Father Initiative Coordinator

Job Description

Job Description

The Father Initiative Coordinator provides direct, community-based mental health services with a specialized focus on supporting, engaging, and strengthening relationships between youth clients and their fathers. This role emphasizes proactive fatherhood initiatives, working to reunite absent fathers with their children, increase paternal involvement in treatment and daily life, and foster healthy, stable family connections that promote client resilience and recovery.

Key Responsibilities

Provide QMHS-level behavioral health services under supervision of a licensed clinician, including skills training, psychoeducation, and supportive interventions.

Develop and implement fatherhood engagement strategies to strengthen the relationship between clients and their fathers.

Conduct structured outreach to absent fathers, including phone calls, letters, and community visits, in collaboration with guardians / caregivers and treatment teams.

Facilitate individual and group sessions focused on parenting, co-parenting, and healthy family relationships.

Collaborate with schools, juvenile courts, community agencies, and fatherhood programs to build referral pipelines and external supports.

Document all services in compliance with Medicaid, Ohio Revised Code, and agency standards, maintaining accuracy and timeliness.

Participate in treatment team meetings to share updates on father engagement efforts and coordinate integrated care.

Track and report measurable outcomes related to paternal involvement, client progress, and family reunification.

Assist in crisis intervention and stabilization services as directed by supervising clinician.

Maintain client confidentiality and adhere to all HIPAA and agency policies.

Qualifications

Minimum High School Diploma with 3 years of relevant behavioral health experience, or Bachelors degree in Social Work, Psychology, Family Studies, or related field (preferred).

Must meet OhioMHAS criteria for Qualified Mental Health Specialist (QMHS).

Prior experience working with fathers, families, or parent engagement programs strongly preferred.

Strong interpersonal, communication, and motivational skills with the ability to engage reluctant or absent fathers.

Knowledge of trauma-informed care, family systems, and culturally responsive practices.

Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.

Valid drivers license, reliable transportation, and ability to travel to homes, schools, and community sites.

Core Competencies

Father Engagement : Ability to build trust and foster healthy involvement of fathers in childrens lives.

Family Reunification : Skill in navigating complex family dynamics and supporting reunification efforts.

Client Advocacy : Commitment to ensuring fathers and families feel supported and empowered.

Cultural Sensitivity : Awareness of diverse family structures and cultural perspectives on fatherhood.

Documentation & Compliance : Strong skills in maintaining accurate clinical documentation in line with state / federal guidelines.

Performance Goals / Outcomes

Increase percentage of clients with active father involvement in treatment and service planning.

Reunite absent fathers with children where appropriate, as measured by visitation, communication, or legal reunification milestones.

Facilitate ongoing support groups or workshops for fathers within 6 months of role implementation.

Demonstrate measurable improvements in client progress tied to paternal engagement.