Family Connector (Mental Health Services)

Overview

The ACCS Family Connector promotes the full integration and functioning of Persons Served (PS) needed to live successfully in the community. Provides outreach, information, referral and direct support services to families and other community members who identify as supports of the PS. Orients and serves as primary liaison to PS families and members of their social network. Enhances PS social supports. Works to involve family/friends in PS life and Treatment Plan interventions as appropriate. Creates and sustains Team's Family Advisory Council.

Responsibilities

• Creates a welcoming environment for parents, families, and other community members who identify as supporters in which families/supporters are respected and valued.
• Orients families to the services their loved one may receive from ACCS; shares personal experiences and engages their participation in helping the PS meet their ACCS goals.
• Functions as primary liaison for PS families (following HIPAA authorization by PS).
• Provides outreach to and collects current and historical family/supporters' information with focus on understanding the PS family/supporter relationships and their impact on the PS.
• Provides family psycho-education to families, supporters, and guardians. Refers families/supporters to community resources for family support and education when appropriate, including NAMI Family-to-Family groups.
• Collaborates with PS and their family members/supporters to determine how they can best support the desired level of family participation in the PS treatment.
• Trains and mentors staff in maintaining a family/supporter perspective in their work.
• Participates as member of intervention team for assigned PS. Delivers interventions identified on the Treatment Plan targeted at skills building in life domains including activities of daily living, medication administration, symptom reduction, health and wellbeing, employment, education, socialization and recreation with supervision from clinically licensed Team members.
• Employs trauma informed, recovery-oriented, person-centered, culturally competent and strengths-based approaches and skills training techniques in their work.
• Provides competency-based clinical evidence-based practices and best practices to team members and GLE/SIE staff, including Motivational Interviewing; Harm Reduction and Addiction Treatment; SBIRT; Housing First; Stages of Change; Seeking Safety, WRAP, and Cognitive Behavioral interventions, as well as the development of Safety Plans and Crisis Prevention and Response Plans, and 8 Dimensions of Wellness.
• Performs evidenced-based clinical and recovery-oriented interventions for PS.
• Promotes healthcare and employment and education services access for PS.
• Promotes engagement, housing permanency, community tenure, achievement of greater self-sufficiency and successful completion of service for all PS.
• Provides thorough and thoughtful documentation of PS needs and services.
• Creates and sustains the ACCS Family Advisory Council if families/supporters express interest in joining.
• Participates as member of Family Connector Community of Practice Workgroup for continuous role-specific competency development, mentoring and learning.
• Performs other related duties, as assigned.

Knowledge and Skills

• Strong commitment to the right and ability of people served by ACCS to live, work, have meaningful relationships and receive the clinical treatment, resources and supports needed to thrive in their community of choice.
• Skill in helping people integrate into the community through use of natural supports and basic community resources.
• Knowledge of PS engagement strategies.
• Knowledge of community inclusion principles and practices, benefits and entitlement resources.
• Ability to form supportive, trusting relationships with PS.
• Sensitivity to the cultural, religious, ethnic, disability, and gender issues of PS.
• Knowledge of human, legal, and civil rights of PS.
• Knowledge of the effects of prejudice, discrimination, and oppression of people with psychiatric disorders, and the effects of poverty.
• Knowledge and use of different communication and learning styles.
• Ability to make independent judgments and decisions.
• Ability to work in a professional and confidential capacity.
• Knowledge of assessment skills and practice.
• Knowledge of recovery-oriented, person-centered and strengths-based values and principles.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed and culturally competent services.
• Ability to adhere to the standards of Motivational Interviewing; Harm Reduction; SBIRT; Housing First; Stages of Change; and Cognitive Behavioral interventions.
• Skills and competence to provide interventions for effective Treatment Plan interventions.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with other Team members to address the needs of PS in the Treatment Plan.
• Knowledge of personal computer applications and equipment.
• Knowledge of documentation standards and requirements.

Qualifications

• Must have access to an operational and insured vehicle and be willing to use it to transport PS.
• Preference given to bilingual/bicultural applicants and applicants with lived experience of psychiatric conditions.
• Must meet Family Partner qualifications: personal, first-hand experience having primary responsibility for, or substantial involvement with, a family member receiving services through the mental health system.
• Experience in navigating child (or adult) family-serving systems and teaching family members involved with those systems.
• Bachelor's degree in human services field and one year experience working with children/adolescents/TAY (or adult); or Associate's degree in human service field and one year experience; or high school diploma/GED and two years' experience.
• A high school diploma or equivalent is required; Bachelor's degree or Associate's degree strongly preferred.
• Driving is a requirement using either a Vinfen van or personal vehicle; valid driver's license, safe driving record, at least 21 years of age, valid US driver's license for at least six months, and pass a driver's screening background check.
• Physical effort: ability to stand, walk, bend, kneel, stoop, crouch, crawl, climb; lift at least 25 pounds; operate a computer and office equipment; assist PS with tasks of daily living.
• CPR required within two weeks of hire.
• First Aid required within two weeks of hire.
• MAP required within 150 days of hire.

About Vinfen

Established in 1977, Vinfen is a nonprofit, health and human services organization and a leading provider of community-based services to individuals with mental health conditions, intellectual and developmental disabilities, brain injuries, and behavioral health challenges.