Parenting Center Supervised Visitation Specialist & Family Advocate

Job Summary A crucial and integral component of YWCA Helena's work includes the YWCA Caterpillars Parenting Center. The Parenting Center serves as the parenting support for women in early recovery as well parents in the community, provides supervised visits for non-custodial parents, facilitates safe exchanges, and provides parenting coaching and classes. As such, Family Advocacy is an inherent part of families receiving care. This position is a grant funded position. The position is responsible for facilitating safe, supervised visits between children and their non-custodial parents to maintain relationships and strengthen connections. This person is also tasked with providing a safe place for parents/guardians to drop off and pick up their children for custodial exchanges, without having to cross paths or interact. The position is also tasked with working with the Parenting Center Supervisor to assisting parents as they navigate the justice and child welfare system and other social service agencies, and other tasks related to the reunification process. Teaching regular parenting classes with an established curriculum is an important activity within this position. A clear and demonstrable understanding of child welfare law, parental rights and legal proceedings is important with this position. The successful candidate will assist parents in gaining community and in-home support that can prevent removal and support reunification efforts. Finally, this position is an instrumental team member to a multidisciplinary and holistic team at the YWCA. The Parenting Center Supervised Visitation Specialist facilitates an ongoing approach to both align YWCA Helena's effort to prioritize child(ren) and parent(s) reunification. A minimum of Bachelor's Degree in Social Work, Child Development, or related field from an accredited university is required. Duties Facilitate supervised visitation sessions between parents and children in a secure, welcoming setting, ensuring adherence to court orders and safety protocols Provide family advocacy by offering guidance, support, and resources to families experiencing custody or visitation challenges Conduct behavioral health assessments and crisis interventions when needed to de-escalate conflicts or address emotional distress during visits Utilize motivational interviewing techniques to encourage positive parenting behaviors and strengthen family relationships Manage conflict resolution between family members with professionalism, patience, and effective communication skills Document all visitation activities accurately, including observations, incidents, and family interactions, maintaining confidentiality at all times Collaborate with child protective services, legal professionals, and community partners to support child welfare and family stability initiatives. Responsibilities Ensures a safe, happy, and stimulating emotional and physical environment for children and families.

• Supervises visitation sessions between non-custodial parent(s) and their child(ren) as referred through the WINGS program, court orders, Department of Family Service, or other community agencies.
• Schedules supervised visitation appointments with assistance from Parenting Center Supervisor.
• Documents each visitation completely and objectively in accordance with policies and procedures in a timely manner.
• Arranges transportation for child(ren), if applicable.
• Remains neutral to all participants.
• Ensures that center facilities and materials are safe, clean, and sanitized for children and families and comply with laws and regulations.
• Respect and maintain confidentiality and adhere to strict boundaries and professional ethics.
• Provides support to parents for personal goal setting, advocacy, linkage to appropriate resources and services, and monitor progress towards those goals.
• Develops and monitors individual goal plans based on parent input for personal goal setting, interests, and needs.
• In coordination with treatment team(s), support parents to be seen as full participants, decision-makers, and partners in their child(ren)'s life and care.
• Guide parents in understanding what is expected of them from the systems such as the criminal justice system and CPS; including supporting parental understanding of court documents (such as parenting plan requirements).
• Empowers parents with the knowledge to speak confidently and be heard acting as an advocate and facilitator in the criminal justice and CPS systems
• Empower parents to connect with needed community resources and services by providing information on available services, warm hand-offs, and supporting parents to advocate on behalf of themselves and their children.
• Encourage parents to communicate regularly with their social workers and advocate for having healthy and positive parenting time.
• Maintain records and completes required documentation and reporting, keeping a detailed record of cases, referrals, and contacts.
• Maintain neutrality in conflicts between parents, offering equal levels of support to both parties and maintaining the confidentiality of each parent.
• Respect and maintain confidentiality and adhere to strict boundaries and professional ethics. Teams
• Works as a partner in a multidisciplinary program/therapeutic team.
• Works closely with the Parenting Center team to build recommendations and referrals.
• Acts as an advocate representing perspectives relative to the parent-child relationship.
• Adhere to YWCA Helena ethics and values. Other
• Attends meetings as assigned by the Parenting Center Supervisor.
• Teaches Parenting Classes on as rotating and/or team basis
• Other Duties as assigned.

Job Qualifications A belief in the mission of YWCA Helena and positive attitude toward YWCA Clients will be the most important key to success. Attitudes, unlike skill sets, generally can't be taught. Must believe in the shared humanity of all people, go the extra mile for someone in need, be willing to give someone the benefit of the doubt, treat each person as an individual and foster a return to independence, not greater dependence. In addition to the above characteristics ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications:

• Ability to identify problems and show initiative to develop and implement solutions.
• Keen understanding of poverty along with an understanding of trauma and how trauma presents in choices and interactions.
• Knowledge of Child Welfare Act, knowledge of Indian Child Welfare Act preferred.
• Ability to utilize an electronic health record as a means of documentation. Must be able to train on multiple platforms for information sharing with multiple stakeholders involved with the client(s)'s care.
• Ability to thoroughly document conversations and actions
• Knowledge of Circle of Security or willingness to learn Circle of Security.
• Complete required supervised visitation training.
• Ability to work collaboratively with culturally diverse peers, community representatives, other staff within the organization and ability to relate well to clients and their families.
• Knowledge and understanding of issues and dynamics within families.
• Ability to approach all parents with compassion and understanding.
• Ability to intervene and respond quickly in crisis situations and have proven conflict resolution and de-escalation skills.

Knowledge about and/or experience working with children who have been exposed to trauma and/or who are at-risk of trauma exposure is a plus. Experience working with survivors and victims of sexual and domestic violence is a plus. Experience working with homeless individuals and families is a plus.

• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Proficiency in Microsoft suite, including but not limited to Word, Excel, and Outlook. Must have a positive attitude and ability to perform multiple duties.
• Valid driver's license and insurable. Ability to travel to programs or other off-site facilities utilizing personal or company vehicle as required.
• Ability to lift at least 50 pounds.
• Ability to work both independently with minimal supervision as well as cooperatively and part of the YWCA team.
• Ability to organize and prioritize workload.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, verbal, and communication skills.
• Demonstrated professionalism, integrity, and ethical behavior with regard to confidentiality as well as in matters concerning coworkers.
• A commitment to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.

A background check is required for all staff at YWCA Helena.

Pay:

$18.00 - $23.00 per hour

Benefits:

403(b) Dental insurance Health insurance Paid time off Vision insurance

Work Location:

In person