Kinnect Family Specialist

We are seeking a Family Specialist !! (connecting youth to families in Pike/ Perry Counties)

Integrated Services for Behavioral Health (ISBH) is a community-minded, forward-thinking behavioral health organization helping people along the road to health and well-being.  We meet people in their homes and communities and help connect them to the resources they need.  We serve Southeastern and Central Ohio with a comprehensive array of behavioral health and other services- working with local partners to promote health people and strong communities.  All of our services are intended to be collaborative and personalized for the individual.

The Kinnect Family Specialist position is dedicated to the service of children and families referred to Kinnect to Family by using specialized short-term intervention that utilizes strategies of diligent searching and relentless engagement to identify potential connection, supports, and kinship placement options for children entering into foster care.  The goal is to identify multiple relatives or kin as potential placement providers. Maternal and paternal relatives are explored with equal interest.  The Family Specialist along with the team will make every effort to keep siblings together, maintain children in their school of origin, and preserve the child’s important relationships with friends and supportive adults.   

Essential Functions:

• Collaborates with the Public Children Service Agency (PCSA) case manager and court officials with meeting the Fostering Connections to Success Act, applicable Ohio statutes, and Ohio Department of Job and Family Services policy in regards to relative/kin notification and placement.
• Researches and coalesces information from relatives/kin to expand the child's support system and family connections, while identifying potential relative home providers.
• Identify and document at least 80 family/kin for each child through Family Finding search activities, including: internet & databases searches, Children’s Division and Juvenile Court case file reviews, child & family interviews.
• Facilitate communication with the team and provide the referring agencies with accurate family documentation, including genograms, family contact information, and identified kin supports.
• Attend all meetings and court hearings, advocating for relative/kin placement.
• Complete assessments on the child and family functioning upon case referral and case closure to measure the success and outcomes of the program.
• Assist in preparing the family for licensure by explaining the licensing process and assisting with home licensing requirements.
• Submit detailed activity notes and documentation of all case related billing activities to submit to multiple funders.
• Maintain accurate files and records for each family served.
• All other duties as assigned. 

Minimum Requirements:

• At least a bachelor’s degree in social work, drug and alcohol education, counseling, psychology, or criminal justice. 
• Current license/certification including LSW, LPC, LISW, or LPCC is preferred.
• Demonstrated experience working with interdisciplinary teams utilizing innovative strategies to overcome obstacles.  Direct experience in the child welfare field with a basic knowledge of foster care and adoption.
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Strong organization and superior time management
• Team facilitation
• Conflict resolution and negotiation
• Adaptation and flexibility
• Ability and comfort working with diverse populations in various environments
• Basic knowledge of Microsoft Office programs
• Understanding of, or ability to learn, Genopro (family tree/genogram software program)
• Works independently exercising keen assessment skills

 Additional skills/competencies necessary to carry out services to the service population’s culture and socioeconomic characteristics:

• Obtain a cultural awareness that results in a clear understanding of the worldview that directs individual interactions with people of other backgrounds.
• Ability to identify needs unique to various diverse populations including those of different gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnic group, race and physical or mental capacity and address those needs with community resource referrals.
• Assist other professionals and team members in understanding the unique needs/characteristics of diverse populations.

Working Conditions:

• In-office, home-office, and field work required including visits to neighborhoods of various socio-economic status.
• Regional travel required.
• Some infrequent travel outside the service area may be required to pursue placement options.