Family & Parent Support Specialist - SED

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

• Monroe Community Mental Health Authority is a community based mental health service organization dedicated to consumers living in Monroe County. We provide individual health services for people with any type of behavioral health concerns such as substance abuse, emotional issues, and intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• Our mission is to enrich lives and promote wellness. We live out that mission by being an inviting resource that offers in-house, referral, and emergency services, as well as support within the community for those in need.

BENEFITS

• Bi-weekly pay
• Vacation, sick, and personal time
• Four medical plans to choose from, eligible first day of hire
• Dental
• Vision
• Aflac
• Disability and life insurance provided by the Agency, optional buy-ups
• 401a Money Purchase Pension Plan, 401a Defined Contribution, and 457 Deferred Compensation retirement plans
• YMCA corporate discount

DESCRIPTION

• The primary responsibility of the Family and Parent Support Partner is to provide support for parents being served by MCMHA by coordinating parent support activities, providing leadership and direction to the parent advisory council (PAC) and identifying and assisting with areas of needed parent and family advocacy for families with children that have been primarily diagnosed with an intellectual developmental disability (IDD) and/or diagnosed with a serious emotional disturbance (SED). 
• The Family and Parent Support Partner provides supports and services only when the consumer/family is unable to accomplish these activities independently and informal supports are unavailable to meet the needs of the consumer as identified in the Person/Family Centered Plan.
• In addition, the Family and Parent Support Partner may be also need to assist Children’s Services Case Managers and Supports Coordinators in meeting the needs of consumers/families receiving services by providing community living support and skill building services to children and families. 
• The community living supports and services provided may include, grocery shopping, assisting with housing, assisting with application for benefits, community living support and skill building activities to assist with community integration and independence, and other duties assigned by the Supervisor/Department Head.  
• The Family and Parent Support Partner maintains documentation of contacts with the consumer and family. 
• The Family and Parent Support Partner works under the direction of a Child and Family Supervisor, in accordance with services authorized in the person/family centered plan and in cooperation with the Department Head regarding family support and advocacy activities and development. 

Duties and Competencies 

Under the direction of a Child & Family Supervisor in accordance with services authorized in the person/family centered plan: 

• Learn the family’s story, culture, strengths and concerns. 
• Coach families to navigate the system by building families’ skills, providing information and teaching families how to access and obtain community resources. 
• Meet with families in their home, community, or other setting to work on identified outcomes. 
• Provide a consistent source of non-judgmental support, encouragement and hope. 
• Support the Child & Family team to seek out and promote the family’s voice and choice. Support links between families and community partners. 
• Completion of the initial family journey assessment tool for every family and then 90 days thereafter.  
• Continually assesses the need for support and services, and assurance of the following: 
  • Ongoing planning and/or facilitating planning using person-centered principles 
  • Provision of direct supports and services such as transportation to appointments, grocery shopping, assisting with housing, assisting with application for benefits, community living support (CLS) and skill building activities to assist with the development of community integration and independence and other duties assigned by a Child & Family Supervisor/Department Head and in accordance with the needs outlined in the individual / family plan of service. 
  • Monitoring of progress and screening for signs and symptoms that may require follow up by a case manager or clinician. 
  • Promote and facilitate the general safety and well-being of the consumers by assuring adequate supportive services, and carrying out any preventative, routine or emergency duties. 
• Provide supports, training and assistance to consumers which develop daily living skills, health and safety education and vocational supports which promote self-sufficiency and facilitate a person’s independence, social interaction and community integration.  
• Identify, develop and assist in coordinating parent support and advocacy activities for parents of children diagnosed with an intellectual developmental disability (IDD) and/or a diagnosed with a SED being served by MCMHA.  
• Participate in coordinating and promoting activities for the Parent Advisory Council (PAC), work directly with the activities of the parent advisory council and department head to help design and ensure the delivery of services that are consistent with a family driven service delivery system.  
• Assist with evaluation, planning, promotion and coordination of parent advocacy and support activities for families with children diagnosed primarily with an intellectual developmental disability (IDD) and/or diagnosed with SED.  
• Participate and provide education to community collaboration bodies and human services agencies on parent and family support and advocacy needs. 
•  Assist the clinical team in maintaining documentation of consumer contacts. 
• Utilize agency vehicles for consumer transport and completes the vehicle log. 
• Assist the team in maintaining the calendar of consumer contacts. 
• Attend team meetings and staff meetings. 
• Provide other assistance to consumers/families as delegated by the Child & Family Program Supervisor/Department Head.  
• Maintain current skills and develop new skills through participation in direct care training.

Other related duties as assigned: 

• Maintain current skills and developing new skills to maintain current competence essential for implementing job duties and responsibilities. 
• Follows oral and written direction completing tasks as assigned by due dates. 
• Maintains working knowledge of software applications used in performance of daily duties.

Corporate Compliance Responsibilities: 

• Complies with and maintains competence with all applicable laws, regulations, standards, and rules governed under Medicare, Medicaid, the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH), Michigan Department of Human Services (MDHS), Joint Commission, and any applicable funding sources.  
• Understands, adheres and maintains competence with all MCMHA and CMHPSM standards, policies, procedures as they appear in MCMHA’s, Management of Information, Finance-Contract Management, Recipient Rights, Performance Improvement, Administration, Human Resources, Treatment Foster Care, Environment and Provision of Care Policies. 
•  Complies with and maintains competence with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations as they pertain to privacy and confidentiality.    
• Interacts appropriately with Managers and peers.  Performs required duties with an awareness of impact upon the Authority structure as a whole.   
• Works as a Team Player within the entire Authority Structure.  

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the occupant of the position.  The statements are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed.    

JOB REQUIREMENTS:  

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

Education, Training and Licensing Credentials: 

• High school graduate or equivalent is required with 1 (one) year college preferred. 
• The SED Family and Parent Support Partner position requires a parent of a child diagnosed with a severe emotional disturbance through a Community Mental Health System.  
• Course work in behavioral programming and child growth and development is desirable. 
• Completion of the Parent Support Partner Certification Training will be a requirement within the first year of employment. This includes (but not limited to) 5 full days of training, 1 year of monthly coaching calls with the state and peers, coaching calls with the state and supervisor become quarterly after the first year, state technical support meetings quarterly after the first year, on the job home practice assignments given by the state. Re-certification for the PSP will be required yearly.  

Other Competencies and Abilities: 

• Ability to work in a complex, detail-oriented, deadline structured busy organization.
•  The following physical and mental abilities are required:  frequent lifting or carrying up to 15 pounds, must be able to hear, frequent standing/walking going up and down stairs due to community outreach basis, ability to communicate effectively in person and/or phone, the ability to read, analyze and interpret information, ability to write reports, correspondence and procedures, ability to maintain consumer charts/records,  ability to define and solve practical problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions, ability to influence others. 
• Demonstrated proficiency in MS Outlook, MS Office, electronic health records (CRCT) and such other applications if/when required.  Ability to be trained and successfully complete other computer training as required.  Valid driver’s license, proof of current automobile insurance and driving record determined by the Authority’s insurance carrier to be eligible for coverage if required as part of positions duties. 

MCMHA is a drug-free workplace.

Salary : $20 - $25