Family Support Partner

SPARC is recruiting a Family Support Partner for a new program launching in Mecklenburg County. The MORES (Mobile Outreach Response Engagement Stabilization) Program is a mobile intervention for children and adolescents experiencing escalating emotional or behavioral needs.

Primary Responsibilities:

The MORES Program is a team-based service that responds face-to-face when a child is experiencing an emotional or behavioral crisis. The immediate face-to-face response is designed to better address the needs children and families in their homes, schools, and communities. MORES team provides mobile response services responds in person from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. seven days a week, and telephonically from 11:00 pm -8:00am.  The duration of a MORES episode of care can be up to eight weeks.

This intervention can include continued outreach, response, stabilization, engagement, referral, and linkage to on-going care. 

Interventions can include but are not limited to:

·       crisis intervention and de-escalation

·       counseling

·       behavioral assistance

·       skill building

·       medication management

·       caregiver and youth engagement/support/stabilization services.

The service is intended to prevent placement into more restrictive settings, unnecessary court involvement, and declines in functioning. The duration of a MORES episode of care can be up to eight weeks. This intervention can include continued outreach, response, stabilization, engagement, referral, and linkage to on-going care.

Qualifications/Responsibilities for the Family Support Partner:

·       Must have lived experience as a primary caregiver for a child who has/had mental health, substance use disorders, or intellectual/developmental disability.

·       Experience in navigating any of the child and family-serving systems and teaching family members who are involved with the child and family serving systems

·       Bachelor's degree in a human services field from an accredited university and one year of experience working with children and families; or associate’s degree in a human service field from an accredited school and two year of experience working with children/adolescents/transition age youth; or high school diploma or GED and a minimum of four years of experience working with children/adolescents/transition age youth

·       Family driven and youth guided care including the client's and family/caregiver's right to make decisions about all aspects of their child's care;

o   Family support and services

o   Linkage & Connection

o   Coordination of Supports & Services

o   The principles of human behavior and interpersonal relationships; and

o   General principles of record documentation. Skills in:

o   Engagement of youth and family/caregiver

o   Negotiating with clients, family/caregivers, and service providers;

o   De-escalation – observing, interrupting, and shifting dynamics, education, and skill introduction.

o   Assessment – strengths, triggers, communication, contexts (medical, mental health, trauma, development, patterns of behavior, collateral outreach,

o   Planning – safety, crisis and transition, alternative strategies, plan oversight/progress monitoring.

o   Identifying, developing, or providing services to clients with serious emotional disturbance,

o   Identifying services within the established services system and uncovering natural supports to meet the client's needs.

o   Motivational interviewing behavior change strategies

·       Ability to:

o   Report findings of the assessment or onsite visit, either in writing or an alternative format for clients who have visual impairments;

o   Demonstrate a positive regard for clients and their families;

o   Be persistent and remain objective;

o   Work independently, performing position duties under general supervision

o   Communicate effectively, orally and in writing; and

o   Develop rapport and communicate with persons from diverse cultural backgrounds

Benefits:

·       Flexible schedule

·       All purpose leave

·       Bereavement Leave

·       Self Care best practices

·       Health-Dental-Life-401k

·       Aflac—targeted policies with reduced rates

·       Personal financial management support

·       Free IT work and home support

·       Cell Phone reimbursements

·       Mileage reimbursements

·       Paid training

·       Laptop provided

Schedule:

·       Full Time Position

·       Flexible Schedule