Families First is a Georgia non-profit family service agency. We assist over 37,000 children, women and families each year, and we have been serving metro Atlanta for 130 years. Our mission is to ensure the success of children in jeopardy by empowering families.

Everything our agency does is about strengthening families—all kinds of families with all kinds of needs. We foster strong communities by delivering empowering and sustainable solutions to children and families—solutions that improve child well-being and family self-sufficiency. Families First accomplishes this by focusing on three impact areas:

• Child & Youth Permanency – to ensure long-term stability and support, we provide adoption, foster care and residential group homes for children whose lives have been disrupted.
• Family Sustainability & Empowerment – we work collaboratively with other organizations to provide self-sufficiency through housing and supportive services for chronically homeless families. Healthy
• Families & Relationships – we offer training and affordable counseling solutions to equip parents and families with critical skills to build healthy and strong relationships.

Where permitted by applicable law, successful applicants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, or willing to receive full dosage of the COVID-19 vaccine, prior to date of hire. COVID-19 vaccination is a condition of employment, subject to an approved accommodation, and proof of vaccination will be required on or prior to start date.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Permanency Cooperative Coordinator renders direct RBWO services for female, pregnant and/or parenting adolescents under the supervision of the Residential Program Supervisor. This position will assist the Residential Program Supervisor with screening, admissions, and discharge of clients served. Incumbent will be responsible for coaching, life skills training, and coordination of wrap around supports associated with the room and board; provide watchful oversight of youth in the Cooperatives which will include, but not limited to, development of individual service plans; case management; service coordination; linkage to and tracking of health and education resources and services; identifying employment resources; completion of case notes; and data entry to the state of Georgia and Families First electronic clinical records system.

The incumbent will need to understand basic adolescent development and psychology (particularly at-risk youth and high-risk youth). The incumbent must ensure compliance of state, program and agency regulations associated with providing case management services. Quality care includes MRO services, dental, physicals, school, court, recreational, family visits, mentoring and all related services.

This position must be able to function as a positive team player and work in partnership with the other residential staff including liaisons, educational coaches, volunteers, and supervisory staff. This incumbent must provide excellent customer service when interacting with both internal and external providers and family members associated youth.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES FOR COOPERATIVE COORDINATOR:

Maintains accurate, up-to-date case records and other documentation according to established requirements and procedures for Navigator, ORCC, OPM, GCAPP database, GA Score & GA Shines.

• Provides consistent coaching/case management services to residents, including progress notes, coordinating services, etc.
• Provides coaching to youth around day to day functioning while also working closely with the school officials; mental health provider, DFCS, Educational Coaches, other residential staff, and youth’s family members to insure consistency and good coordination of services.
• Coordinates and conducts all intakes including screening, evaluating, and recommending youth who are most likely to benefit from the program.
• Develops all initial Individual Service Plans and coordinates required ISP Reviews.
• Contact courts and other social service agencies regarding youth’s situation or for purpose of making interagency referrals.
• Provide transportation, when necessary, for youth to attend scheduled appointments.
• Contact school officials, doctors, dentists, and other community resources as required by the situation and schedule appointments as needed.
• Monitors prescribed medications, doctor’s orders, refills, changes, or discontinuation of medication.
• Shares on call after hour responsibilities (to include filling in vacant shifts) with Program Supervisor and manages the Program in the absence of the Program Supervisor.
• Supervises student interns and monitors student progress.
• Understanding that discharge begins on day one, develops, monitors and documents all discharge planning activities.
• Assist with developing Behavior Intention Plans and assists Program Supervisors with implementing plan of corrections.
• Reviews and approves psycho-educational groups.
• Attend court appointments with youth.
• Assist with conducting internal incident report follow up and restorative corrective actions.
• Advocate on behalf of the youth regarding community-based services, discharge planning, service planning, vocational/occupational opportunities, etc.
• Act as the liaison between the youth’s assigned state worker, community counselor, teachers, etc. and Families First.
• Certification in Mindset Safety Intervention Training to manage aggressive behavior (training provided by agency).
• Must become certified in CPR/First Aid.
• Accept responsibility for continuous professional development. Stay abreast of professional literature and development in order to enhance skills.
• Incorporate the Families First Theory of Change in all service delivery responsibilities.

• 
  Bachelor’s Degree in social work, psychology, counseling, or another related field.
• Minimum of 2 years work experience with children and preferably teenagers.
• Ability to work cooperatively and collaboratively in a team setting.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficient in Outlook and Microsoft Word and other Software Packages.
• Responds appropriately to cultural differences among the Agency’s service population.
• Has the ability to understand, communicate, and work effectively with residents in care with backgrounds of involving abuse, neglect, loss, and trauma.
• Has the ability to set limits with residents while also professionally handling any negative reactions that might occur resulting from setting limits/ discipline.
• Presents deep interest in young people, as well as an understanding of how to create positive youth development.
• Maintain and enhance skills and expertise through participation in professional organizations and staff development activities.

EEO Statement:

It is the policy of Families First not to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability or because he or she is a protected veteran. It is also the policy of Families First to take affirmative action to employ and to advance in employment, all persons regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status, and to base all employment decisions only on valid job requirements. This policy shall apply to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, upgrading, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, recall, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation and selection for training, including apprenticeship, at all levels of employment..

Families First is an Equal Opportunity Employer dedicated to Affirmative Action and Workforce Diversity.

Families First participates in E-Verify.

Interested candidates can apply at www.familiesfirst.org

Where permitted by applicable law, successful applicants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, or willing to receive full dosage of the COVID-19 vaccine, prior to date of hire. COVID-19 vaccination is a condition of employment, subject to an approved accommodation, and proof of vaccination will be required on or prior to start date.