Office of Youth Services - Family Crisis Intervention Unit 

24 hours/week
Schedule: Minimum of 4 days Monday-Friday with two days until 8:00 pm

Position Summary: 

The position exists so that Somerset County can benefit from having fewer families accessing more expensive interventions as a result of juvenile/family crisis matters (runaway, truancy, severe family conflict and human trafficking) and juvenile risky behaviors that could lead to the need for court intervention. The position is also responsible for arranging for short-term out-of-placements or other court-ordered plans are necessary to ensure the child’s safety. 

Essential Functions: 

1. Functions under the rules of the Court provided by the Family Court Legislation N.J.S.A. 2A:4A-1 et. Seq. (See Juvenile/Family Crisis Operations Manual)
2. Reports to the Clinical Supervisor and the Director of the FCIU
3. Provides immediate clinical crisis intervention, assessment and management to youth and their families to stabilize at-risk behaviors or behaviors which cause conflict within the family. These behaviors include runaway behavior, truancy, severe family conflict and human trafficking behaviors.
4. Responds to all referrals within 24 business hours of receipt of assignment or sooner if needed (some cases are assessed to need immediate intervention due to the imminent risk involved and there may be walk-ins to the unit).
5. Provides ongoing short-term family therapy to help further stabilize families in crisis.
6. Contacts and collaborates with all involved providers and agencies including schools, police and other mental health providers to fully assess the risk to the child/family and to coordinate treatment.
7. Determines, when appropriate, and in consult with his/her Clinical Supervisor and the FCIU Director, when a Juvenile/Family Crisis or Out-of-Home Placement petition is necessary.
8. Completes all necessary paperwork and collateral contacts to initiate a crisis petition.
9. Functions as liaison to the Court, agencies, and providers involved in the crisis petition.
10. Ensures compliance with the Court’s ultimate order (including assisting with obtaining and expediting necessary appointments, evaluations, and assisting in referrals).
11. Utilizes the ethical and legal standards of clinical practice as dictated by all major governing bodies of clinical work including the National Board of Social Workers, the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists and the National Board of Licensed Professional Counselors.
12. Develops and creates service plans, intake assessments and genograms and maintains proper documentation of all contacts including phone or in-person contacts with the family and any other service providers (documentation includes Incidental Notes, Intakes, Family Contracts, Genograms, Release of Information Forms, all correspondence with any treatment or service provider, updating Adolescent Information Forms, Termination Summaries and Monitoring Forms).
13. Refers or helps to link youth and family members to any services/treatment which is assessed to be helpful, including ongoing long-term treatment if required.
14. Provides on and off-site intervention including having sessions in a client’s home, at the school, police departments, etc.
15. Leads and/or participates in any treatment/service planning being conducted (for example, Individualized Education Plan meetings at the school or Child/Family Team Meetings at the Division of Child Protection and Permanency office).
16. Participates in weekly supervision with the Clinical Supervisor to review case status, progress and planning of all pending and active cases.
17. Permits “live” and/or videotape review by his/her supervisor as part of supervision.
18. Participates in group supervision once a week by presenting a case or other relevant material on a rotating basis with other Crisis Intervention Specialists during the weekly staff meeting.
19. Once stabilized, continues to monitor a family’s status and needs for a minimum of 30 days (as per state mandate).
20. Participates in one of the Performance Quality Improvement Subcommittees in the Office of Youth Services.
21. Conducts community outreach to schools, police and other community agencies.
22. Keeps abreast of new clinical developments and treatment methodologies in the field.
23. Carries personal liability insurance policy at a minimum of $1,000,000/$3,000,000.

• Specialized training in crisis intervention
• Knowledge and experience working with the children’s system of care, juvenile justice system, education, mental health and social service systems in the state of NJ
• Knowledge of Somerset County-specific services for youth and families, including court operations, particularly in relation to juvenile matters and psychological and social services
• Experience with clinical software packages
• Knowledge and experience with Publisher and PowerPoint
• Fluent in Spanish both verbally and in writing