Family Connection Specialist (FCS)

Summary

CASES (Center for Alternative Sentencing and Employment Services) is seeking a Family Connection Specialist (FCS) for its Bronx-based Expedited Engagement Program (EEP). The Family Connection Specialist will engage young adults ages 18-25 and their families who may be experiencing barriers to mental health and behavioral health services, particularly individuals impacted by racial inequities and disparities in access to care. The FCS will conduct timely outreach to referred individuals and families, identify service needs, provide psychoeducation and supportive engagement, and facilitate connections to appropriate behavioral health, health, housing, education, employment, and other community-based resources.

The FCS will use a strengths-based, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and person-centered approach to build rapport, address barriers to service access, and support individuals and families in connecting with services that align with their identified needs and preferences. Responsibilities will include community outreach, individual and family engagement, resource navigation, advocacy, crisis support, and follow-up to promote successful connections to ongoing services. The FCS will also develop and facilitate psychoeducational activities and workshops addressing trauma, racism, racial inequities, and their impact on mental health and overall well-being.

This position is based in the Bronx Community Office and requires community-based fieldwork throughout designated Bronx neighborhoods and other NYC communities as needed.

The Expedited Engagement Program is designed to reduce barriers to behavioral health services and improve access to community-based supports for young adults and families. The program recognizes that individuals may experience overlapping challenges related to mental health, substance use, housing instability, economic hardship, education, and social support. The FCS will help individuals navigate these challenges by building trusting relationships, providing information and support, and facilitating connections to appropriate resources and ongoing care.

Qualifications

What We Are Looking For:

• Bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, human services or a related field.
• Experience working with young adults, families, and/or individuals experiencing mental health concerns, substance use challenges, housing instability, or other social service needs.
• Knowledge of community-based behavioral health services, social service systems, and available community resources.
• Demonstrated ability to engage individuals who may be reluctant to access services and to build collaborative relationships with diverse populations.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to conduct community outreach, coordinate referrals, and follow up with individuals and service providers to facilitate connections to care.
• Ability to work collaboratively with community partners and multidisciplinary service providers.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed, culturally responsive, strengths-based, and person-centered practices.
• Ability to maintain accurate documentation, protect confidential information, and meet program reporting requirements.
• Ability to travel throughout the Bronx and other designated NYC communities for outreach and service coordination.
  
  

Preferred Skills

• Strong engagement and relationship-building skills.
• Motivational interviewing and person-centered communication.
• Community outreach, resource navigation, and service coordination.
• Knowledge of mental health, substance use, trauma, and social determinants of health.
• Workshop development and facilitation.
• Advocacy and problem-solving skills.
• Culturally responsive practice and the ability to work effectively with diverse communities.
• Organization, time management, documentation, and follow-up skills.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with a multidisciplinary team.
• Experience using electronic databases and documentation systems; experience with Salesforce or similar platforms preferred.
• Experience facilitating workshops, psychoeducational groups, or community education activities preferred. Experience working with individuals impacted by racial inequities, behavioral health disparities, or barriers to accessing services preferred.
• Spanish-speaking ability is a plus.
  
  

Duties

What You Will Be Doing

• Conduct timely outreach to individuals and families referred to the Expedited Engagement Program, initiating contact within the required program timeframe.
• Engage young adults ages 18-25 and their families through telephone outreach, in-person meetings, community-based engagement, and other approved methods.
• Build rapport and establish trusting relationships with individuals who may be hesitant to engage in behavioral health services or other community-based supports.
• Conduct needs assessments to identify behavioral health concerns, social service needs, strengths, preferences, and barriers affecting access to care.
• Develop individualized engagement and service linkage plans in collaboration with young adults and families based on identified needs and self-directed goals.
• Provide psychoeducation regarding mental health, trauma, racism, racial inequities, social determinants of health, and the benefits of accessing appropriate support services.
• Develop and facilitate psychoeducational workshops, group activities, and community education opportunities to promote awareness, engagement, and connection to services.
• Link individuals and families to appropriate mental health, substance use, medical, housing, educational, employment, financial assistance, legal, and other community-based services.
• Assist individuals in navigating service systems, completing referrals, addressing eligibility requirements, scheduling appointments, and overcoming barriers to accessing care.
• Provide advocacy and follow-up to support successful connections to services and promote continuity of care.
• Provide supportive engagement and crisis assistance within the scope of the position, following program protocols and making appropriate referrals when additional clinical or emergency intervention is necessary.
• Engage family members and other identified supports, when appropriate and with the individual's consent, to strengthen support systems and facilitate service engagement.
• Conduct community outreach to increase awareness of the program, establish referral relationships, and connect underserved young adults and families to available resources.
• Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with community-based organizations, mental health and substance use treatment providers, hospitals, schools, housing programs, workforce development agencies, and other service providers.
• Utilize motivational interviewing, problem-solving techniques, and strengths-based engagement strategies to address ambivalence and support individuals in identifying and pursuing their goals.
• Provide services in a culturally responsive, trauma-informed, person-centered, and nonjudgmental manner that recognizes the impact of racial inequities and social determinants of health.
• Maintain knowledge of community resources, eligibility criteria, referral procedures, and service availability to facilitate appropriate and timely linkages.
• Document outreach attempts, referrals, assessments, services provided, referrals completed, linkage outcomes, and follow-up activities in the program database in accordance with CASES policies, OMH requirements, and applicable confidentiality regulations.
• Maintain accurate and timely records and contribute to required program reports, performance measures, quality improvement activities, and outcome tracking.
• Meet outreach, engagement, documentation, and service linkage goals established by program leadership.
• Participate in supervision, staff meetings, case consultations, trainings, and program development activities to support service quality and fidelity to the EEP model.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Program Director and other supervisory staff.
  
  

How to Apply

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