FIT Paraprofessional - Community Service Agency

The Family-Based Intensive Treatment (FIT) Paraprofessional is responsible for working as a member of a multidisciplinary team to offer a combination of intensive family therapy, care coordination, targeted case management and Family Partner support for youth under 21 who have experienced a Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED) and meet other Medical Necessity Criteria (MNC). They are responsible to the Clinical Team Lead and the CSA Program Director.

Job Responsibilities & Essential Functions

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

• Work in collaboration with team members and the entire family, or a subset of the family, to assist with implementation of focused, structural, or strategic interventions and behavioral techniques to: enhance problem-solving, limit-setting, risk management/safety planning, and communication; build skills to strengthen the family, advance therapeutic goals, or improve ineffective patterns of interaction; identify and utilize community resources; and develop and maintain natural supports for the youth and parent/caregiver(s) in order to promote sustainability of treatment gains
• Maintain positive working relationships with FIT team, including supervisor and clinician, in addition to other collateral contacts and community providers.
• Support implementation of the clinician’s treatment plan to assist the youth and family in achieving the goals of that plan
• Provide coaching in support of decision-making in both crisis and non-crisis situations
• Attend and assist with facilitating family therapy sessions
• Facilitate individual sessions with clients
• Assist the clinician in implementing the therapeutic objectives of the treatment plan designed to address the youth’s mental health, behavioral, and emotional needs
• Make referrals as determined by the family, FIT team, and treatment plan
• Promotes linkage with outpatient providers by assisting the youth and family in their attending outpatient appointments. When requested by the family, and when clinically appropriate, attends and supports a youth and family at meetings related to the youth's behavioral health needs treatments in any setting
• Support and help the family with the education system by attending school meetings and participating in the development of any school plans/IEP’s; and within other systems such as the courts, state agencies and community organizations
• Using the treatment plan, identify and actively assist the family to obtain and monitor the delivery of available and agreed upon services
• When requested by the family, and when clinically appropriate, attends and supports a youth and family at meetings related to the youths behavioral health needs
• Promotes linkage with outpatient providers by assisting the youth and family in their attending outpatient appointments
• Engages in robust discharge planning, that begins at intake. Assists the youth and family in assessing and accessing other levels of care as clinically appropriate
• Participates in weekly individual supervision and weekly clinical supervision, appropriate with the needs of the program
• Participates in ongoing program and agency meetings as required
• Engage in effective Care Coordination and Collaboration
• Participate in independent education and training opportunities
• Utilize clinical skills involving knowledge of the DSM-5
• Provide psychoeducation and advocacy as appropriate
• Maintain consistent communication with supervisor and team members: remaining available via work cell phone and by reading and responding to work related emails daily
• Remain up to date with all paperwork and documentation needs within the FIT program.
• Maintain all scheduled sessions with youth and families; maintain regular contact with all youth and families and consistently meet program expectations
• Attend and actively participate in clinical supervision and team meetings

Travel Required

Must have a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation that meets CFS Driver Policy. Travel is required to provide services in different settings and to attend agency meetings, events, and trainings

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Interns in MA-level degree program in human services field or BA level degree or associate's degree in human services. The FIT paraprofessional should be experienced in navigating the child/family–serving systems and have experience advocating for family members who are involved with behavioral health systems. Availability during evening/weekend hours is required.

Cultural Competency Qualifications

• Awareness of personal attitudes, beliefs, biases, and assumptions about others 
• Knowledge of the various dimensions of diversity, including gender, race, and ethnicity 
• Acknowledging that people from other cultural groups may not share the same beliefs and practices or perceive experiences in the same way 
• Cultural knowledge of key populations that will be served to address disparities in service delivery
• Demonstrates positive attitudes towards cultural differences by showing respect and openness towards people whose social and cultural background is different from one's own 

Demonstrates skills for communication and interaction across cultures, including the ability to recognize and manage personal behaviors, moods, and impulses to create an inclusive, equitable, and welcoming climate within the agency 

Salary : $19 - $23