for identified children that are deemed to be at high risk of substance abuse and other at risk behaviors (including school failure). Works in collaboration with school staff, Safenet students and their support systems in order to enhance protective factors, decrease risk factors and improve school success.

• Provides regular services and supports to children identified by school staff or families, to include family service planning, home visits as needed, individual social skills building, and group support for both students and their support systems. Operates primarily in designated school settings.

• Provides prevention services during and after school including topic specific groups for students (such as divorce, violence prevention, conflict resolution, etc.). Provides consultation to school staff on ways to incorporate students’ support systems and their input. Offers materials and resources on specific or general prevention topics to aid schools and parents in communicating.

• Facilitates service planning for referred students based on the principles of Prevention and Early Intervention (family centered, family empowerment, community based, family-school-worker partnership, comprehensive interagency approach, evidenced and outcome based). Refers students/support systems for additional service as appropriate.

• Collaborates with other service providers involved in a family service plan to help the family to develop the strengths to effectively address their concerns. Initiates communications with involved agencies. Works with the school principals and other staff to identify strategies for enhancing school success. Provides opportunities for the family and school to support each other.

• Initiates and sustains this and other support mechanisms for success. Assists in the coordination of children’s participation in summer youth activities.

• Meets regularly with the Children’s Services team for consultation and resource development under guidance of the Children’s Services Supervisor.

• Records information on activities provided, on service plans developed and contracts with school and other service providers in the format required for the program and for evaluation purposes. Enters appropriate data into the electronic medical record and computer database for reporting and monitoring purposes.

• Complies with agency policy, DCH, CARF, and Medicaid criteria for clinical documentation for all aspects of the medical record including but not limited to consents for treatment and releases of information.

• Works a flexible schedule, which allows for time each day in the school, as well as time for family meetings and parent involvement groups.

• Participates in meetings and trainings as requested to maintain or improve proficiency.

• Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.

• Complies with all policies and procedures of the agency.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Qualifications, Skills, and Conditions

Knowledge, Education and Training (licenses, programs, or certificates):

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Human Services or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience which results in the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job is required.

• Must be or working toward becoming a Child Mental Health Professional as defined by Michigan Department of Community Health and a Certified Prevention Specialist. Expectation is that staff will obtain their Certified Prevention Specialist Certification within two years of initial date of hire.

Experience: A minimum of one year of progressively more responsible or expansive experience in examination, evaluation and treatment of minors and their families is required. Lived experiences with mental illness, developmental disabilities, and/or substance use disorders valued.

Interpersonal and Communication Skills: Frequently interpreting and translating facts and information; explaining situations and issues to people and advising them of alternative or appropriate courses of action; and/or interviewing and developing information from others on a basic level.

Guidance/Work Direction Received: Vast majority of job duties are performed in accordance with well-defined policies, procedures and instruction, the incumbent uses some discretion in applying policies and procedures prescribed by management.

Supervisory or Managerial Responsibility: No managerial or supervisory authority.

Visual Concentration: Requires an average level of visual concentration.

Job Complexity: Regularly requires planning, solving problems, analyzing situations, making decisions, or thinking creatively.

Job Impact:

• Impacts measures of financial activity or results occasionally, but to a moderate degree. Impact would not be viewed as causing significant financial harm to the Agency or as providing significant opportunities for enhancing the financial position of the Agency.

• Presents regular opportunities in which errors in judgment may have a moderate impact on the well-being or legal rights of others.

Working Conditions:

• Periodically requires physical exertion beyond that typically found in office or administrative jobs.

• Work is regularly carried out in mildly disagreeable conditions. Factors such as temperature, noise, or other surroundings yield an identifiable level of discomfort.

• Tasks performed produce exposure to injuries such as minor burns, cuts, abrasions, or falls beyond that of the typical office environment periodically.

Specific Requirements:

• Must have a valid Michigan’s driver’s license and a good driving record.

• Must be available to work a fully flexible schedule including evenings, weekends, and holidays.

• Must be certified in First Aid and CPR within 90 days of hire.