Family Support Specialist

NFI Massachusetts, Inc., a non-profit human services organization, is currently seeking a Family Support Specialist to provide a range of Family Support Services to families with youth diagnosed with significant mental health concerns in the Lawrence, MA area.

Candidates must have lived experience as a parent or guardian of a child with mental health or behavioral health challenges and must be bilingual (Spanish-speaking).

The Family Support Specialist will provide hope, information, advocacy, group, and one-to-one support to parents of children with SED, and assist parents in the DMH Assessment process.

Job Responsibilities :

• Assist DMH in partnering with families to support engagement in services, understand roles and responsibilities in treatment of their children, articulate preferences and concerns, and identify supports that will strengthen their ability to parent their child with SED.
• Share resources with Parent Partnership team, and provide information about resources to parents of children and youth who are involved in DMH via home-visits, phone calls, printed materials, and training.
• Travel to and provide services to the parents / caregivers as related to the child's needs in their home, or other community setting such as hospital or school.
• Assist parents by helping them improve their ability to advocate or work with other professional helping systems.
• Organize and facilitate Parent Support Groups to parents of children with mental health issues.
• Organize and facilitate educational workshops for parents, providers and community members.
• Develop community provider relationships and implement outreach strategies to build common ground, supporting families, and encouraging parent / caregiver attendance at support groups.
• Provide training / consultation as indicated for parents and community entities.

Job Requirements :

• Lived experience as a parent / guardian / caregiver of a child with serious emotional / behavioral concerns that is currently, or has in the past received mental health or related services.
• Knowledge of behavioral health system and services, DMH and DCF resources, special education law and services, and other social services resources such as DDS, CBHI, Mass Rehabilitation, and / or 688 process and how to access them is also essential to this role.
• Position also requires a current / valid drivers license and willingness to use personal automobile to travel to multiple locations as required by position.
• Bilingual capacity (Spanish and English) required.

Hourly : Starting at $22 / hr

Benefits for full time employees include : Medical Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, 403(b) Retirement Plan, 3 weeks paid vacation time,11 Paid Holidays, Paid Sick Leave, and Tuition reimbursement up to $2500 per fiscal year

NFI Massachusetts Inc., is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

We seek to empower individuals and support the diversity and inclusivity within our workforce.