Family Partner

Why Work for Gandara:

Explore the career pathways in Behavioral Health, Substance Use and Recovery, Community Based Clinical services, Adolescent and Family services, Adult Residential, Maintenance and Administration! Whether that is in an entry level or leadership role, Gandara will provide the tools and resources to better enhance your career growth. The opportunities are presented with the ability to transition your skills and experience in meeting the organizations mission. There is grand landscape of opportunities that supports the community we serve, so Join the Gándara team today!

Benefits:

• Retirement Plan 403(b)
• Health, Dental, Vision, Pet and Life Insurance
• Paid vacations
• Paid holidays
• 8 discretionary days
• Mileage Reimbursement

Job Title: Family Partner

Work Location: Fitchburg, MA

• Bilingual Candidates Encouraged to Apply

• EOE M/F/D/V

• Union/Non-Union

Job Summary:

The Family Partner provides direct support/advocacy to parents as well as collaborate with the Care Coordinators and other team members to achieve program objectives. Services are designed to improve the parent/caregiver’s capacity to manage or resolve the youth’s emotional or behavioral needs and strengthen their capacity to parent.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Share lived experiences with purpose and intent in order to encourage hope and inspiration.
• Educate parents/caregivers on effective ways to navigate systems of care; maximize effective treatment; and build supportive relationships with providers and others working with the youth and family.
• Educate parents/caregivers about formal and informal community-based resources, and supporting parents/caregivers in finding, accessing, and utilizing these resources.
• Foster the conditions for empowerment of parents/caregivers in all aspects of treatment planning and implementation.
• Model and coach problem solving and advocacy skills with parents/caregivers.
• Collaborate with the youth and family, treatment providers, supports, school, and other services providers to ensure the cohesive inclusion of the Parent Peer Support Services with all other services.
• Collaborate on goal development, crisis planning and problem solving in partnership with the youth, parent/caregiver, and other service providers and support persons as necessary.
• Support the parent/caregivers in developing strategies for: self-care, identifying respite care providers (both formal and informal), and accessing respite care.
• Provide other interventions commensurate with the Family Partner’s credentials, experience, and training.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree or Associate's Degree in a human services field and one year of experience working with the target population OR high school diploma/GED and a minimum of two (2) years’ experience working with children/adolescents/transitioning youth.
• Experience as a caregiver of youth with special needs, and preferably a youth with mental health needs;
• Experience with children and youth, strength-based, family centered and child focused services;
• 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;
• Bilingual Preferred (Spanish/English)

The Gándara Mental Health Center provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Education

• Associates or better

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.