WFRC Access Coordinator in Boston, Massachusetts at Institute for Health

Program/Department: Women and Family Referral Center

Position Type: Non-Exempt, Full-Time 40 hours/ week – Hybrid Position (remote and on-site)

Location: Boston

Reports to: Director Women and Family Referral Center

About IHR: The Institute for Health and Recovery (IHR) is a statewide service, research, policy, program development and capacity building agency. IHR designs its services based on an understanding of the impact of trauma. IHR’s CARF accredited treatment programs provide holistic interventions for hard-to-reach and high-risk individuals and families. IHR’s mission, since our founding in 1990, has been to develop and support a comprehensive continuum of care for families, individuals, youth, and pregnant and parenting people affected by alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use, violence/trauma, mental health challenges and other health issues, while advancing principles of health equity and social justice. Our work is focused on addressing and eradicating inequities in our health care, economic, and justice systems, especially as they disproportionately affect women, fathers and people of color. We are committed to providing services and creating communities that mitigate the effects of substance use, mental illness, and trauma.

Summary Statement: The Women and Family Referral Center Access Coordinator facilitates access for parents with or without their children to substance use services, including family residential treatment programs. The Women and Family Referral Center Access Coordinator will provide interim counseling and individualized follow-up support for each person who contacts the Center to ensure their safe and timely connection to appropriate services. The Women and Family Referral Center Access Coordinator will also increase awareness of health and human service agencies across the Commonwealth of the availability of all levels of treatment for substance use of co-occurring disorder services. The Women and Family Referral Center Access Coordinator must be available to provide full coverage to other members of the WFRC Team, as scheduled and by the request of the supervisor. The coordinator will maintain a focus on the needs of all people contacting the WFRC, ensuring that all relevant parties involved are updated.

• Maintain familiarity with state and federal requirements for pregnant women, parenting people including fathers to access substance abuse treatment services.
• Maintain up-to-date record of openings in FRT/FSL and Pregnancy Enhanced programs.
• Facilitate timely admission and placement of eligible families in FRT/FSL and other levels of care
• Provide interim counseling as well as follow-up support to ensure that individuals seeking services are provided with continuous communication, encouragement, and assistance until they begin services with an identified provider.
• Follow up referrals by calling women and fathers to ensure they have been able to access treatment.
• Facilitate timely admission and placement of eligible families in FRT/FSL and other levels of care
• Maintain strong working relationships with all providers and DCF regarding program updates and policy changes as well as vacancies, and admission and discharge issues.
• Provide direct support to local offices of DCF, as well as other health and human service state agencies regarding access to specialized substance use treatment.
• Maintain awareness of ASAM criteria and updates to determine family eligibility to treatment.
• Work closely with Helplines to facilitate warm handoffs and timely referrals.
• Represent IHR in State forums, addressing guidelines for pregnant women’s treatment programs.
• Conduct outreach to raise awareness of the WFRC, including in person tabling at conferences and community-based events with posters, visiting providers and potential referral sources, and contributing to online visibility.
• Collect and update data of vacancies and referrals to Pregnancy Enhanced Programs
• Work with all levels of treatment programs to ensure they have the capacity to respond to referral and treatment requirements.
• Use cloud-based systems for communication with IHR’s site office, including shared calendars, timesheets, and supervisor check-ins.
• Attend team and agency staff meetings.

• Bachelor’s Degree in human services, or related field, strongly preferred.
• Understanding of the Massachusetts treatment system and options for all people.
• Experience providing interim counseling to pregnant and parenting people including fathers seeking treatment.
• Familiarity with substance use and treatment for all levels of care
• Familiarity with child welfare issues, especially as they are affected by substance use disorder
• Strong and clear communicator; can work well under pressure.
• Excellent writing and reporting skills.
• The ability to work as a team player.

• Reliable Transportation

• Clear and effective communication
• Strong organizational skills
• Ability to work effectively in teams
• Self-motivated and independent
• Problem-solving skills
• Adaptability and flexibility
• Commitment to ongoing development and learning
• Dedication to diversity, equity, inclusion and justice

Physical Requirements: The physical demands of this position include talking, hearing, sitting, standing, walking, lifting, and using hands for activities such as grasping, handling, and reaching. These physical and mental demands are essential for the successful execution of job responsibilities. Reasonable accommodation will be made for qualified individuals with disabilities.