Caregiver Support and Engagement Specialist

THE CAREGIVER SUPPORT AND ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST POSITION SUMMARY

RISE (Readiness, Inquiry, Scholarship, Education) advances education equity for children experiencing foster care by building students’ early literacy skills. A home and community-based service, RISE provides individualized literacy tutoring. RISE also promotes caregiver engagement in their child’s learning by ensuring they are equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to support their child’s learning at home and school.

This position requires an experienced professional whose passion for education, child welfare, and social justice is matched with strong leadership, sound judgment in the face of complex challenges, and a proven track record of engaging and supporting families. A dynamic, collaborative, and results-oriented service provider, the Caregiver Support and Engagement Specialist has alignment with HopeWell’s mission and will thrive on taking an entrepreneurial and innovative approach to meeting youth’s education needs.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Caregiver Support and Engagement Specialist will:

• Implement high quality, caregiver-centered services. Apply trauma-informed, evidence-based best practice approaches to working with caregivers and youth impacted by the child welfare system.
• Partner with tutors, caregivers, and youth to identify and work toward education goals that address assessed needs.
• Coach caregivers to advocate for the education needs of youth in their care, and support caregivers in identifying and reducing any barriers to full engagement in the RISE program.
• Ensure communication is coordinated between caregivers, school professionals, and DCF workers in a way that supports coordination of services, monitors youth progress, and supports youth efforts toward their goals. This may involve taking on the role of convener or supporting the efforts of others.
• Collaborate with the RISE team and executive and program leadership as appropriate to identify, assess, and address safety and other pressing concerns that are impacting RISE service delivery. Partner with caregivers to provide support and, when appropriate, collaborate with external providers or make external referrals.
• Collaborate closely with other RISE staff to ensure continuous internal information sharing that promotes seamless and effective service delivery on a day-to-day basis, as well as appropriate and proactive responses when complex and unexpected situations arise.
• Provide clinical insight to multi-disciplinary team of RISE staff to ensure entire team is delivering most appropriate supports for caregivers and youth. Collaborate with Education Director, Clinical Director, and/or VP, Program Impact and Strategy as relevant to ensure RISE implements best practices.
• Collaborate with the Education Director to test and continuously evolve core educational support model to ensure RISE addresses the unique needs of youth in foster care and promotes effective collaboration between RISE staff, youth and their family, school staff, DCF staff, and any other providers.
• Complete documentation including, but not limited to, intake paperwork and consents, needs assessments, service plans, case notes.
• Actively participate in program and agency internal (e.g. collaborating with colleagues, staff meetings, town halls) and external meetings (e.g. partnership meetings) both in person and virtually as assigned.
• Other duties as assigned. RISE is a new program, and as such, the program model will be subjected to a continuous cycle of analysis and assessment as it launches. It will change iteratively as we learn more about how to best support youth needs, and as a result the roles and responsibilities of various team members will likely adapt and change as the program is launched and evolves.

QUALIFICATIONS

This is a comprehensive list of qualifications that we believe will lead to success in the role. We understand that any one candidate may not have every qualification on this list. We strongly encourage candidates with lived experience with the foster care system to apply.

• Bachelor’s in Human Services field required; MSW or equivalent degree preferred.
• Minimum of two (2) years’ experience providing person-centered supports in child and family services, ideally with families impacted by the child welfare system and/or with complex presentations including chronic trauma.
• Experience doing community-based work and working in school settings, especially in Massachusetts (i.e. as a school social worker) a plus.
• Strong interpersonal skills; ability to build rapport and trusting relationships with youth and families, school staff, and other professionals; ability to successfully engage youth and families and support them regarding education concerns.
• Demonstrated experience collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams utilizing innovative strategies to overcome obstacles.
• Knowledge of and training in child development and children’s mental health experience.
• Demonstrated sensitivity to the needs of families from diverse cultural or linguistic backgrounds.
• Demonstrated flexibility and entrepreneurial spirit; thoughtful, curious, and open-minded approach to learning, growth, and change.
• High level of personal accountability for the quality and impact of work and demonstrated ability to effectively organize, plan, and prioritize work.
• Highly effective oral and written communication skills.
• Must be comfortable working in community settings (i.e., family homes, schools, and in the community).
• Computer skills sufficient to perform essential functions.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• This role involves some home-based and community-based work, some office-based work, and some remote opportunities. During home and community visits there are possible environmental exposures including pets.
• Daily access to an automobile is required.
• Driving is required in and out of the catchment area.
• A valid MA State Driver’s License.
• Clearing of background checks as required by state and federal law.
• Remain current in all required trainings.
• Other duties as assigned to support quality care.
• Maintain availability to work up until 7 pm on weekdays, as many sessions with caregivers occur in the afternoon and early evening. Staff schedules are centered around both the needs of youth and caregivers enrolled in RISE and required program staff meetings. Staff schedules can shift over time as youth needs, staff caseloads, and program needs change. Please note that when scheduled into the early evening, staff coordinate with program leadership to flex other hours to align with HopeWell’s 35-hour work week while meeting all job expectations.