Core Values:

• CULTURAL PROFICIENCY: Articulates and applies historical context of racism and understands the current reality of consumers and communities of color in order to support racial equity. Actively demonstrates a commitment to supporting equity and inclusion, and serves as an advocate with colleagues, partners, and communities to meet the Agency's goal of becoming an Antiracist Culturally Inclusive Organization.
• RACIAL EQUITY ADVOCATE: Recognizes, supports, and engages in dismantling institutional racism. Partners with, and is accountable to stakeholders, including children, families, and communities of color.
• RACIAL EQUITY MINDSET: Demonstrates awareness of biases, internalized racial superiority and oppression. Leads with a racial equity lens and actively uses the racial equity tool in meaningful ways.
• TRANSFORMATIONAL VALUES: Contributes to valuable and positive, antiracist transformation in individuals, organizations, and social systems in an effort to actively progress across the antiracist multicultural institution continuum. Is able to foster a sense of community and shared purpose via collaboration and cooperation with others inside and outside Family Connections. Embodies the principles and practices that form the Agency's culture. Operates from an abundance mentality that recognizes opportunities and is optimistic and realistic about the future.
• Demonstrates cultural competence through an awareness of and sensitivity towards Agency's clients' and coworkers' cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.
• Committed to the value of a nurturing family as the ideal environment for a child and believes in the capacity of people to grow and change.
• Works from a strengths-based perspective.
• Recognizes that consumers come first and responds to consumers appropriately.
• Knows and adheres to all FC Policies and Procedures. 

Professionalism:

• Values and participates in the Team as a proactive member.
• Respects others' professional opinions and tolerates a range of feelings. 
• Able to give and receive constructive criticism.

Supervision:

• Attends supervision consistently and comes prepared.
• Able to receive feedback and to learn from it.
• Has insight about self (i.e., strengths and weaknesses) and utilizes that knowledge toward growth and change.

Job Responsibilities

1. Initial Encounter / Intake / Assessment
   1. Responds to requests for phone screens and/or intake assignments with timely and appropriate outreach to client.
   2. Accurately assesses client's presentation, needs and strengths.
   3. Completes intake in a timely fashion.
   4. Completes DSM-IV Diagnosis for both mental health and substance abuse disorders.
2. Engagement, Treatment Planning, and Contracting
   1. Develops a treatment plan to address both mental health and substance abuse disorders, which is completed jointly with the client, not imposed on the client and incorporates the needs and priorities identified by the client during Intake/Assessment.
   2. Contracts with client in prioritizing time-limited goals, regularly re-evaluates progress, and re-contracts in areas for further growth.
   3. Follows up on "no-shows"/missed appointments.
   4. Re-negotiates treatment plans at minimal 3-month interval for first year, then every six months thereafter, after re-assessing client's needs/life circumstances, and progress on previous goals.
3. Clinical Intervention
   1. Differentiates between the range of normal development and behaviors and pathological adaptations, and then initiates appropriate interventions.
   2. Demonstrates the ability to utilize appropriate interventions in both non-crisis and crisis situations.
   3. Tolerates a range of feelings, affect, and personal presentation without judgment.
   4. Uses a range of approaches according to client need (e.g. individual, family therapy or visitation, group, couples, in-home, crisis intervention, (short or long term) and is creative when needed.
   5. Acts in the best interest of the client.
   6. Consults with psychiatrist as needed and is knowledgeable about client's medication regimen and side effects, and monitors medication appointments.
   7. Provides case management services as indicated.
   8. Advocates, coordinates, and maintains on-going contact with other providers involved in clients' care.
4. Documentation
   1. Completes documentation as per agency and program guidelines.
5. Discharge / Termination
   1. Identifies when treatment goals have been reached and/or benefits maximized and works toward appropriate discharge.
   2. Discusses progress with client and prepares client for termination, with appropriate and timely discharge planning.
   3. When appropriate, facilitates transfers/referrals for further services.
   4. Consults with clinical and program supervisor regarding termination prior to discharge.
   5. Completes termination paperwork and appropriate discharge planning in a timely fashion.

6. On-Call Phone

a. Equitably shares on-call phone responsibilities with peer clinicians.

b. Be available to accept emergent client calls during off-program hours.

Qualifications

Education/Certification: Master's in Social Work or equivalent master's in human services. LSW, LPC, or state licensure/certification specific to degree.

Experience: Two years' experience in mental health. Experience with SPMI and diverse populations in an urban setting. Experience in utilizing appropriate interventions in both non-crisis and crisis situations.

Knowledge: Knowledge of psychiatric disorders and various treatment modalities, including group, family and individual treatment. Knowledge of community resources, social service and mental health systems. Knowledge of appropriate clinical interventions in a crisis and non-crisis situation. Knowledge of appropriate treatment interventions for victims of sexual abuse, individuals suffering from PTSD, juvenile sexual offenders. Knowledge of Family Systems Theory.

Skills and Abilities: Ability to conduct psychiatric and psychosocial assessments and to make a differential diagnosis. 

Professional Characteristics: Open, warm, empathic, attentive listener, self-aware, ethical, creative, organized, flexible, open to criticism, patient, responsible, able to work independently, mature, self-motivated, dedicated, enthusiastic, willing to take on additional tasks and responsibilities, interested in seeking additional training and skills.

Work Environment/Physical Demands: The individual must possess the ability to perform work that requires frequent standing, bending, reaching, squatting, kneeling, moving, and lifting of up to or in excess of 50 pounds.

*The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job or that an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential function.

Family Connections is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer committed to excellence. Employment offers are made on the basis of qualifications and without regard to race, sex, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability, age veteran status, or sexual orientation or other protected classes under the State and Federal law.