~~~~~POSITION OPENING*~~~~~
TITLE: Community Family Services Specialist
SUPERVISION: Position will be an AVCP employee but Napaimute Traditional Council and AVCP ICWA Department (partnership) will share supervision of the ICWA worker.
JOB CLASS: Part-time position based on case load. 20-30 hours per week
Salary is $18 per hour with benefits.
LOCATION: To be determined. This can be a home-based position.
Position open until filled – Tribal Member Hiring Preference per NVN Tribal Member Hire Policy
SUMMARY:
The Community Family Services Specialist (CFSS) serves as the Indian Child Welfare Act and Child Welfare representative for the Native Village of Napaimute and remains under the supervision of both the NVN Director of Development and Operations and AVCP to fully carry out the intentions of the Indian Child Welfare Act. The CFSS will provide and coordinate the necessary services to help prevent the breakup of Native families. The CFSS will also assists in reunification of families which have already experienced break-up and acts as a liaison to represent the interests and positions of the local Tribal Council in all court proceedings involving all Child in Need of Aid (CINA) cases. This can be a home-based position. There is also funding available for office lease.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Fully understand the Indian Child Welfare Act and act as an active and diplomatic liaison between the families, AVCP, the Napaimute Traditional Council, the regional service providers (like Office of Children’s Services (OCS), YKHC, and other tribal governments, etc.)
- Conduct regular and frequent home visits with tribally identified at-risk families in order to complete a family assessment, determine treatment goals, provide referrals and on-going support, and monitor families and their progress.
- Conduct regular and frequent home visits with families involved with OCS in order to monitor OCS ICWA compliance, provide and/or coordinate referrals for service and especially on-going support, and monitor families and their progress with their case plan or safety plan.
- Conduct home visits and initial assessments with OCS as often as possible for reports of harm, CINA cases, and in-home cases. Act as a diplomatic/cultural liaison between OCS and the tribe and the family to assist in communication efforts between all parties involved. If unable to or if it is a conflict of interest, contact AVCP social workers or prevention staff to request timely assistance from the AVCP ICWA office.
- Become the recipient for all Child in Need of Aid (CINA) notices. Prepare, in partnership with AVCP ICWA and ALSC, any and all required court documents for intervention, and present cases, in a timely manner, to the Napaimute Traditional Council for vote of intervention and actively participate in all telephonic court hearings and case reviews. If unable to attend, contact AVCP ICWA office in advance for case coverage.
- Maintain current case files on all In-home and Child in Need of Aid (CINA) cases with up-to-date notes of all contacts and information regarding the case. Share all case notes with AVCP ICWA department on a bi-weekly basis.
- Maintain current case files on all tribal children’s cases with up to date notes of all contacts and information regarding the case. Work closely with AVCP Prevention staff for any needed technical assistance.
- Maintain an updated list of families interested in becoming foster or adoptive parents and make list available to both AVCP ICWA office and the Office of Children’s Services (OCS), and assist with all recruitment efforts for Native foster and adoptive homes.
- Plan, coordinate and conduct prevention activities to meet the needs in the village.
- Provide monthly reports to the Napaimute Traditional Council by oral presentation at meetings about all ICWA cases, any tribal jurisdiction cases, and to AVCP ICWA by written bi-weekly report, and to BIA by completing written quarterly performance reports (submitted via AVCP).
- Take thorough case notes during reviews, hearings, meeting, and contact with families and then provide copies to AVCP ICWA office of all CASE NOTES for all custody and OCS in-home cases as part of the bi-weekly report.
- Actively participate in OCS’s in-home case plan development for families to ensure appropriateness for the family at-risk for in-home cases. Monitor the case plan for family compliance and assist the family in meeting the case plan requirements. Coordinate family to family meetings if possible to prevent break up of families.
- Actively, professionally and politely communicate with OCS and other partner agencies regarding cases in common to improve and expand overall support for the families.
- Take advantage of and effectively use appropriate training opportunities to improve ICWA program and services to families.
- Act as a mandated reporter when receiving reports of harm.
- Answer to both the Napaimute Traditional Council and AVCP for all job performance and employment matters.
- Other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Knowledge of the Yup’ik/Athabascan culture, traditions, and lifestyle.
- Knowledge of case management services to clientele consisting of family members of all ages.
- Skills in interviewing and ability to assess needs and resources.
- Experience working with community social service programs.
- Must be willing to travel to attend training sessions out of the home community and occasionally out of the region.
- High School Diploma or GED required.
*Subject to revision based on local Tribal ICWA program needs and AVCP ICWA Department needs.
