Job: Family Preservation Counselor - Okeechobee

NATURE OF WORK
Family Preservation is a program within the Family Services Department that provides intensive Indian Child Welfare services. Family Preservation Counselors provide services to abused and/or neglected STOF children and their families. Services are provided in-home and out-of-home and are designed to help STOF tribal families stay together. Family Preservation provides immediate crisis intervention and stabilization for families with a child or children at imminent risk of harm. Services include crisis intervention, case management, parenting skills training, child development education, assessment of the safety of the children, and counseling for such issues as domestic violence, drug abuse, mental illness, underdeveloped coping skills, relationship problems, and poor communication skills.

ILLUSTRATIVE TASKS
The listed duties are only illustrative and are not intended to describe every function that may be performed by this position. The omission of specific statements does not preclude management from assigning specific duties not listed, if such duties are a logical assignment to the position.

_Accompanies child protection investigators on abuse/neglect investigations of tribal families. Provides support to the family during and after the investigations.
_Conducts a full assessment utilizing the program specific protocol, including verbal and written diagrams, summarizes central issues, themes and agreements reached. Develops operational problem definition, assess structural functioning of individual in relationship to environment/family, conducts thorough child/family strengths and needs assessment.
_Interacts with Department of Children and Families (DCF) case workers with the goal of providing better services to tribal families. Interactions include accompanying case workers on home visits, providing court ordered case plan recommendations, developing court reports detailing the families case plan task progression, and communicating regularly via the telephone and email.
_Develops and implements successful intervention techniques including identifying the treatment method, establishing treatment plans that identify problems, goals and measurable objectives that are achievable in a reasonable time frame. Recommends interventions/strategies that address the assessment issues and produces progress notes that reflect movement towards goals/objectives.
_Attends all dependency court hearings involving tribal families. Advocates for the tribe, the family, and the child(ren) during these court hearings.
_Provides effective crisis management including the following of program triage protocol and treatment methods. Responds in timely manner, provides for follow-up care, normalizes situation, discusses options and handles situation calmly.
_Conducts educational activities to promote client understanding of treatment issues including medication, diagnosis and parenting skills.
_Maintains records in a timely manner according to standards.
_Maintains professional boundaries and ethics specific to the STOF and keeps updated with professional certification and required CEU’s.
_Performs other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
• Knowledge of the Indian Child Welfare Act
• Knowledge of psychological concepts of human behavior and development.
• Knowledge of a variety of advanced therapeutic methods, their techniques and application.
• Knowledge of judicial system process and laws as it relates to specific areas of child abuse/neglect, sexual battery, domestic violence, and/or to substance abuse, as needed for the area of assignment.
• Ability to exemplify the highest of professional standards and ethics and to demonstrate appropriate, effective, empathic service delivery within the Seminole community.
• Skill in individual counseling, family counseling, and/or group counseling as required for area of assignment.
• Skill in play therapy as needed for area of assignment.
• Skill in clinical case conceptualization as needed for area of assignment.
• Ability to establish rapport with clients under adverse conditions and to conduct confidential interviews with mature judgment.
• Ability to interpret psychological or psychiatric information properly and make sound recommendations.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, and to react quickly and calmly in emergency situations.
• Ability to prepare reports and accurate and comprehensive case histories using computer-based applications.
• May be required to demonstrate ability to perform intensive therapy with high risk children and their families.
• Ability to serve the STOF tribal community with honesty and integrity.
• Computer literacy in Microsoft Office.
• Must be willing to work flexible hours and be on call 24/7 for emergency situations.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Bachelor’s Degree from a regionally accredited institution with provision of a transcript confirming completion of a major field of study in Social Work, Psychology, Mental Health, or Family Therapy. Minimum of one (1) year of post Bachelor’s work experience in the field of behavioral health, including experience working with multi-diagnosed individuals (e.g. mental health disorders/substance dependence-related conditions), family systems work, and community-based treatment. Computer literacy in Microsoft Office software programs. Excellent English written and verbal skills. Valid Florida Driver’s License and good driving record. Must be willing to work flexible hours as required by the position. Bi-lingual in Creek/Miccosukee is preferred.