POSITION SUMMARY:
The Services Coordinator is responsible for identifying, referring and coordinating services for children, ages 0-3 with special needs, and their families. This position serves as a point-of-contact for families and service providers.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
- Conduct home visits with the family to review intake information and establish rapport.
- Secure information releases to facilitate sharing of information and notifies referral source of the referral outcome, with the permission of the family.
- Maintain ongoing communication with referral source and other contacts as requested by the family.
- Identify family needs, strengths and priorities on a continuing basis.
- Advocate for the family to ensure family priorities remain the driving force behind the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP).
- Assist the family in forming the IFSP team and gaining access to services.
- Serve as liaison between the family and service providers relative to the needs of the family, while at the same time encouraging the family to take this role.
- Assist the family in identifying gaps in services and relaying that information to the IFSP team and other agencies.
- Work with the family to develop strengths and skills needed to support the child with the disability.
- Facilitate and support parents’ advocacy skills.
- Maintain current information base regarding services available within the community. Develops and maintains interagency contacts.
- Coordinate and chair IFSP team meetings and conducts appropriate follow-up to assure Plan implementation (initial, periodic reviews and others).
- Complete, update and disseminate IFSP and Family Assessment documents following confidentiality and time frame guidelines.
- Facilitate communication between family and IFSP team and other service providers.
- Facilitate problem solving and the collaboration of team members around changing needs and assists in modifying the IFSP.
- Serve as mediator for addressing and managing conflicts among families, agencies, and service providers.
- Facilitate the development of a transition plan.
- Maintain record of contacts with families and agencies, including monitoring progress toward IFSP goals/outcomes and service delivery and recording further follow-up needed, in accordance to DHHS guidance, policies and regulations.
- Perform all other duties as assigned.
EDUCATION:
Two years’ experience in a health and/or human services field OR 24 semester hours of post high school education in behavioral sciences, social sciences or closely related field OR any combination of education and experience that equates to two years in human services, behavioral sciences social sciences, or closely related field.
REQUIRED SKILLS:
- Knowledge of child development.
- The ability to identify community resources and how to access them.
- The ability to affirm minority families and their cultural diversity.
- Ability to work with families as equal partners, work with a team, including dynamics of group interaction, conflict resolution, and conduct process evaluation.
- Make team members feel comfortable and valued.
- Network with other professionals.
- Understand the need for confidentiality and abide by all acceptable standards in safeguarding services coordination records and all service activity involving the family.
- Effective communication skills.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software.
PREFERRED SKILLS:
- Experience working with families of children with special needs, young children, infants and toddlers.
- Experience with a broad variety of community agencies that provide services to young children with disabilities and families.
- Experience working with culturally diverse families.
- Knowledge of family dynamics; disabilities and current practices in the field of developmental disabilities.
- Knowledge of support groups and volunteers.
- Knowledge of the influence of culture on family structure, individual and group relationships and child rearing practices.
- Experience with collaboratively working with families of children with special needs, young children, infants and/or toddlers.
- Knowledge of empowerment theory and other service coordination models.
- Experience working with family-centered services.
- Experience with interviewing/assessment techniques in family centered manner.
- Bi-lingual preferred.
SUPERVISION:
This position does not have any direct reports.
Job Type: Part-time
Expected hours: 20 per week
Payment frequency:
Schedule:
Application Question(s):
- Do you have your High School Diploma or GED?
Education:
Language:
License/Certification:
- Driver's License (Preferred)
Work Location: In person