Associate Director of Family Services

Position Summary

Responsible for the coordination and direct mental health services within the Department of Family Services for non-residential and community-referred clients. This includes but is not limited to the following: therapy and counseling services, support groups, fire relief mental health support and referrals, as well as crisis intervention services.

Responsible for working with designated projects to ensure that a mental health component is incorporated into the curriculum or service plan, especially vulnerable groups like youth, older adults, and system-involved parents.

As a trauma-informed provider, this position is responsible for providing insight on the effects of trauma on clients and providing guidance to staff on providing services to clients in a trauma-informed manner.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The essential functions include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Coordinates non-residential case management and supportive services provided for clients with mental health needs, fire relief victims and youth including: case conferences; client data submissions; reports and reviewing client files.
2. Develop and lead a Certified Parenting Group to include curriculum development and implement new groups to serve the needs of the community i.e. DCFS System-Involved Groups, Youth Mentoring Groups.
3. Monitor procedures and track referrals relative to the DCFS DV project, in order to meet all contractual obligations.
4. Provide fiscal management including budget development and monitoring.
5. Assist with grant and proposal writing and grant management.
6. Perform duties including reviewing progress of assignments and deliverables; work with staff through challenges or new situations.
7. Review, revise, develop and continually assess service needs of clients with mental health needs, fire relief victims and services for youth.
8. Works with all program staff to ensure clients’ needs are met; works cooperatively with program participants, staff, volunteers and interns.
9. Develop and implement evaluation methods and tools to effectively evaluate client services including a variety of tools and resources to measure outcomes, risk assessment and other areas to ensure program delivery.
10. Provide training and presentations for staff, clients and the community on various mental health topics including: Suicide Prevention, Grief and Loss, Self-Care, Mandated Reporting, Domestic Violence, Elder Abuse and similar training topics.
11. Provide on-site crisis intervention to clients and youth in crisis. Provide mental health services to clients and/or their families, which may include assistance in restoring or maintaining clients’ functional skills, daily living skills, social skills and linking to community services and support resources.
12. Provide counseling services including short-term, trauma-informed individual therapy as well as comprehensive clinical case management, liaison with other providers, and referral and accompaniment to community services when appropriate.
13. Displays sensitivity to the cultural and linguistic needs of the clients and families served.
14. Acts as a mandated reporter.
15. Acts as a member of the senior management team to strengthen and support the goals of the YWCA:

• promote YWCA mission to all staff
• participates as a member on various management committees
• develops and implements methods to improve fiscal soundness and control expenses
• actively cooperates with other departments in support of YWCA goals

• Monitors needs of the community; develops staffing patterns necessary to meet those needs.
• Implement and manage compliance assurance processes.
• Oversee the Master’s level Intern Program, completing all necessary paperwork and documentation to meet the university requirements.
• Oversees implementation of program planning and grants management; maintains records of fiscal activities within funding agency regulations, ensuring that revenues and expenses are balanced at the end of each fiscal year; monitors and controls expenditures to comply with budget.
• Performs managerial duties including:
• working with staff to set goals performance goals
• reviewing performance and completing appraisals as scheduled
• counseling and disciplining staff, where required and addressing any performance improvement plans
• coaching, advising and guiding staff through problems or new situations
• ensuring appropriate in-service programs are provided to improve staff skills
• scheduling staff to ensure proper coverage and service in the Domestic Violence program at all times

Develops and maintains professional skills through networking with peers in other community service agencies, research, participating in seminars and continuing education, and reading.

Displays sensitivity to the cultural and linguistic needs of the clients and families served.

Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)

• Master's in Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, or Counseling from an accredited university.
• Must be registered with BBS and in good standing.
• Experience working with trauma survivors from underserved populations, including people of color, people who are experiencing homelessness, people from immigrant groups, and people in the LGBT community.
• Highly developed interpersonal skills including active listening, emotional de-escalation, patience, and compassion.
• Strong analytical problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work both independently and in a dynamic, cross-functional team structure
• Ability to manage and work through change in a proactive manner.
• Prior experience in the social services field, preferably one serving victims of violence and their families, and/or counseling and crisis intervention.
• Effective computer skills and knowledgeable about programs to provide telehealth services.
• Knowledge and sensitivity to issues affecting victims of violence, their families, and he community.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Professional appearance and ability to maintain confidentiality in all matters related to the agency/ program, and positive communications with staff, interns, volunteers, and the community.
• Bilingual skills in English/Spanish required.
• Excellent documentation and clinical skills, ability to prioritize, work independently and meet deadlines.
• Must demonstrate cultural humility and strengths-based approach.
• Must demonstrate excellent attendance and reliability.
• Current Valid Driver’s License and a driving record acceptable to the agency’s insurance carrier.
• Ability to support the mission and philosophy of the YWCA.
• Participates in mandatory 40 hours of training in domestic violence and other training programs.
• Willingness to work a flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends, based on program needs.