Family Empowerment Specialist II

The Family Empowerment Specialist II will be responsible for providing intensive in home services, parent/child visitation, case management, and advocacy services to Missouri Empowerment Project (MEP) families and their children who are involved in the child welfare system. Services will be provided at a MEP office, in the family home, at the client’s job site, school, or in other community-based settings as appropriate.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Essential duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

• Advocate for the families and children on their caseload by attending Juvenile Court Team Meetings, Parent Court hearings (criminal & juvenile), and alternative meetings where the parent will be providing a report of their progress.
• Complete intake assessments for each case
• Become familiar with each client’s current Individualized Treatment Plan, initiate teaching, treatment and supporting interventions to assist clients in obtaining their goals; followed by monitoring their progress.
• Develop a positive, non-judgmental relationship with each family member and their children, acting as a role model for them on how to maintain positive relationships.
• Meet with clients on a weekly basis in the home or community and supervising parent/child visits.
• Offer substance use outpatient recovery services as applicable.
• Maintain consistent communication with the Family Support Team.
• Connect family to services providers as needed such as mental and behavioral health providers, food banks, employment services, etc.
• Teach daily living skills as needed related to budgeting, home cleanliness and organization, menu planning, shopping, healthy and nutritional eating habits through teaching, modeling and monitoring.
• Teach Nurturing Parents education in the home and observe and report parents' progress with the skills.
• Document interventions and collect appropriate data in a timely fashion.
• Enter documentation in the MEP database for all client interactions & client updates within 72 hours of the performed job duty or notification of the update.
• Assist in maintaining client files of documents necessary to track the client’s progress and meet state/federal requirements for future audits.
• Provide safety and crisis intervention as described in the treatment plan or as needed, utilizing and coordinating resources as needed to resolve the crisis, i.e. safety plan, no harm contract, etc.
• Interact and communicate effectively with community professionals as indicated by the treatment plan; including, but not limited to, Probation and Parole Officers, Family Support Division personnel, Department of Health and Human Services personnel, healthcare providers, therapists, employers, court services, school personnel, etc.
• Attend staff meetings, team meetings, weekly supervision, required training and conferences presented by MEP
• Must maintain CPR, Infant CPR, First Aid, Blood Borne Pathogen, Peaceful Intervention, HIPPA and Ethics Certification.
• Must complete 10 hours of training per year; above mentioned certifications qualify towards these training hours.
• Engage in in-house activities that support the families served by MEP; including but not limited to planning committees and execution/facilitation of activity.
• Conduct drug testing on client’s twice per month, per grant requirements.
• Perform other job duties relevant to the position as assigned.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's degree in a Humans Services field OR 2-3 years experience in child welfare/home visiting field
• Preference for individuals with a MAADCI credential or higher.
• Availability: 40 hours per week ; mandatory in office for All Staff & Training.
• Reliable and Safe Transportation ; i.e. must carry car insurance, must be able to attend weekly in-home visits with caseload clients, must have operational seatbelts & headlights, must be willing to maintain a road safety kit that will be provided by MEP.
• Must be willing to travel to MEP service counties surrounding Springfield.
• Must be able to pass a background check ; fingerprints, FCSR, Highway Patrol, & E-Verify.
• Must have an operational phone in order to maintain regular contact with clients; laptop will be provided by MEP.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $38,000.00 - $42,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule
• Paid time off

Schedule:

• Day shift

Work Location: In person

Salary : $38,000 - $42,000