Aftercare Associate

General Job Summary:

Under the general direction of the Regional Clinical Manager, Family Services – Tissue, the Aftercare Associate (AA) will support families experiencing grief and loss in the Infinite Legacy Donor Services Area (DSA). The Infinite Legacy’s Aftercare Associate will provide psychoeducational grief support services to the family members of Infinite Legacy donors, donors in spirit, and families of potential donors. The Aftercare Associate is to remain aware and sensitive to diversity of all kinds (cultural, religious, educational, etc.) while working with families.

The Aftercare Associate will co-lead workshops with the Aftercare Coordinator, to directly serve donor families, donor in spirit families and community members. The Aftercare Associate will support the needs of the Family Services Department and Community Outreach Department as it relates to family relationships, public health and needs of the community. The Aftercare Associate will seek opportunities to partner with community organizations, churches, schools, hospitals, and funeral homes to provide community-based services that are accessible to residents of the Infinite Legacy’s DSA, with a focus on services to minority and marginalized communities.

The AA position will ensure supplies are ordered and updated; maintain a record of expenses. Vigilant attention to cost-saving opportunities while maintaining high quality supplies and service to our families.

This position requires evening and weekend availability, with service time to the equivalent of a minimum of 40 hours per week.

Position may require travel to Infinite Legacy regional offices (Baltimore, MD and Falls Church, VA).

Education and Experience:

1. Associates degree in social work, psychology, or other related fields from an accredited college or university required. Bachelor's degree preferred.
2. Preference for current possession of a valid Maryland professional license, LCSW-C or LCPC.
3. Minimum of 2 years’ experience with issues involving death, dying, trauma, grief and loss, offering group support services and one-on-one psychoeducational grief support preferred.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Demonstrate experience offering psychoeducation grief support to minority and/or marginalized communities. Experience with program development preferred.
• Familiarization with Tissue and Organ FSC roles to best support both teams.
• Ability to interact with grieving individuals, families and groups in a supportive, empathic manner while taking into consideration actual or potential cultural diversities.
• Comfort with public speaking and education forums to promote the work of Infinite Legacy and education around the Aftercare program.
• High energy professional with an ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing, to provide information to families, recipients, health care personnel, community members/leaders and the general public.
• Ability to recognize personal and professional limits/boundaries and appropriately manage uncomfortable situations.
• Ability to comfortably use computers to access and utilize Infinite Legacy databases, draft letters, utilize email, and access the Internet for vital information/resources to assist families and the public. Must have computer and Internet access at home.
• Must be highly accountable and able to work autonomously. Flexibility required for public speaking with little notice and other similar demands as needed.
• Valid driver’s license, proof of insurance and be insurable under the Infinite Legacy’s master policy.

Duties/Responsibilities:

1. Initiate 3-week follow-up support to donor and donor-in-spirit families when appropriate, offering psychoeducational grief support and connecting them with community resources to meet their needs.
2. Maintain awareness of community referral sources. Build referral relationships with community-based partners to ensure the ability to support the needs of donor and donor in spirit families.
3. Act as a referral source to EAP for Infinite Legacy staff seeking resources for personal stress management.
4. Update grief resource library regularly, CGRAS website, educational pamphlets, books, and other grief counseling resources in Infinite Legacy’s DSA. Consistently explore new resources to ensure our resource library is current.
5. Supports the ACC with grief and bereavement related programming in response to community and hospital partner needs, focusing on minority and marginalized local communities in the Infinite Legacy DSA.
6. Co-Lead Aftercare Workshops and grief curriculum development in support of the ACC role; assist with the creation and execution of educational grief workshops and support groups for donor families, community members, Infinite Legacy staff and hospital staff.
7. Establish and maintain relationships with community organizations, faith-based organizations, schools, and other public and community entities as pertinent to community outreach to increase services and outreach opportunities in the Infinite Legacy DSA.
8. Act as the Family Services representative in the Decision Project and future projects; work in collaboration with the Community Outreach team to ensure community support and education surrounding donation, grief, and loss.
9. Provide supportive grief and bereavement content for the Infinite Legacy blog and newsletter, to the Donor Family Facebook Group and other social media outlets.
10. Complete aftercare needs of families, including but not limited to 3-week calls, 14–16-month touch point, outcome letters, anniversary cards and other after-care related items deemed necessary, ensuring regulatory timelines are met for all after-care.
11. Coordinate all mailings, monitor, and order aftercare supplies. Track all costs associated with Aftercare supplies.
12. Support FSCs by coordinating and leading donor family/recipient meetings.
13. Stay apprised of trends in the grief and death education fields, trends in the transplant/donation field, public health, and social work-related needs.
14. Collaborate with other OPO Aftercare Programs as necessary to enhance services provided. This will at times require presentations at Donor Family Service Conferences or Webinars.
15. Attend regularly scheduled Infinite Legacy staff and organizational meetings and trainings. Adhere to all Infinite Legacy policies and embody the Infinite Legacy Mission, Vision, Quality Statement and Core Values.
16. Other duties as assigned.