Lead Family Coordinator

Job Code: LFC - 103
Revision Date: October 30, 2024

Starting Salary: $13.97 hourly; $29, 058 annually
FLSA: Non-Exempt

Overview

We are an agency committed to innovative behavioral health services in trauma-informed care that promote healing and recovery to instill a sense of empowerment and foster a lifelong sense of resilience.

General Description

This position is most often filled by a parent or other family member of a child or adolescent with mental health challenges and who has received or is currently receiving services from the mental health service system. The position is responsible for either setting up, or working with, an existing family-run organization that represents the cultural and linguistic background of the population of focus. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, working in partnership with the awardee staff in all levels of decision making, including the development, implementation, and evaluation of the SOC, and providing support services for families receiving services through the grant.

The Lead Family Coordinator facilitates recovery and resiliency for caregivers of children/adults with serious emotional disturbances. The Lead Family Coordinator assists families with information, informal support, and community referrals based on the Lead Family Coordinator's own experience with having a child/adult with a mental health diagnosis and navigating the mental health system. Assumes a leadership role in improving outcomes of children/adults by providing parents/caregivers with: problem solving techniques for effective interaction with agencies, learning and practicing new skills, resources and information to link children/adults to community support systems, and support parents/caregivers in their achievement of their recovery goals that will improve the outcomes of their children/adult and help them monitor their progress.

This class works under close supervision according to set procedures but determines how or when to complete tasks

Duties and Responsibilities

The functions listed below are those that represent the majority of the time spent working in this position. Management may assign additional functions related to the type of work of the position as necessary.

• Participate as a full member of the system of care governance board and promote the mission and vision of the system of care values and principles of family driven care.
• Support and facilitate families to be engaged in all aspects of the SOC at all levels, including planning, design, financing, outreach, evaluation and implementation of parent peer support services.
• Inform the SOC about barriers families may be encountering related to effective engagement, implement of SOC services, supports, and/or resources.
• Work in partnership with youth peer support specialists, youth advocates, youth ambassadors to ensure that family and youth activities of the SOC initiative take place in a coordinated and complimentary way.
• Reach out to new caregivers and families through participation of community activities, hosting family events, and collaboration with existing community groups to expand the SOC.
• Participate in planning and implementation of activities for Children's Mental Health Awareness Day.
• Provide training, support, resources, mentoring and any other assistance families may need for fully integrating into the SOC. Promote the importance of access to parent peer support for families enrolled in the SOC.
• Participate on and support family member involvement and sharing of their expertise in training programs, task forces and committees at a local, state and/or national level that enhance the implementation of SOC for families and youth.
• Promote the importance of access to parent peer support for families enrolled in the SOC.
• Responsible to partner with other staff for the completion and submission of necessary reporting requirements for local, state, and federal stakeholders.
• Advocates for caregivers and assists them in times of need. This may include accompanying them in their appointments, helping them schedule appointments, and advocating for their mental health rights.
• Engages the caregiver in the youth's treatment process and maintains engagement.
• Work with SBMH program supervisor, key SOC staff, stakeholders (including the family-run organization) and families to develop and implement a sustainability plan to continue family involvement, leadership and the roles developed as part of the SOC efforts.
• Mentors' caregivers through the transfer of knowledge, insight, and encouragement including the articulation of their own successful experience of navigating a child-serving system
• Models the concepts of hope and positive parenting, advocacy and self-care skills that will ultimately benefit the resilience and recovery of the youth
• Provides experienced guidance in navigating the child-serving systems, including mental health, special education, juvenile justice, child protective services, etc.
• Performs other duties as assigned

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

Requires High School graduation or GED equivalent.

Lead Family Coordinator position require employee to be a parent/caregiver of a child/adult who is a current or former user of mental health or co-occurring services who can relate to others who are now using those services.

Experience with trauma-informed services; cognitive behavioral therapies preferred.

Required Knowledge and Abilities

Knowledge of trauma-informed theories, principles, and practices (includes multi-faceted understanding of concepts such as community trauma, intergenerational and historical trauma, parallel processes, and universal precautions), preferred.

Physical Demands

Performs sedentary work that involves walking or standing some of the time and involves exerting up to 10 pounds of force on a regular and recurring basis or sustained keyboard operations.

Unavoidable Hazards (Work Environment)

• Involves routine and frequent exposure to:
  • Bright/ dim light, dust, and pollen.
• Other extreme hazards not listed above.

Special Certifications and Licenses

• Peer Support Specialist positions require a certification as a Certified Peer Specialist within one (1) year of employment.
• Must possess and maintain a valid state Driver's License with an acceptable driving record.
• Must be able to pass a TB, criminal background and drug screen.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Compliance

Emergence Health Network is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ADA requires Emergence Health Network to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are encouraged to discuss ADA accommodations with management.

Other Job Characteristics

• Staffing requirements, including criteria that staff have diverse disciplinary backgrounds, have necessary State required license and accreditation, and are culturally and linguistically trained to serve the needs of the clinic's patient population.
• Credentialed, certified, and licensed professionals with adequate training in person-centered, family centered, trauma informed, culturally-competent and recovery-oriented care.
• Responsible for adhering to the EHN common purpose and service framework to continuously provide exceptional care to all constituents.

Note: This Class Description does not constitute an employment agreement between the Emergence Health Network and an employee and is subject to change by the Emergence Health Network as its needs change