Family Support Specialist - SAMHSA Safety Net Approach in Cambridge, Massachusetts at Cambridge Health Alliance

Location: 1035 Cambridge Street
Category: Human and Social Services
Department: SAMHSA Safety Net Approach
Job Type: Non Employee
Union Name: Non Union

Work Schedule: Day
Length Of Shift(s) In Hours: 8
Shift Details: 9-5
Hours/Week: 40.00
Weekend Requirements: 0
Holiday Requirements: 0
On Call Requirements: 0

Department Description The SafetyNet program ensures that the family voice is central to all program decisions. The department contributes to leadership teams, quality improvement efforts, SAMHSA data reporting, and research initiatives. It also represents SafetyNet in community outreach, interdepartmental collaboration, and national conferences and trainings.

Summary:

The Family Support Specialist (FSS), as part of CHA's Children's Health Initiative, brings a key family perspective to clinical teams providing pediatric Integrated care Using their lived experience as parent/caregivers for children with mental health needs, as well as their training in collaborative practice, FSSs are able to move easily between the professional perspective and the family’s perspective, building trust and facilitating critical information sharing The ongoing process of supporting families in their engagement with clinical care, as well as assisting them to access community resources and informal supports, increases the likelihood that children and families will get the individualized care they need

Other Information

• Work Experience: Experience as a parent or caregiver of a child with special health care needs — important for other parents to know the FSS person has “been there,” and “can understand what families go through”
• Prior experience advocating for families beside their own, learning when and how to share their own stories as examples, and how to collaborate with clinicians and/or other professionals
• Ability to represent “family voice” on the clinical team when interventions are being discussed, but, also, at a leadership level, if asked. For example, capacity to represent the family perspective regarding such things as development of useful resource materials for clinic families, or strategies for health promotion in the community
• Positive interpersonal presence as a team member
• Preferably bi-cultural and bi-lingual, when needed for the population being served
• Positive professional and interpersonal presence as a team member
• Must demonstrate English proficiency in reading and writing
• Preferably bi‑cultural and bi‑lingual, depending on the population being served
• Must have a valid driver’s license (travel is required)

Please note that the final offer may vary within the listed Pay Range, based on a candidate's experience, skills, qualifications, and internal equity considerations.

In keeping with federal, state and local laws, Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) policy forbids employees and associates to discriminate against anyone based on race, religion, color, gender, age, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by law. We are committed to establishing and maintaining a workplace free of discrimination. We are fully committed to equal employment opportunity. We will not tolerate unlawful discrimination in the recruitment, hiring, termination, promotion, salary treatment or any other condition of employment or career development. Furthermore, we will not tolerate the use of discriminatory slurs, or other remarks, jokes or conduct, that in the judgment of CHA, encourage or permit an offensive or hostile work environment.