Family Support Specialist, Family Voices

RIPIN, Inc

Job Posting

Family Support Specialist, Family Voices

Salary Range: $20-$22 /hour

About RIPIN: RIPIN deploys a peer model to support people with special healthcare and education needs across the whole lifespan. Founded in 1991 by a group of parents of children with special needs, RIPIN continues to be peer-led: a majority of our board and more than three-fourths of our staff are parents or caretakers of loved ones with special needs. RIPIN’s peer professionals now help more than 45,000 Rhode Islanders every year navigate healthcare, schools, and other support systems.

Job Summary:

Responsible for providing information, education and support to families of children with special health care needs. Assists in the coordination of projects at RIPIN aimed at helping families effectively advocate for their children. Responsible for networking statewide, regionally and nationally, as well as with state and community-based agencies. Provides technical assistance, education, and training to families, family leaders, professionals, and RIPIN staff in all programs.

Essential Functions:

• Plans, develops, and implements strategies to support families and support groups.
• Develops and disseminates informational materials and ensures that materials and information are available in different formats and languages, as appropriate.
• Collaborates with all RIPIN programs as needed to assist with information on support groups and other projects of Family Voices.
• Enters data and assists with preparation of state, federal, and funding reports and proposals.
• Provides administrative support during meetings and events.
• Presents workshops and facilitates trainings as assigned.
• Assists with coordination and planning of conferences, partnerships, outreach, policy, and system change efforts.
• Participates in and completes required trainings; represents RIPIN on assigned committees and councils as needed.
• Actively participates as an effective team member in all assigned RIPIN meetings and FV team meetings. Make constructive use of individual and peer supervision/one-on-one meetings.
• Contribute to the overall success and quality of the agency by working constructively and collaboratively with other staff members ensuring all individuals are treated respectfully and that diversity in backgrounds and life experiences is supported and valued throughout the agency.
• Supports the translation of materials based on language proficiency (preferred but not required).
• Accepts other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• A belief in the mission, vision, and values of RIPIN
• Advanced knowledge of RI’s systems of care, including health, education, special education, and special healthcare needs of children and youth and service systems supporting them.
• Ability to facilitate group discussions and chair meetings, which may include workshops in the community; ability to speak in groups, including professional staff, providers and participants.
• High level of interpersonal skills and excellent communication skills to interact on a professional level with consumers, parents and professionals.
• Ability to utilize personal experiences to enhance support to families while maintaining professional boundaries.
• Ability to convey complex information in a clear and understandable manner.
• Organizational skills to include managing multiple activities; ability to prioritize projects of varying complexities; ability to meet required timelines.
• Ability to effectively work independently and in collaboration with multiple staff and programs.
• Ability to present to small and large audiences that include consumers, stakeholders, and professionals on RIPIN programs’ operations, mission, and focus.
• Proficiency in computer and internet navigation, as well as computer skills to maintain and update program related materials, reports, and multiple database systems.

Education and Experience:

• High School diploma or GED and a combination of education and skills to effectively carry out responsibilities and assignments
• Community Health Workers certification preferred; non-certified incumbents are expected to earn certification within 18 months of hire date
• Personal experience navigating state and community services and programs on behalf of self or a family member, or
• Previous experience supporting families or individuals with special care needs or disabilities or families or individuals accessing health programs and services, or
• Previous experience in working effectively with professionals supporting individuals/ parents/families of children with special needs
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and as an effective team member
• A combination of education and experience demonstrating acquisition of the skills and abilities required
• Fluency (speaking, reading, writing) in English and Spanish or Portuguese desired

Physical Demands:

• Regularly required to talk or hear.
• Regularly is required to stand, walk, sit, use hand to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms.
• Regularly required to climb stairs, reach, stretch, stand and bend.
• Required to have the ability to lift and/or moves up to 25 pounds.
• Required to remain at their station for prolonged periods of time.

Working Conditions/ Work Environment:

• Primary work location is a climate-controlled indoor office environment; however, employee will also be required to conduct visits in private homes and various community locations
• Must be able to provide own reliable transportation to facilitate visits to client’s home or community setting and travel between multiple provider sites.
• Flexibility for occasional travel related to job requirements
• Willingness and ability to work evenings and weekends as needed
• Provide own reliable transportation with proof of RI minimum requirements of auto insurance

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions

RIPIN provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.