Bilingual Newport School Liaison, Children with Special Needs

RIPIN

Job Posting

Bilingual Newport School Liaison, Children with Special Needs

$21 - $23 /hour

About RIPIN:

RIPIN deploys a peer model to support people with special healthcare and education needs across the whole lifespan. Founded in 1991 by a group of parents of children with special needs, RIPIN continues to be peer-led: a majority of our board and more than three-fourths of our staff are parents or caretakers of loved ones with special needs. RIPIN’s peer professionals now help more than 45,000 Rhode Islanders every year navigate healthcare, schools, and other support systems.

Job Summary: Bilingual Community Health Worker(CHW) provides peer-to-peer support to families and children with special health care needs; completes family assessments; works with family to determine family goals and implement plan for achieving goals; links families to an array of supports and resources; provides input regarding services and programs in RI and works to mitigate system barriers to accessing services. This CHW works in collaboration with the Newport Public Schools and surrounding communities, increasing family/school partnerships, and creating awareness of parental/caregiver rights in the educational success for at-risk and students with disabilities.

Essential Functions:

• Provide Care Coordination of services and supports, while educating parents and primary caregivers in the navigation of systems of care for their CSHCN, by promoting person-centered care and medical home model
• Outreach to referred families within agency guidelines
• Conduct a Family Needs Assessment for referred families and develop an individualized Family Care Plan as appropriate
• Identify family strengths, concerns and natural supports; utilize motivational interviewing skills and culturally sensitive methods to support members in achieving their goals
• Support each family in finding geographically convenient supports and services; Collaborate with other service providers, helping families make necessary connections
• Mentor families encountering special education concerns, assisting families with navigating the education/special education system
• Assist families as they transition to independence /case closure; provide follow up support as needed
• Assist in statewide system analysis, planning and coordination with state agencies, state and local boards, community-based organizations, and community rehabilitation programs
• Actively participate as effective team member in assigned agency meetings and team meetings. Make constructive use of individual and peer supervision/one-on- one meetings
• Accept other duties and responsibilities as assigned

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Excellent organizational skills to manage multiple priorities and tasks
• Ability to provide peer perspective as an individual or family member of an individual with a disability, chronic condition, and/or special health care need
• Advanced knowledge of special health care and education systems in RI and other human service systems supporting families of children with disabilities and/or special health care needs
• Problem-solving skills to facilitate empowering experiences and positive outcomes with families
• High level of interpersonal skills and excellent communication skills to interact on a professional level with our diverse stakeholders, including parents and professionals
• Ability to convey complex information in a clear and understandable manner
• Excellent organizational skills to manage multiple priorities and tasks
• Ability to effectively work independently and in collaboration with multiple staff and programs
• Proficiency in computer and internet navigation (online documents, search engine, government websites), as well as computer skills to maintain and update program related materials, reports and database
• Ability to effectively carryout the mission and philosophy of RIPIN and a willingness to work cooperatively and collaboratively with multiple constituents
• Ability to present to small and large audiences that include consumers, stakeholders, and professionals on RIPIN programs’ operations, mission, and focus
• A deep understanding of, commitment to, and ability to carry out the mission, vision, philosophy, and values of RIPIN
• Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office/computer skills to enter data, prepare reports and correspondence

Education and Experience:

• High school diploma/GED required; Associates Degree or Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services, Education, Health or related field strongly preferred
• Experience supporting families and individuals with special health care and/or educational needs required
• Demonstrated life experience as a consumer, parent or family member of a consumer with special health care and/or special education needs
• Demonstrated knowledge of RIPIN’s programs, mission and vision
• Experience working with and outreaching to diverse populations
• Community Health Workers certification preferred; non-certified incumbents are expected to earn certification within 18 months of hire date
• Fluency (speaking, reading, and writing) in English and Spanish required

Physical Demands:

• Regularly required to talk or hear.
• Regularly is required to stand, walk, sit, use hand to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms.
• Regularly required to climb stairs, reach, stretch, stand, and bend.
• Required to have the ability to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Required to remain at their station for prolonged periods of time.

Working Conditions/ Work Environment:

• Primary work location is a climate-controlled indoor office environment; however, may also be required to conduct visits in private homes, climbing up to three flights of stairs.
• Travel to Newport schools and to RIPIN home office required.
• Willingness and ability to work evenings and weekends as needed.
• Provide own reliable transportation with proof of valid driver’s license and RI minimum requirements of auto insurance.

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions

RIPIN provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.

This description is not intended to describe, in detail, the multitude of tasks that may be assigned but rather to give the employee a general sense of the responsibilities and expectations required of his/her position. As the nature of the Agency’s work changes, so too, may the essential functions of this position.