Encircle Families

Family Support Specialist – PFC provides information, referrals, training, peer mentoring, and problem-solving consultations for individuals and family members of children and youth with the full range of disabilities, and the professionals who serve them. Services are designed to increase their knowledge and skills in becoming effective self-advocates and promoting improved outcomes.  Conduct outreach activities for communities that are low to moderate income, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), and limited English proficient (LEP). 

Specific Responsibilities:  

Behavioral Health Technician. Highly responsive to open cases and strong adherence to documentation and data entry requirements.  Assess the strengths and needs of families, identify issues, and determines priority status for immediate action. Adheres to treatment plan for family and collaborates with the member’s team (CFT, Education, Professionals, etc.) to carry out the plan with the family. Family Support – PFC provides services in-person and virtually in a variety of community environments including the family home, in schools and other public settings when needed. 

Training and Self-advocacy. Through consultation, training, and workshops assist with providing the knowledge, skills, and understanding of public programs, special education, problem-resolution, system navigation and access to various systems of care, evaluating options, understanding rights, filing appeals, using appropriate strategies for resolving conflict, collaborating with professionals, and IEP Partners who attend meetings and assist with self-advocacy.  

Current and Reliable Resources. Provide high quality sources of information on disability issues, care providers, child care, meeting basic needs, early intervention, special education, youth transition, and locating community programs and services for appropriate referrals and follow-up.  

Training for professionals in special education, healthcare, and social services to improve knowledge on family and person-centered services, and effective communication and collaboration strategies for working with families and individuals.    

Develop opportunities and relationships with state agencies, schools, community organizations, professionals, hospitals, universities, and others to increase knowledge, collaboration, and stakeholder involvement.  

Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:  

Ability to become a certified Behavioral Health Technician (BHT) – training will be provided   

High level of knowledge and experience in meeting the needs of BIPOC, low- & moderate-income communities, and individuals with limited English proficiency.  

Exceptional communication skills.  Effective in maintaining working relationships with staff, volunteers, health and social service professionals, parent groups, key community, and agency stakeholders.  

Knowledge of principles of family and person-centered care, strength-based assessment, and collaboration with professionals.  

Personal experience in guiding individuals through federal/state program eligibility, system navigation, care coordination, early intervention, special education, problem resolution, and other issues.   

Experience and skill in training and presentation; knowledge of adult learning techniques and practices.  

Proficient with basic information technology. Ability to perform daily data entry with a high level of accuracy. 

Experience accessing behavior health services for a family member. 

High School Diploma or GED. 

Occasional evening and weekend hours.  

Reliable transportation and valid auto insurance to conduct home and community visits. 

Current, or ability to obtain, valid Arizona Fingerprint Clearance Card 

Preferred: Parent or family member of a child with a disability or special health care need. Bachelor’s degree in social work, education, or a related discipline; Bilingual in Spanish .