Foster Care (FFT) Family Specialist

$40,000 - $45,000/Yr

Family and Children s Agency Inc - Norwalk, CT

Full-time - Entry Level

Hybrid - Norwalk, CT

About the position

The FFT Family Specialist plays a crucial role in providing case management support and services tailored to meet the diverse needs of children and foster parents. This position involves collaboration with Family Therapists and the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to ensure stability in foster homes and facilitate permanency for children. The specialist will engage in home-based services, conduct assessments, and implement evidence-based interventions to enhance the well-being of families in the foster care system.

Responsibilities

• Actively participate as a member of the FFT FC team led by the FFT FC Therapist to provide home-based services.
• Conduct ongoing model-specific and Foster Care adherent risk assessments and interventions for every family, including tailored safety planning and crisis management.
• Maintain accountability to adherence to the evidence-based model.
• Demonstrate a flexible, relentless, and strength-based relational approach when working with youth and families.
• Address clinical needs of clients through model adherent FFT FC interventions.
• Conduct initial assessments, including review of referral information and developing analysis of hierarchy and relational assessment within the family.
• Complete Care4 documentation and other electronic health record documentation accurately and timely.
• Provide supervised visitation to birth families while appreciating cultural diversity and knowledge of cultural issues.
• Continually assess levels of engagement of all key participants and collaborate with supervisors and stakeholders to overcome barriers to engagement.
• Keep stakeholders informed of elevated risks and attend clients' family court appearances and Administrative Care Reviews.
• Identify and refer children and families to community-based resources.
• Video tape sessions as required for FFT consultation and certification.
• Participate in all model and agency training, peer and individual supervision, and staff meetings.
• Independently organize and maintain a weekly schedule and keep the supervisor informed.
• Network with DCF and community agencies.
• Participate in on-call coverage on a rotating basis among program staff.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Sociology, or Psychology required.
• 2 years' experience in the field of study.
• Experience in providing case management services and coordinating systems of care.
• Experience working within complex family systems and providing in-home services.

Nice-to-haves

• Knowledge of Home Based therapy.
• Understanding of Family Systems Theory.
• Familiarity with Cognitive Behavioral Therapies.
• Knowledge of trauma reactions and their impact on brain development.
• Ability to manage emotional dysregulation due to complex trauma.
• Awareness of racial disparities within behavioral health services.
• Knowledge of child development research and its application in treatment.

Benefits

• 401(k) matching
• Continuing education credits
• Disability insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance