Mission Statement: “To empower and inspire people of all communities to identify, pursue and sustain healthy, meaningful lives”.

 

MHAW strives to develop an authentic, diverse workforce that embraces, creates, respects and demonstrates diversity, equity, and inclusiveness in the work environment, towards one another and those we serve. We recognize that our agency is strongest when we all embrace the full spectrum of diversity and experience. We actively seek to employ a diverse workforce representative of the communities we serve.

 

Position:                                Family Support & Training Practitioner

Compensation:                    $23.07 per hour- Non-Exempt

Location:                               Ronkonkoma, NY and travel throughout Suffolk County

Hours:                                    17.5 hrs/week

Start Date:                            Immediately

 

Position Description:

The Family Support and Training Practitioner is a mobile, in the community practitioner – who provides needed INSET Services to family members. INSET is a collaboration between HALI and MHAW. INSET is peer-driven team approach providing intensive peer support in the community for a small group of people with unmet needs, particularly those on (or at risk of) Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT), or court-mandated psychiatric treatment.

Family Support and Training (FST) offers instruction, emotional support, and skill building necessary to facilitate engagement and active participation of the family in the individual’s recovery process. The FST practitioner partners with natural supports (natural supports may include parents, siblings, children, friends, significant others, spouses, or other collateral contacts) through a person-centered or person-directed, recovery oriented, trauma- informed approach. The FST practitioner will work as a team member helping to engage families and individuals who can benefit from INSET supports.

 

General Responsibilities:

• Co-creation of Individualized Service Plan based upon the goals and objectives identified through assessment
• Partner with families through a person-centered or person-directed, recovery oriented, trauma-informed approach
• Support the INSET team as needed with community education, fielding INSET referrals, initial engagement, and support for individual enrollees
• Utilize frameworks such as Trauma Informed Family Support, Wellness Recovery Action Plan, Eight Dimensions of Wellness, Motivational Interviewing, and Active
• Engage in outreach to individuals with mental health and substance abuse needs; and their families to provide information and support
• Provision of individual family and group support and education
• Engage with natural supports of INSET participants, providing them with peer support and education, explaining the INSET approach, education, skill development and support aimed at increasing natural support’s capacity to support an individual’s recovery\
• Education and dissemination of information regarding; Recovery, Diagnosis, Treatment options, Trauma, Self-Care and Navigating mental health resources
• Skill Building and Support: Collaboration with the individual and their family to develop positive interventions to support and sustain healthy, stable relationships within the family
• Assistance in linking individuals and natural supports to community resources, support with community integration and connectedness
• Providing or connecting family to appropriate resources and supports
• Documentation of engagement efforts and ongoing support offered to family members
• Facilitate support groups and/or trainings for family members

The successful candidate should possess or be quickly able to acquire the following skills and abilities:

• A Bachelor’s Degree
• Lived experience as a family member of someone having significant mental health
• Two years of experience in working with families/natural supports of individual who have a behavioral health diagnosis (mental health and/or substance use)
• Certified Family Peer Advocate Preferred
• Strong engagement skills
• Experience facilitating trainings/groups
• Must be comfortable working with individuals and families in their home and within the community, and providing telehealth services via laptop and smart phone; including in a group setting
• Basic knowledge of the public health/behavioral health system including, but not limited to; mental health services and public entitlements
• Strong writing and computer skills, as an electronic record is Basic knowledge in computer applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and social media.
• Clean NY State Driver’s License as some driving with clients will be necessary
• Be prepared to use your own vehicle with mileage reimbursement
• Bi-lingual, English/Spanish is a plus; stipend given for assessed and verified bi-lingual proficiency

 

Send a resume and a cover letter expressing your interest in this position to:

 

Kathy Elfers, HR Director

Association of Mental Health and Wellness kelfers@mhaw.org