Child and Family Specialist, Specialty Mental Health

At Wayfinder Family Services, we understand the unique challenges facing some of our state’s most vulnerable children, youth and adults. Those with disabilities, those without a home of their own, those who have been abused and many, many more. We answer the call for them. We believe in the amazing potential in, and for, each and every one of them. And, together, we find a way to turn that potential into reality.  

Program and Role Summary

Wayfinder’s Specialty Mental Health Program offers therapy to children, youth, adults and families in the program. Our mental health care in the community is focused on preventative services to build resilient individuals and families.

The primary focus of the Child and Family Specialist, is to provide mental health skills-based rehabilitation services and behavioral interventions to assist clients in our clinical therapeutic program in learning ways to manage their behaviors to increase positive social and emotional functioning. The child and family specialist works in coordination with inter- and intra-agency treatment team members and across various community-based settings and works collaboratively with any identified Child and Family Team (CFT) and delivers professional services that are trauma-informed, culturally competent, and as outlined in the client’s treatment plan(s).

Primary Responsibilities:

• Adhere to the Placer County Department of Mental Health vision, practice principles, and steps of the Child and Family Team (CFT) process.
• Attends and participates in regularly scheduled CFT meetings
• Work collaboratively with the client, family, therapist, treatment team members, identified Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) personnel, school staff, and all other inter and intra-agency personnel in order to provide services towards objectives, including Targeted Case Management (TCM/ICC), Rehabilitative (IHBS), Collateral, Crisis Intervention.
• Meet face-to-face with each assigned client to provide mental health rehabilitation services that are individualized, within his/her scope of practice, and consistent with Wayfinder's department of mental health services policy and procedure manual standards and guidelines. Such services are inclusive of anger management, social, communication, and daily living skills..  
• Demonstrate professional and effective communication abilities, including the completion of written reports, letters and plans, initiating verbal communications with clients, families, the CFT and inter and intra-agency personnel, and exhibits an ongoing ability to engage formal and informal supports on behalf of clients and families.  
• Able to establish and maintain appropriate rapport with children, adolescents, families, inter and intra-agency personnel, and regulatory bodies.
• Responsible for maintaining current knowledge of client services, best practices, coordination of care, risk assessment and planning, and intervention strategies via continued education, workshops, seminars and/or specialized trainings so as to remain current and proficient in factors/interventions relevant to the client and family population.
• Other duties as outlined in the position description.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in psychology, social work counseling, or related field plus a minimum of two years of experience in a mental health setting as a specialist in the fields of physical restoration, social adjustment, or vocational adjustment OR
  Experience with working with high-risk children, adolescents, adults, and/or families within the Wraparound, Mental Health, Educational, Child Welfare, and/or Juvenile Probation systems required.
• Must meet eligibility requirements to bill for Medi-Cal services.
• Minimum one year of experience with Placer County Department of Mental Health billing and documentation requirements preferred.
• Bilingual (Spanish), preferred.
• Valid CA Driver License with a minimum of three (3) years good driving history and must be approved by the agency’s insurance carrier to drive agency vehicles.

Benefits: Wayfinder is committed to providing our employees with a benefits program that is both comprehensive and competitive which includes:

• Paid Time Off: Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) policy, 11 paid holidays, plus five winter holidays
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term disability insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer match up to 4% 
• Employee referral program: Encourage your colleagues to join us
• Education tuition assistance program: Invest in your career development 
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligible
• Flexible spending account (FSA) plans 
• Eligibility and other benefits are outlined in plan documents

Additional Benefits Offered for this role :

• Training and professional development

Wayfinder Family Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We support a drug-free workplace and conduct pre-employment background and drug screenings.