Position: Family Clinician, Families Together Program
Families Together is an innovative program for court-separated families conducted by Providence Children’s Museum. Created in collaboration with RI Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) in 1992, Families Together provides assessment, parent education, permanency planning, and therapeutic visitation for children in state care and their families. With the gentle guidance of the program’s clinicians, families play and learn together at the Children’s Museum and in the homelike setting of “Nina’s House,” the program’s visitation center in Olneyville.
Reports to: Families Together Program Director
Summary: The Family Clinician is responsible for assessing the needs of court-separated families referred to the program by DCYF, recommending visitation plans and establishing goals for the family, guiding family visits, and assessing progress. S/he works closely with DCYF caseworker and the treatment team. The Clinician has offices at the Museum and at Nina’s House.
Responsibilities:
- Supervise family visits at Providence Children’s Museum, Nina’s House, and other community sites
- Assess family strengths and needs
- Develop visitation plan and goals with family
- Assist parents and children in acquiring effective communication and problem-solving skills
- Teach/model positive parenting strategies, skills and interactions
- Help parents understand their children’s needs, behaviors and developmental stages
- Document visit observations
- Work collaboratively with DCYF caseworkers and other community providers
- Write reports as requested by Family Court and DCYF
- Carry a caseload of twelve (12) families
- Work with DCYF caseworkers, DCYF supervisors, therapists, Family Court staff, legal aides, foster parents, educators, daycare providers, and other members of the treatment team
- May attend treatment team meetings to support permanency planning process
- Conduct parent child evaluations as needed
- Provide clinical guidance to staff
- Supervise interns from local colleges and universities
- Keep licensing requirements current by attending relevant professional development trainings
- Maintain current knowledge of additional community-based services and support programs
Qualifications: At least three to five years clinical experience in child and family social services, Master’s degree preferred. Experience with child welfare system and parent/child visitation; deep understanding of early childhood development and the effects of trauma on young children, clinical experience with young children, and familiarity with current practices in family systems, substance abuse, domestic violence, mental health, trauma-based disorders. Knowledge of Spanish is helpful but not required. All applicants will be required to have both BCI (including fingerprints) and CANTS background checks.
Availability: This position is full time, Tuesday – Saturday, and is available immediately.
Compensation: Commensurate with experience. Includes health/dental and paid time off, 403B.
Application Instructions:
Email cover letter and resume to the Director of Families Together at Brinig@childrenmuseum.org. Please attach PDFs of cover letter and resume; name the documents with your last name and title of document. No phone calls please. Application review begins immediately. Applicants are required to have both a BCI check at the attorney general’s office and NSOPW background check online upon offer of a position. Applicants consent to these background checks and understand that they are part of the hiring process.
Providence Children’s Museum is an equal opportunity employer. Members of racial/ethnic minorities are encouraged to apply.