OFSN strives to create a team of engaged employees who represent diverse backgrounds, languages, points of view and experiences. We understand that achieving equity is a continuous process, and we work to maintain the highest standards of ethics, transparency, and accountability.
OFSN is a family run organization that values those who have direct experience raising a child with significant mental, behavioral health challenges. OFSN gives preference to hiring individuals who have this direct experience.
PRIMARY PURPOSE
The Family Support Specialist (FSS) is a peer with shared lived experience who works with families raising a child with emotional, behavioral, mental health, developmental or other health challenges. The FSS role is to support the family, help them to engage and actively participate on their team and/or treatment process and make informed decisions that drive the process. The FSS uses personal and professional life experience to provide consultation and coaching to increase awareness and improve parent/caregiver-professional partnerships and maximize parent/caregiver voice, choice, and involvement. FSSs work in a variety of environments, such as Wraparound, Community and Transition Services (CATS), Community Based programs, Reach Out Oregon parent warm line, Rapid Response, Caring Contacts, etc. and support the unique needs of families by using consistent and unified principles of the Family Support practice and competencies.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Family Support (75%)
- Provide culturally and linguistically appropriate support to families.
- Utilize personal and professional life experience, best practices, and approved Family Support Competencies to provide peer support to parents and caregivers.
- Facilitate engagement, access, and participation of parents/caregivers in systems of care, maintain meaningful involvement with the parent/caregiver and their childs planning process as it relates to system navigation.
- Explore strengths, needs, culture and vision with the child and family.
- Participate in child and family team meetings to ensure access, voice and choice within the child and family team process and support the parent/caregivers connection to the child and family team.
- Encourage the family and team to bring concerns into the open.
- Model effective communication, frame and reframe a concern to facilitate collaboration, patience, and strengths-based approach.
- Provide a consistent source of encouragement and hope to families.