Parent Support Specialist en St. Ann's Home & School

St. Ann's Home & School, in Methuen, MA, is a leader in special education and residential programming, offering private day programs, child and adolescent residential services, along with a broad range of outpatient services.

We are currently seeking a Parent Support Specialist.

St. Ann’s Parent Support Specialist (PSS) provides therapeutic, solution-focused support to a parent/caregiver of a youth receiving services through the MA Department of Children and Families (DCF). Essential to the delivery of this service is that the Parent Support Specialist will have qualifying lived experience as a youth recipient of services or as an involved caregiver familiar with the mental health/behavioral health/social service systems of care. The PSS delivers peer-to-peer education, coaching, modeling and guidance to a parent/caregiver for the purpose of addressing their youth’s emotional and behavioral needs. This is accomplished by enhancing parenting capacity through skill building, and the establishment of sustainable connections using community-based resources. The PSS also provides ongoing collaboration with collaterals, including DCF, with a goal of preventing out of home placement or supporting successful reunification.

Key Responsibilities:

· Assisting parent(s)/caregiver(s) in meeting youth’s needs by educating, supporting, coaching, modeling or guiding. These activities are delivered in the parent/caregiver’s home and community.

· Assisting the parent(s)/caregiver(s) in addressing goals on the youth’s treatment plan.

· Foster empowerment and encourage parent(s)/caregiver(s) to take active leadership roles within the treatment of youth.

· When appropriate in the context of the therapeutic relationship, share lived experience with the parent(s)/caregiver(s) to build rapport and engage the parent/caregiver in successful outcomes for youth and family as a whole.

· Identify natural and community-based supports that can assist in providing ongoing assistance in meeting the parent(s)/caregiver(s) and youth’s needs.

Qualified candidates must be 21 years of age or older and must have relevant lived experience and have familiarity with navigating systems of care and utilizing community-based resources. Experience working in human services and/or a related associate's degree are preferred.

Candidates must possess a valid driver’s license and have mode of transportation as visits are community-based. Strong communication skills, organization, and time-management skills are needed. Spanish/English fluency is valuable for this position, but all qualified candidates will be considered.

The mission of St. Ann's Home & School is to provide a continuum of assessment, treatment, educational, and community-based services for children, adolescents, and young adults who present with a variety of mental health, emotional, and educational challenges. We seek to provide state-of-the-art programming and services in collaboration with these clients, their families, and other community and state agencies to help them manage their disabilities through our residential, day school, and community outreach programs with the goal of supporting the child in the least restrictive setting.

St. Ann’s Home is a great place to work! Our incredible benefits include:

• Generous Paid Time Off (Vacation, Personal, and Sick)
• 13 Paid Holidays
• Health and Dental Insurance
• 401K and Employer Contributions to Your Retirement Plan
• Vision Plan
• Flexible Spending Account
• Employer Paid Life and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• $3,000 Per Year Tuition Reimbursement
• Friendly, Welcoming, and Inclusive Environment
• Employee Assistance Program
• Fitness Room
• Ongoing Professional Development Opportunities, Some Providing CEUs
• Excellent Supervision
• Monthly Staff Appreciation Events
• Employee Referral Bonus