Family Connections Specialist I - $500 bonus!

*Eligible for a $500 Sign-on Bonus



Position Summary:

This position utilizes change-focused interventions to achieve the core outcomes of the Family Connections Model: social support, family functioning, family resources, child well-being, parenting attitudes and behaviors and managing parent stress. With guidance and direction, the Family Connections Specialist (FCS) supports generally complex and high risk families by providing various activities to assist in supporting and building resilience within the family unit through engagement in a continuum of family-centered services that are coordinated, community-based, accessible, culturally responsive, strength based and trauma informed. The service is intended to strengthen family protective factors, to reduce risk of child abuse or neglect, and enhance caregiver protective capacities to ensure children are safe in their own homes. Responsibilities include conducting needs assessments, developing and implementing a service plan with the family, providing family support and assistance, parenting training utilizing an evidence based curriculum, and engaging families in community services by making effective referrals, if needed. The FCS may work in a variety of settings including the clients home, school, or community.

Essential Job Functions:

• Conduct a thorough client/family emergency and concrete needs assessment, utilizing the program specific protocol.
• Collaborate with the client/family through face-to-face interactions to build trust, evaluate safety, encourage hope and ensure ongoing engagement in services.
• Support the development and implementation of an effective Family Connections service plan using a strength based trauma informed approach.
• Maintain objective, timely documentation reflective of the service provided and the client/familys efforts toward defined goals.
• Provide effective trauma informed crisis management by triaging and stabilizing emergency situations.
• Effectively use de-escalation techniques, respond to the needs of a client/family in a timely manner and provide follow-up care.
• Provide or arrange for transportation of clients to medically necessary appointments as appropriate.
• Provide effective client discharge planning, including helping the family plan and prepare for aftercare services.
• Maintain accurate records in accordance with the timelines and program standards.
• Maintain professional boundaries and ethics specific to the agency and particular professional certification.
• Interact professionally, clearly and timely with internal and external customers and community professionals.
• Represent AzCA as a trauma informed agency while staffing cases, participating in meetings, providing consultation and advocating on behalf of a client/family.
• Participate in in-service training and educational opportunities outside the agency as required and as time and resources permit.
• Attend and participate in all required meetings.
• Maintain consistent attendance and punctuality to provide consistency in serving clients.
• Safely and effectively, monitor client activities.
• Be available outside of normal business hours to provide client services.
• Perform work and represent AzCA in accordance with our mission, vision, values and Foundations for Success.
• Perform responsibilities and provide effective client support with regular supervision and guidance/direction and refer clients to supervisor or more experienced staff as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned, which are consistent with the general responsibilities of the position.

Minimum Education & Experience:

• Bachelor's Degree and 2 years related experience in the child welfare or behavioral health field OR
• Master's degree with less than 2 years of related experience
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Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs)

• Demonstrate the knowledge and application of trauma informed care, human development and family systems.
• Ability to apply advanced knowledge of cultural situations involved with the child and family.
• Ability to apply knowledge of family therapy and child management techniques from a systems perspective.
• Knowledge of community, social, educational, and recreational resources.
• Ability to work in a diverse, multi-cultural environment and be sensitive to the service populations cultural and socioeconomic characteristics.
• Ability to participate as a team member, utilize supervision and able to accept peer support in the treatment planning process.
• Effective written, oral and interpersonal communication skills in the English language. Might also require Spanish as program dictates.
• Must be organized with the ability to take direction, prioritize tasks, and to work independently with minimal direction.
• Must have ability to maintain confidentiality, and exhibit sound judgment while providing emotional support.
• Ability to interact effectively and build strong working relationships with various levels of staff, partners and with guests of AzCA.
• Must be able to recognize and communicate with supervisor to address self-care needs in order to effectively maintain all job duties.
• Ability to work in a variety of environments to include but not limited to in/outdoors with various obstacles, stairs and unknown conditions.
• Must be able to physically demonstrate competency in the following areas: operate transport vehicles as needed (unless declared a non-driver).
• Able to operate common office equipment and be proficient with electronic health records, calendaring, word processing and other needed computer and electronic device skills, with the ability to learn and to effectively utilize new technologies as implemented by AzCA.

Minimum Qualification & Requirements

• Must be 21 years of age (licensing requirement).
• Possess a valid Arizona drivers license and be insurable under the agencys automobile policy.
• Must be able to provide own transportation to and from clients homes and/or other relevant organizations/agencies
• Must be able to provide DPS fingerprint clearance.
• Must be able to meet training and agency compliance requirements for the position.
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AzCA is an EEO/Veterans/Disabled/LGBTQ employer

At Arizonas Children Association we are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that not only promotes, but values and celebrates diversity. Our goal is to create an inclusive workplace and culture to better serve our children, families and community.

Just like the uniqueness of the families we serve, we strive to be diverse in:

race, color, ethnicity, national origin, culture, language, gender, age, sexual orientation/preference, gender identity and expression, disability and/or diagnosis, marital status, religion, status, or any other protected status.

AzCA does not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.