Description

Position Summary:

Clinicians in the Center for Early Relationship Support (CERS) at JF&CS provide clinical and therapeutic support services to address challenges in the parent-child relationship and parental mental health concerns, seeking to support strong relationships between parents and their young children. Clients seek services from CERS due to concerns which are exacerbated/impacted by the transition to parenthood, parental mental health, trauma, substance use disorder (SUD), and/or challenges in the parent-child relationship. Clinicians conduct assessments and determine a treatment plan utilizing evidence-based and evidence-informed interventions to achieve client-identified treatment goals. Clinicians work in the complex field of dyadic infant-parent mental health, requiring them to hold multiple developmental and ethical perspectives while delivering cutting-edge services and participating in the evolution and promotion of a specialized field of practice. Services are provided in the client's home, community, Waltham Office or through telehealth. Clinicians often work in partnership with peer home visitors or family resource specialists (Case Managers) to ensure that concrete resource needs of clients are met, reducing stress on the parent-child relationship.

This position is available in a part-time or full-time capacity. Salary is $70,000-$73,000 annually. This is an in-person position, based out of our Waltham office. There is some opportunity for remote work.

Responsibilities:

• Provide evidenced-based and/or evidence-informed Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) interventions to pregnant women, new parents and their children birth to five years, focusing on supporting and strengthening the parent-child relationship. Services are delivered in the client's home, community, and JF&CS's Waltham office as well as through telehealth.
• Promote parental capacities for understanding and addressing the impact of trauma, past or present parental mental health concerns, parental substance use and/or other challenges in their own and their children's lives. Collaborate and, as appropriate, coordinate services with peer home visitors and the Family Resource Team on behalf of clients in need of intensive support.
• Collaborate and coordinate with hospital staff, infant-toddler family specialists, Department of Children and Families social workers, community-based providers and others engaged in supporting the family.
• Attend to and ameliorate the impact of systemic vulnerabilities, racism, and oppression on families, colleagues, and systems.
• Conduct screenings and assessments with clients and children as required for program operations and funding.
• Facilitate parent psychoeducational groups utilizing evidenced-based curricula.
• Build collaborative relationships with community providers, providing advocacy and education about the role of IECMH in individual, family, and community well-being
• Participate in and achieve certification (if required) in evidence-based interventions and parent/child screening appropriate for parent-child mental health support for families with children birth to five years.
• Maintain accurate record keeping in accordance with program guidelines, including data entry in the agency reporting system.
• Become an integral part of a multi-disciplinary team at CERS, participating in clinical meetings, in-service trainings and reflective supervision with supervisor.
• Represent JF&CS, CERS and an IECMH perspective in community coalitions and meetings.
• Other duties as assigned.

ABOUT JF&CS

For more than 150 years, Jewish Family & Children's Service has been helping individuals and families build a strong foundation for resilience and well-being. We intentionally serve and employ people of ALL faiths, backgrounds, cultures, and abilities.

We have a strong culture of professional development, work-life balance, and promotion from within.

JF&CS is an equal opportunity employer who serves and employs people of all cultures and faith traditions. Employment opportunities are available to all without regard for race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, or disability.

Requirements

Requirements:

• Advanced degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, Public Health or related field required.
• A minimum of 3 years of experience working with women in the perinatal period, infants or young children, preferably with parent-infant dyads, required.
• Training or practice related to working with highly vulnerable and complex families required.
• Training and/or certification in evidence-based interventions appropriate for young children and dyads preferred.
• Experience supporting parents or family systems impacted by multiple vulnerabilities is required. Vulnerabilities may include individual, family, and/or systemic factors that reduce the likelihood of achieving optimal health and development
• Bilingual required.
• Knowledge Microsoft Office computer programs (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint) and willingness to learn and use technology for record-keeping and communication.
• Strong written and oral communication skills and experience developing and maintaining partnerships.
• A drivers' license and vehicle required. This position requires frequent driving within the greater Boston/metro area, reaching most communities within the 95/128 corridor.