Families Together Building Solutions Worker

Position Summary

The FTBS Program is a short-term, in-home strength-based solution-focused counseling, family preservation program for children and families referred by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Families have multiple problems and need consistent and ongoing services which will enable them to significantly improve family functioning. The FTBS Program will provide a wide range of moderately intensive, solution-focused services to the family. Services take place in the family home. The FTBS Program provides up to 90 days of services, with an extension up to an additional 90 days. Assists in the development of service plans and coordinates services with the DHHS referring worker.

Wage: Up to $47,715.20 annually; $22.94/hour based on relevant work experience.

Are you passionate about discovering new ways to help empower people and make a difference in their lives?

If you’ve got what it takes to support us in our mission to provide help and create hope through innovative, collaborative, and diverse programs within the community, then we’ve got the right opportunity for you.

About Catholic Charities West Michigan

Catholic Charities West Michigan (CCWM) is a community-based agency providing programs in Western Michigan and offering a variety of services in family preservation, behavioral health, child welfare, and community outreach.

• CCWM is committed to ensuring a diverse workforce and a work environment whereby all staff are treated with dignity, respect, and fairness.
• CCWM encourages persons of diverse backgrounds and faiths to apply for employment.

Essentials Duties and Responsibilities

• Provides in-home, strength based and solution focused counseling and educational services to parents and children who have been referred by DHS.
• Provides family-based services to each family and follows a solution focused therapy approach. Services may include engagement, negotiation concerns, empowering the family, defining behaviors/situations of the family, collaborative goal setting, and increasing family skill levels.
• Develops service plans with families in collaboration and coordination with the referring worker and other community providers.
• Meets contract expectations for number of families served based on county contracts and provides each family with therapeutic face to face contact and crisis management.
• Participates in regular supervisory sessions, case reviews, team meetings and other meetings as required and completes trainings as required by the FTBS contract or the Agency.
• Provides oral or written testimony to the court, as required.
• Develops an emergency/safety plan with each family in the event of a crisis or risk of harm to the children.
• Completes necessary documentation as required by the contract and the Agency and completes follow-ups after case closure.
• Performs other special assignments at supervisor’s request.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this position, the staff member is regularly required to talk and/or hear. The staff member is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The staff member, on occasion, may be asked to move or lift items up to 40 pounds in weight.

Work Environment:

This position is primarily office based, however, on occasion may require travel to other Agency offices as required by position responsibilities and/or agency management. This position will be routinely exposed to typical office noise levels and/or exposure to various weather conditions.

The qualifications listed above are guidelines for selection purposes; alternative qualifications may be substituted if sufficient to perform the duties of the job.

Other Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of brief solution-focused therapy.
• Knowledge of the Families Together Building Solutions philosophy and intervention strategies.
• Knowledge and skills necessary to provide services appropriate to families and children 0-18.
• Knowledge of brief, solution focused therapy and strength-based solution focused intervention strategies.
• Knowledge and skills around substance abuse, mental health, and co-occurring disorders.
• Knowledge of local resources.
• Ability to have a non-judgmental positive attitude toward families in crisis.
• Ability to be committed to empowering families to solve their own problems.
• Ability to work in partnership with other team members and/or service providers.
• Ability to demonstrate sensitivity and responsiveness to cultural differences present in the agency’s service population.
• Ability to forge a mutually respectful partnership with individuals and families in which they are helped to gain skills and confidence in addressing issues and problems.
• Must have the conviction about an individual’s / family’s capacity to change and grow.
• Drives for agency business.
• Other duties and special projects as assigned by management.
• This position requires reliable transportation.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and good driving record with zero work restrictions.
• Must have personal auto insurance as required by law with minimum bodily injury coverage limits of $250,000 per person/$500,000 per incident or $500,000 combined. 
• Must be willing to work a flexible schedule based on needs of the clients served. This may include working irregular hours including evenings, holidays, and weekends.
• Participation is required in initial and ongoing training provided MDHHS and Agency.
• Must submit to agency approved background checks

Recommended Employment Qualifications

Education:

A bachelor’s degree in human services or related field is required. A master’s degree in social work preferred.

Experience:

A minimum of 1 year of prior fieldwork experience working with children and families with multiple problems and the overall ability to relate to and engage with the families is highly preferred. 

Professional Certificates, Licenses, and Registrations:

none required.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

This position does not have supervisory responsibilities.

Our Mission

Inspired by the Church's social teachings, Catholic Charities West Michigan fosters individuals and families to flourish by providing help and creating hope.

Our Vision

Catholic Charities West Michigan is called to create a just and compassionate community where all people can achieve their divine purpose.

Our Values

• Sanctity of All Life
• Compassion
• Integrity
• Respect
• Equity

CCWM is an equal opportunity employer, subject to all federal and state laws as applicable to a religious Agency.