About Our Organization:

St. Catherine’s Center for Children is a leading non-profit organization in New York’s Greater Capital District. Our comprehensive range of human services reach more than 1,000 children, 600 families, and hundreds of adults across Upstate New York each year. Our multi-faceted programs are designed to offer hope, foster growth, and improve the lives of the children, families, and adults we serve. We offer residential and therapeutic foster care programs for children and youth, Kinship support, homeless and community-based services for adults and families, a special education elementary school for ages 5-13, and so much more.

St. Catherine’s employs more than 300 full and part-time staff. Our spectrum of services for children, families and individuals suffering from the lasting effects of abuse and neglect, family instability, mental illness, homelessness and other ongoing traumas, continues to grow. We are committed to cultivating a culture where all employees can bring their authentic and best selves to work. Our DEI initiatives are designed to support and build a more equitable, inclusive and diversified workplace, one which exemplifies true respect and dignity.

Our Mission:

St. Catherine's Center for Children provides a comprehensive range of human services designed to offer hope, foster growth, and improve the lives of the children, families and adults we serve.

Job Summary:

Under the leadership and supervision of the Albany County-based Family Opportunity Center Program Supervisor / Clinical Case Planner, the Behavioral Health Specialist (“Specialist”) delivers key program services and coordinates several elements of family center operations. The Behavioral Health Specialist is a crucial member of the family engagement team.

Duties & Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Participates in program design and the delivery of family opportunity center services, while adhering to the regulations of the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (NYS-OCFS), the policies and philosophy of St. Catherine’s Center for Children, and related accrediting standards.

• Drives family involvement in program activities and is the primary recruiter and motivator of the program’s families and potential participants.

• Coordinates the efforts of the family engagement specialist, parent-family advocates, and volunteers in strategic program areas; e.g., everyday access to academic resources for the school-age children and their families.

• Works at the direction of the Program Supervisor to provide substance abuse counseling, mental health counseling, and supporting services to those identified by the program as having behavioral health concerns.

• Performs essential needs and protective factor assessments and screenings, which lead to on-site support or linkage to other community-based services; follow-up is guaranteed so that warm hand-offs occur and family members make it to scheduled appointments.

• Screens families, identifying factors that impact the families’ overall physical and mental well-being, assisting them in breaking down the barriers to social determinants so that family needs are comprehensively attended to and wraparound services are provided that bridge the gap to meaningful service delivery and ultimate goal attainment for the engaged families.

• Meets families “where they are at” to engage and support them – whether that is at the program site, in their homes, or in neutral settings (coffee shops, parks, playgrounds) – in the spirit of the evidence-based practice, to provide behavioral health counseling, ancillary services, etc., connecting with the families in the most impactful way.

• Understands and puts into practice the program’s emphasis on behavioral health support, leading the charge in orienting program services towards that end -- assisting with appointment scheduling, making reminder calls, assisting with arrangements for child care, and other tasks distinctly linked to success in this fundamental program area.

• Cross-trains and provides back-up support for the family engagement specialist role, ensuring solid program functioning, and a service delivery structure that continually meets timelines and expectations.

• Engages in the program’s adoption of the evidence-based practice; supports the practice’s administration and application at the family opportunity center.

• Works with the Program Supervisor to actively interface with other community-based organizations, government entities, schools, etc., across Albany County, to ensure a strong referral stream, community connectivity, and fluid operations that meet the overall performance objectives for the family center.

• Trains in and implements trauma-informed treatment and incorporates the motivational interviewing model into the program milieu.

• At the direction of the Program Supervisor, supports the delivery of regular 1:1 and group staff supervision; e.g., this may occur with the parent family advocates or program volunteers.

• Ensures the quality of all program documentation is aligned with NYS-OCFS standards, the agency’s electronic record (AWARDS) and other documentation connected to program expectations, agency policies, and regulatory bodies.

• Completes other position-related duties and responsibilities, as assigned by the Program Supervisor.

Position Specifications/Requirements:

• Master’s Degree in Human Services or related field, preferred.

• Candidates with less advanced degrees, and lived experience, will be considered.

• Preferred: At least 1 year of experience working with at-risk families and in community services.

• Preferred: Familiarity with wraparound services and implementation in a family-centered system of care.

• Prior knowledge of mental health, juvenile justice, and child welfare prevention programming.

• Must have a Clean and Valid New York State Driver’s License, with driving experience for at least one year, and the ability to meet criteria as outlined in the Policy for Agency Drivers.

• Excellent organization, planning and time management skills.

• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong working relationships with regulatory bodies; capacity to exhibit empathy for those in need.

• Proficiency in various computer applications: Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Google Business Workspace Suite (Gmail, Google Docs, Meet, Sheets, etc.); and secure Internet practices.

• Experience with AWARDS is a plus!

• Must be willing and able to work in close proximity with the clients we serve.

• Ability to pass required pre-employment background checks, to include CBC fingerprinting.

Essential Functions:

• Ability to regularly participate in family engagement and perform well under crisis conditions.

• Ability to make visits to client homes, and other on-site contacts with collaborating organizations, etc.

• Ability and capacity to design and deliver training to community and staff members.

• Ability to relate to a wide range of people. This includes but is not limited to a broad range of people who are culturally and socio-economically diverse, as well as people with various developmental and functional levels.

• Ability to produce quality case documentation that adheres to the specifications set by St. Catherine’s Center for Children, the New York State Education Department (SED), the NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH), NYS Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS), and other regulatory bodies as pertinent to family center operations.

• Ability to work flexible hours, outside of scheduled work hours, as needed.

• Ability to legally operate a motor vehicle in New York State, meeting the criteria outlined in the agency’s polices and procedural documents for driving and transporting the agency’s youth.

• Ability to articulate standards and actively institute safeguards to protect client and family confidentiality in all aspects of residential work. Therefore, the ability to meet all HIPAA requirements and maintain strict client confidentiality is essential.

• Demonstrated placidity and patience; flexibility and adaptability.

What We Offer*:

• Competitive Pay with an Excellent Benefits Package

• Health Insurance options*: Medical, Dental and Vision

• $600 Well-being Reimbursement Benefit*

• Generous Combined Leave Time and loads of Paid Holidays*!

• $500 Employee Referral Bonus*

• We are a 501(c) (3) agency, which is a qualifying employer for eligible staff under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program*

• Pension Plan with Aggressive Agency contribution*

• Life Insurance – Automatic Benefit at no cost to employee

• Paid Training, including TCI and CPR/AED/First Aid Certification & Update courses, if role appropriate

• Tuition Reimbursement*

• Travel/ Mileage Reimbursement*

• Professional Development & Career Growth Opportunities

• Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging

• The Comfort of a Business Casual Environment.

*To qualify, certain conditions may apply

Background Checks: We run a thorough and complete pre-employment background check on all candidates being considered for a position, this includes fingerprinting. All candidates must successfully clear the pre-employment background check process, which follows NYS/DOJ requirements. We pay for all pre-employment background checks!

EEO Statement: St. Catherine’s Center for Children is committed to creating a diverse environment and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, reproductive health and pregnancy, family history and genetics, disability, age, military status, veteran status, politics, or other beliefs, and any other characteristics protected by law.