Bilingual Family Support Specialist

The Autism Project
Johnston, RI
Full-time or Part-time
Parent or relative of a child with Autism preferred
Apprenticeship Eligible

Position Level: Part Time or Regular Full Time 40 hours a week  

Family Support Specialist (CHW) will be responsible for supporting the Manager of Family Support in all activities aligned with family support, outreach, and education.  Each CHW will build on a specific knowledge area to support other team members to best serve the community (COVID related, ASD specific, Education, culture, and linguistics)

Essential Job Functions

Support

  • Work with families in new Community Health Worker program with responsibilities in the four key areas and include COVID-19 related activities in all encounters when appropriate:  
    • Health Promotion and Coaching for individuals with autism and families, including assessment and screening for health-related social needs, setting goals, and creating an action plan, on-site observation of members’ living situations, and providing information and/or coaching.
    • Health system navigation and resource coordination services, including:
      • Helping to engage, re-engage, or ensure patient follow-up in primary care; routine preventive care; adherence to treatment plans; and/or self-management of chronic conditions.
      • Helping a member find Medicaid providers to receive a covered service. Helping a member make and keep an appointment for a Medicaid covered service.
      • Arranging transportation to a medical appointment.
      • Attending an appointment with the member for a covered medical service.
      • Helping a member find and access other relevant community resources
      • Accompanying a member to other relevant community resources.
      • Helping a member with a telehealth appointment and/or educating a member on the use of telehealth technology.
    • Health Education and Training  
      • Develop and learn curriculum for training parents and caregivers on best practices and evidence-based strategies for raising a child with autism.
      • Ensure training is up-to-date and culturally appropriate for the community.
    • Care planning with a member’s interdisciplinary care team as part of a team-based, person-centered approach to improve members’ health by meeting a member’s situational health needs and health-related s
    • Develop and maintain resources for reference and report them to Manager for dissemination.

Outreach

  • Coordinate participation in area outreach opportunities including Resource Fairs, community activities and the annual Imagine Walk.
  • Attend area community meetings including HEZ Projects, Thrive by Five, Early Intervention to connect with area family members and professionals working with at-risk families.
  • Work with team to support private Facebook page and other social media activities.

Education (After training period)

  • Co-present Parent-to-Parent and other trainings to families and community members, and COVID Health and Safety training to key areas of the state.
  • Co-present and provide the parent perspective on trainings to clinicians and educators.
  • Train to lead support groups independently.

Data

  • Enter and record pertinent information into Electronic Record Portal
  • Track training data as required.

Requirements

  • Parent of a child with an autism spectrum disorder or relative to preferred.
    • Be a Certified Community Healthcare Worker or be willing to take the certification training.
    • Bi-lingual
    • Flexible work schedule including limited nights and weekends.
    • Associate Degree preferred

How to Apply

We are waiting to hear back if there is an apply online option for this job. For now, contact Susan Baylis Jewel at SJewel@Lifespan.org