Full-Time Prevention Case Planner

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 the workplace. Our DEI-B initiatives are designed to support and build a more equitable, inclusive and diversified workplace, one which exemplifies true respect and dignity.

Job Summary:

To maintain a caseload (families and/or children), providing direct casework services to consumers enrolled in the Prevention Parent Care Program.

Duties & Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• To provide concrete outreach and advocacy services to developmentally disabled parents and/or mental health clients and/or their children; provide supportive case management.
• Assist parents/children in development of social support system:
  • Help parents locate and use community resources;
  • Help parents become involved in activities to reduce isolation; and
  • Assist child and/or family and community/school staff in understanding and addressing the needs of children related to their disabilities to minimize interruption in a child’s education.
• To be a resource for parents regarding a child’s growth and development.
• To be a resource for any needed referrals for additional services.
• Provide intensive in-home support to family/caregiver to secure child’s safety; provide guidance with home management skills (nutrition, marketing, budgeting, meal planning), child safety and supervision.
• To be familiar with areas of Child Abuse and Neglect.
• To maintain a high degree of confidentiality.
• To maintain regular contact with other service providers to the family including Albany County DCYF.
• To meet at least bi-weekly with the Prevention Supervisor for scheduled supervision.
• To participate actively in treatment planning for each family.
• To provide psycho-educational training that addresses specific issues that disrupt successful functioning in the community with emphasis on “triggers” that create anxiety and frustration.
• To be available to family in times of crisis.
• Additional position-related duties and responsibilities as assigned by the supervisor.
• To provide transportation for family as needed.
• Ability to meet with families at times that are convenient for them.
• To coordinate Team Meetings, Service Plan Reviews, intake and discharge meetings with families as well as collateral providers.
• Complete FASPS for each family in a timely manner in collaboration with DCYF and other community providers.
• Supervise visitation with children and families whose children are in the care and custody of the county.

Organizational Relationships:

Work under the direct supervision of the Prevention Supervisor as assigned. Work collaboratively with other program and agency staff to ensure integrated services to client treatment plan.

Essential Functions:

• Mobility, in terms of home visits to client homes, and make other on-site contacts with referring agencies, collaborative agencies, foster homes, etc.
• Ability to write and understand the written word with special emphasis on required documentation including progress notes, FASPs and other Connections entries, as well as AWARDS system entries within expected time frames from contract source, the Albany County Department for Children Youth and Families.
• Owning a vehicle is necessary for accomplishing case-related duties as well as transporting clients.
• Ability to safely transport young children which may include lifting and carrying a young infant and/ or toddler.
• Flexibility to work hours outside of regularly scheduled work hours, within reason.
• Excellent organization, planning and time management skills.
• Self-motivated and engaged, with a strong attention to detail; Excellent writing aptitude.
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong working relationships with regulatory bodies.
• Capable of relating to a culturally diverse and economically disadvantaged population; capacity to exhibit empathy for those in need.
• Ability to function well in a high-paced and at times, stressful environment.
• Demonstrated placidity and patience; flexibility and adaptability.
• Must possess excellent communication skills (written and verbal); outstanding interpersonal skills, and the ability to build strong working relationships with other agency staff and other regulatory bodies.
• Must have patience, flexibility and adaptability; be capable of exhibiting empathy for those in crisis.
• Value a nurturing family as the ideal environment for a person; and have confidence in the principle that people have the capacity to grow and change at their own pace and motivation.
• Ability to understand, communicate, represent and carry out the mission, values, philosophy and policies of St. Catherine’s Center for Children.
• Ability to conduct themselves in a manner that is becoming of an employee of St. Catherine’s Center for Children.
• Ability to organize and effectively manage, in a timely fashion, the varied tasks of the position.
• Ability and conceptualizations necessary to embrace and work effectively within a therapeutic-based program.
• Ability to work collaboratively and in a family-focused approach with families, welcoming them as part of the Prevention Parent Care Community.
• The ability to establish a respectful relationship with persons served to help them gain skills and confidence, empowering them to solve their own problems.
• Ability to work effectively in a shared decision-making model as a team member, and work collaboratively with other personnel and service providers or professionals.
• The capacity to maintain a helping role and to intervene appropriately to assist in meeting service goals, while setting appropriate limits.
• Ability to exercise ethical, independent judgment and discretion.
• This position will have access to highly sensitive records, with access to client Protected Health Information (PHI), in order to carry out the required duties and responsibilities. Therefore, the ability to meet all HIPAA requirements and maintain strict client confidentiality is essential.

Position Specifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services or Social Work is required.
• Prior outreach experience with families facing ongoing challenges.
• Must have a clean and valid NYS driver’s license; be actively licensed for at least one year and have a reliable (fully insured) vehicle for transporting clients (to community resources, meetings, etc.) - with proof of 100/300 liability insurance coverage.
• Ability to work with developmentally disabled clients, and adult/child mental health patients.
• Knowledge of community resources.
• Knowledge of child development, child abuse/neglect, and the Social Welfare System.
• 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 / NYS Connections.
• Ability to handle sensitive data with strict confidentiality.
• 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 fingerprinting, is required.

What We Offer*:

• Competitive Pay with an Excellent Benefits Package
• Health Insurance options: Medical, Dental and Vision
• Generous Combined Leave Time and LOADS of PAID Holidays! (Calendar B = 10 Paid Holidays)
• $500 Employee Referral Bonus*
• Professional Development & Career Growth Opportunities
• 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 you!
• Paid Training* including TCI and CPR/AED/First Aid Certification Update courses, if role appropriate
• Tuition Reimbursement*
• Travel/ Mileage Reimbursement*
• Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging
• The Comfort of a Business Casual Environment.

*To qualify, certain conditions may apply; See Human Resources for additional details.

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.

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!