ICC Family Support (Bedford County)

Ranked one of Tennessee’s top places to work, MHC is a rare and special place where outstanding company culture is intentional. Where clients and associates are treated the same, as equals.

Mental Health Cooperative, Inc. (MHC) was formed in 1993 to serve individuals with severe and persistent mental illness.  Since then, we have expanded our services to children and adolescents with severe emotional disorders across Middle and East Tennessee.

Our sole purpose is to support and treat those challenged with serious mental illness and poverty. Although based out of Nashville, we serve several communities across middle and East Tennessee with satellite offices in Antioch, Gallatin, Dickson, Columbia, Cleveland, Murfreesboro, Clarksville, Cookeville, Chattanooga, and Memphis. 

If you are interested in joining a team that is caring, collaborative, innovative and energizing this might be a great place for you!

The Family Support Specialist (FSS) provides direct caregiver-to-caregiver support. The FSS is a vital resource to assist families and others who are caring for young children/children/youth/transition-age youth with emotional, behavioral and/or co-occurring disorders. To achieve the resiliency and recovery goals of the child/youth and family, the FSS promotes self-determination, personal responsibility, and the skills, knowledge, and confidence to be an effective advocate for his/her child/youth and inspires a sense of hope that resiliency and recovery are achievable goals.

Job Title: ICC Family Support (Bedford County)

Schedule: Mon-Fri, 8a-4:30p

Salary: $38,600 (base pay) with additional incentive for language skills and behavioral health experience. Mileage reimbursement available.  

JOB SUMMARY: The Family Support Specialist (FSS) provides direct caregiver-to-caregiver support.  The FSS is a vital resource to assist families and others who are caring for young children/children/youth/transition-age youth with emotional, behavioral and/or co-occurring disorders.  To achieve the resiliency and recovery goals of the child/youth and family, the FSS promotes self-determination, personal responsibility, and the skills, knowledge, and confidence to be an effective advocate for his/her child/youth and inspires a sense of hope that resiliency and recovery are achievable goals.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Teach and model the value of every individual’s experience caring for a child or youth with a mental, emotional, behavioral (MEB) or co-occurring disorder.
• Foster a full and equal partnership with the child/youth, family, and caregiver.
• In collaboration with Care Coordinator, complete the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths assessment (CANS).
• In collaboration with the Care Coordinator, complete the Strengths and Culture Discovery and Caregiver Strain questionnaire.
• Encourage and assist caregivers in developing informal and formal networks of support that are responsive to the culture and unique needs of their child/youth and family.
• Teach the child/youth and caregiver how to identify and utilize their strengths in achieving the family’s goals.
• Assist in facilitation of the family team meetings:
• o   Develop agenda with caregiver; lead the meeting with caregiver until the caregiver is ready to do so alone.
• o   Arrange for time and place of meeting.
• o   Ensure that family, team and other required paperwork are completed as instructed.
• o   Complete and disseminate service plan to team members with their tasks highlighted.
• o   Schedule subsequent family team meetings and provide members with date, time, and location.
• o   Partner with family/team members in identifying and overcoming barriers/service gaps.
• Understand and utilize specific interventions necessary to assist caregivers in developing a family team and in establishing and meeting their child/youth and family’s individualized goals.
• Assist caregivers in creating their family team and individualized service plan.
• Lead and model how to facilitate collaborative working relationships with providers, school staff, and other professionals to positively transform the treatment experience of the child, youth, and family.
• Model effective coping techniques and advocacy skills.