Job Description

CHILDREN’S SERVICES- INTENSE FIELD CAPABLE CLINICAL SERVICE (IFCCS) PROGRAM

PARENT PARTNER

OVERALL RESPONSIBILITY: Under the supervision of the assigned IFCCS Supervisor the Parent Partner’s primary responsibility is to advocate for the needs of the IFCCS child’s parent / caregiver. The Parent Partner serves as liaison for parent involvement and voice. The Parent Partner offers support in whatever way is most helpful to each individual family. They use a flexible, strengths-based approach in their work.

The Parent Partner should have personal “lived” experience with navigating public agencies such as Department of Children & Family Services, Department of Mental Health, Department of Probation or the Special Education system.

REQUIREMENTS:

1. Must be able to pass California State Department of Justice criminal background investigation, Live Scan and/or fingerprinting with no negative indicators.

EDUCATION: GED or High School Diploma. Some college is preferred, but not required

EXPERIENCE:

Must be or have been the parent or primary caregiver (not foster parent) of a child who received services from one of the following LA County Departments: Department of Mental Health, Department of Probation, and/or Department of Children and Family Services; or Regional Center. At the time of hire, the Parent Partner must not longer have an open case in either the Probation Department or DCFS for at least one year. This meets qualification having “lived experience”.

CLASSIFICATION: Non Exempt

SPECIAL SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE:

1. Ability to respond quickly, effectively and with equanimity to family crisis and life situations.

2. All IFCCS staff are be expected to maintain a flexible schedule (which will not be traditional 9-5) and must be available to provide services in the community and/or in the home of the families served by the IFCCS program including traveling outside of the assigned service planning area.

3. Ability to communicate well verbally, articulate and implement IFCCS services and treatment model.

4. Excellent written and verbal skills.

5. Must be a parent of a special needs child.

6. Basic computer skills and literacy are required to use the agency electronic health record. Staff must be able to logon, type, use a mouse and negotiate through various screens or windows to complete daily chart documentation and chart supervision requirements.

7. Knowledge of mentally ill child and youth populations, targeted case management and psychiatric rehabilitation.

8. Must have skills necessary to engage and work with others from diverse ethnic and cultural groups.

9. Must have valid California Driver's license and the availability of a car with adequate insurance.

DUTIES:

1. Must demonstrate ability to work as a part of the multi-disciplinary team.

2. Participate in Child and Family Team (CFT) Planning meetings, promoting family-centered practice strategies including family decision-making.

3. Support parents/caregivers by listening to them and working to enhance communication between parents/caregivers and the treatment team in improving the CFT plan.

4. Works closely with IFCCS Coordinator, IHBS worker, and therapist to facilitate implementation of services to meet the family needs, Safety Plan, Crisis Plans and treatment plans.

5. Meet parents/caretakers and youth in the community, in the home or wherever is convenient for the family.

6. Promote caretaker/parent voice in the planning, implementation and evaluation of services delivered in the IFCCS program.

7. Educate parents/caregivers on how to advocate for themselves and their families.

8. At the parent’s request and for the purpose of providing support and/or advocacy, attend court appearances such as dependency or delinquency hearings (or any other court hearing as appropriate), Individualized Educational Plan (IEP’s) or other meetings as appropriate.

9. The Parent Partner participates in the Child and Family Team meetings, provide direct services to children, adolescents and their families as needed.

10. Provide intensive crisis intervention services as needed to children or their families under the direction and guidance from the Coordinator, Psychiatrist and/or Supervisor

11. Provide a positive role model and assists caretakers in development of necessary daily living skills and competencies that are required to successfully live and maintain the family in the community.

12. Support other families as peers with a common background and history, rather than an expert who has all of the answers. Take responsibility for clarifying your role as a Parent Partner and as a parent of a child with special needs. Tell your stories when it can help other families. Acknowledge that each family’s answers may be different than your own. Serve as a role model and support for children/families involved in the wraparound process.

13. Build partnerships with others who are involved in the care of children. Participate in collaborative cross-system teaming and community-based service delivery.

14. Commit to honesty with all involved with the care of a child & expect the same from others. Be committed to a non-judgmental and respectful attitude in your dealings with & discussions regarding families. Be committed to non-adversarial advocacy in your role within the system.

15. Link families with appropriate community supports.

16. Participate in the 24 hour on call system and provide support to families as needed.

17. Establish and maintain positive and effective working relationships with internal staff and external resources.

18. Meets with parents to complete the DMH Patient Financial Information (PFI) form annually within DMH standards time limits. Documents obtained information in appropriate section of Clinitrak and obtains parent signature.

19. Documenting all services to be billed to LAC-DMH and services. Documentation is to be completed and submitted within 24 hours.

20. Assists the Coordinator by taking notes during the CFT meetings. This may include translation activities.

21. On an ongoing basis, complete all case documentation, outcomes study and other paperwork within prescribed time frames.

22. Attend and participate in all intra /inter agency meetings and trainings as scheduled.

23. Participate in on call rotations.

24. Other duties as assigned.

Company Description

Southern California Health & Rehabilitation Program (SCHARP) was founded February 1994 as a non-profit entity for the purpose of providing mental health and rehabilitation services to vulnerable ethnic minority populations in Southern California Los Angeles Founded by two African American psychiatrists who were disillusioned with the traditional services provided to severely and persistently mentally ill individuals who are members of minority groups, they targeted this population, along with homeless mentally ill and homeless dually diagnosed. The mission of Southern California Health and Rehabilitation Program (SCHARP) is to provide quality mental health and social services to vulnerable populations in South Los Angeles.