Child First Program Manager

I.

I. PURPOSE/FUNCTION OF THE PROGRAM:

Child First is an evidenced based, psychotherapeutic model that provides home-based assessment, family plan development, parent-child therapeutic intervention and education, and care coordination/case management for high risk families with pregnant people and/or children from birth to five years old, to decrease social-emotional and behavioral problems, developmental and learning problems, and abuse and neglect. This service uses a relationship-based approach that focuses on the primary attachment relationships of the young child and supports the parent, through its two-person service team, to enhance the family environment via protective, nurturing, and responsive interactions.

II. POSITION SUMMARY:

The Child First Program Manager is responsible for the direction and management of all Child First program and clinical operations within Boy’s & Girl’s Village. The Program Manager engages in clinical reflective supervision with up to five Child First Clinical Teams (each made up of a Care Coordinator (use title based on your state) and a Mental Health and Developmental Clinician) who provide Child First’s home-based therapeutic intervention. As an administrator, the Program Manager works closely with the Child First State Clinical Lead to ensure fidelity to the Child First model and optimal outcomes for families. In addition, the Program Manager serves as a liaison to community-based providers serving young children and families, and to the local infant and early childhood collaborative. The best candidate for this position is highly organized, self-motivated, reliable, and flexible with excellent leadership and team-building skills.

III. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

· Supervise all components of clinical operations and set program policy and procedures for Child First Teams.

· Provide Child First group reflective supervision and case conference meetings on a weekly basis, using videotape as appropriate.

· Provide weekly reflective supervision with each Clinician, Care Coordinator, and Clinical Team.

· Maintain an “open door” policy for staff supervision, consultation, and support, as needed.

· Review progress notes, formulations, and clinical diagnoses for all children and families.

· Review and sign all Child and Family Plans of Care (Treatment Plans).

· Build and maintain cohesive, supportive, reflective, respectful relationships among staff.

· Review and process data with staff and discuss areas for improvement and respond to clinical areas of need with specific training for staff.

· Review all outcome data on a quarterly basis with staff and discuss areas for improvement and respond to clinical areas of need with specific training for staff.

· Use the Child First Fidelity Framework with all staff to maintain fidelity to the Child First model.

· Lead all site-based quality enhancement activities in collaboration with the State Clinical Lead and Changent.

· Participate in reflective consultation with the State Clinical Lead on a weekly and then biweekly basis.

· Manage referrals and facilitate outreach with community partners.

Assure that the Child First program and staff are integrated into the affiliate agency, with ongoing communication with the agency Senior Leadership.

· Lead effort in hiring and recruiting Child First staff.

· Actively participate in all Child First training, including Child First Learning Collaborative, distance learning, and specialty training, and assist staff in mastering program components to ensure fidelity to the Child First model.

· Attend the monthly clinical and administrative Child First Clinical Supervisors’ Meeting.

· Supervise entry of all data by staff and ensure accuracy.

· Conduct chart reviews to ensure all necessary clinical components and consents are in place.

· Oversee clinical component for reimbursement for services to satisfy contracted obligations, funding source obligations, Medicaid., etc.

· Build relationships and work collaboratively with local non-profit agencies, public social services, and state policy makers to enhance their understanding and utilization of Child First services.

· Represent Child First within the local infant and early childhood council or collaborative meetings and other local, state, and national meetings, as appropriate.

· Serve as the Child First liaison with all community partners including child welfare, health providers, early care and education, early intervention (IDEA-Part C), courts, etc.

· Make presentations about Child First as an early childhood, evidence-based, home visiting intervention, embedded in a system of care.

· Maintain a caseload of 1-2 Child First families, in partnership with a Care Coordinator and in consultation with State Clinical Lead.

IV. ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS:

• Fully Licensed mental health clinician with master’s or doctoral degree, able to practice in their state independently, in social work, psychology, APRN-child psychiatry, marriage and family therapy, or related field.

· Knowledge of early childhood development and disability, especially emotional/behavioral health; parent-child relationships and attachment theory; effects of environmental risks on early childhood brain development, especially violence exposure and maternal depression; family systems; adult psychopathology, depression/anxiety, personality disorders, and effects of trauma; psychopharmacology; and diagnostic classification of young children and adults.

· Minimum of three years’ experience working psychotherapeutically with young children (0-5 years) and their families using a relationally based model, 5-years preferred.

· Minimum of three years’ experience working psychotherapeutically with adults who have experienced trauma, mental health challenges, and/or substance use, 5-years preferred.

• Experience working in home and community-based settings preferred.
• Knowledge and experience working with diverse cultures and ethnicities.
• Experience conducting reflective supervision with master’s level clinicians preferred
• Computer proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint preferred.

V. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

· Bi-lingual (Spanish)

VI. PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

· Must be able to climb several flights of stairs

· Must be able to work with clients in a variety of settings

· Must be able to lift 35lbs

VII. SUPERISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

· Supervise directly 4 clinicians and 4 care coordinators

VIII. WORKING CONDITIONS AND ENVIRONMENT:

· Must be willing to drive to off-campus sites for in-home visits and collaborative meetings