NHS Human Services, Inc.

This job was posted by https://illinoisjoblink.illinois.gov : For more information, please see: https://illinoisjoblink.illinois.gov/jobs/11955951

Job Title:Foster Parent Support Specialist (Case Manager)

Home Office:Vienna, IL or Anna, IL.[Location dependent on nearest to home residence. ]{#isPasted}

Area of Focus:Behavioral Health

Program(s):Intensive Placement Stabilization (IPS) - Helps young people involved with the DCFS system (Department of Child and Family Services) build stability and reduce the number of foster placements, and moves through mental health services.

Immediate Supervisor:IPS Program Coordinator

Hours of Work:Full-time, 40 hours per week

[Foster Parent Support Specialist]{#isPasted}Skills & Knowledge:Knowledge of various behavioral and human development theories and practices; baseline knowledge of mental health diagnosis and treatment planning processes; knowledge of local health and human services resources; knowledge of basic crisis intervention and conflict resolution techniques; knowledge of family support techniques, child development, foster care placements, and child welfare systems; excellent written and oral communication skills; excellent computer skills

[Foster Parent Support Specialist]{#isPasted}Job duties include, but are not limited to:

• Provides intensive, comprehensive consumer care and case management services, including access to transportation, medical care, psychiatric care, recreational activities, or any other need that supports the stabilization of the youth and family.
• Works collaboratively with the IPS treatment team to identify program goals and monitor treatment progress; intervenes by way of conducting activities such as skill building, advocacy, respite, recreation, and support and consultation to improve the overall well-being and stabilization of the family.
• Facilitates communication across agency staff and applicable programs to ensure continuity of care and timely follow-up for individuals accessing behavioral health services.
• Models personal responsibility, self-advocacy, and hope by sharing personal experiences as a foster parent and developing authentic relationships with foster parents within the parameters of professional boundaries.
• Assists in the orientation process for families who are new to receiving IPS services; fills the support gap between initial contact and enrollment into services as needed.
• Keeps the treatment team informed about youth and family strengths, accomplishments, and obstacles in relation to their stabilization goals.
• Continuously expand knowledge of community resources, services, and programs available to individuals served and build ongoing relationships with these organizations in order to advocate for youth and foster families.
• Serves as a member of the treatment team and representative of the IPS program through attendance at clinical team meetings, Clinical Intervention to Preserve Placement (CIPP) meetings, and other meetings as required; communicates and provides information as requested to DCFS caseworkers regarding case status and progress.
• Ability to screen, assess, and provide interventions for consumers who are exhibiting symptoms of trauma.
• Follows agency policy and procedure for all reports of abuse and neglect or suspected abuse and neglect.
• Follows agency crisis intervention protocol to refer individuals to crisis intervention services/staff when someone presents in mental health crisis.