Functional Family Therapist

 

Since 1981 CHRIS 180 has been dedicated to healing and recovery for children, youth, adults, and families and is a growing $40 million organization with over 400 employees. CHRIS 180 services include counseling for the community at large; school-based mental health counseling; comprehensive wraparound services; homes for abused, neglected foster children with emotional and behavioral problems who are in state custody and for unaccompanied children in federal foster care; supportive housing for single and parenting young people, ages 17 – 24 who are homeless or aging out of foster care; in-home services and community programs that strengthen families; outreach, drop-in and community housing for older teens, young adults and families with children experiencing homelessness; services in community centers and partnerships with afterschool providers; an adoption program for children in foster care; teen and gun violence reduction programming; and, training for professionals, human service workers, educators, volunteers, individuals who work within the community, in hospitals, other organizations and with children, youth, adults, and families. The goal for all services is to unlock the potential that resides in each person to help them build resiliency and become self-sufficient, contributing adults who have the skills to navigate life’s challenges. Numerous partnerships support this work.
Program Overview
CHRIS 180 Families First Program provides services to youth who are involved in the Department of Children and Family, the Gwinnett County Juvenile Court System, and who are at a medium to high risk on the Pre-Dispositional Risk Assessment. Youth are involved in Evidence-Based Programming that targets behaviors and thoughts often leading the youth to risky and criminal activities.

The team of CHRIS 180 therapists and Clinical Case Managers develops individualized treatment and action plans with the youth and family.

Position Description
The Functional Family Therapist conducts assessments and treatment with youth and families involved in the Families First Program. Functional Family Therapists engaged the primary caregiver and other key participants in active change-oriented treatment implement problem conceptualization, treatment planning, intervention implementation, and outcome review and strategy revision procedures.

Functional Family Therapists maintain clear documentation and participate in supervisory review and feedback and demonstrate compliance with FFT Principles and therapeutic processes. It is also important for the Functional Family Therapy Supervisor to build and maintain working relationships with referral sources, other child-serving agencies, and contract holders to assure approval for services for youth and families served, as needed.

Role and Responsibilities

The primary duties include but are not limited to the following:
• Conduct FFT assessment including review of referral information, identifying and engaging key participants, identifying systemic strengths and weaknesses, and developing an analysis of the fit of problem behaviors within the ecological context.
• Engage the primary caregivers and other key participants in active change-oriented treatment by identifying and overcoming barriers to engagement.
• Implement a problem conceptualization, treatment planning, intervention implementation, outcome review and strategy revision procedure using the FFT Analytic Process.
• Maintain clear and concise documentation of treatment efforts that promote peer and supervisory review and feedback, and that demonstrate compliance with FFT Principles and Processes.
• Collaborate with all relevant systems and key participants within each system to ensure their buy-in and cooperation throughout FFT treatment.
• Provide direct clinical treatment using methods compatible with FFT principles and practices.
• Participate in all FFT training, supervision, and consultation activities.
• Maintain confidentiality of consumer information
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries
• Works on other duties, tasks, and projects as assigned.
• Ensures agency compliance with National Council on Accreditation and other mandatory regulations/standards.
• Lives and works by the CHRIS 180 Values and Code of Ethics
• Follow mandated reporting requirements of GA Code
• Support and maintain an environment of emotional and physical safety for consumers, staff, and other stakeholders at all times
• Demonstrate customer service
• Promote a positive image of CHRIS 180 programs at all times
• Work as a contributing and collaborative team member
• Respond to consumer and peer needs in a timely fashion
• Answer telephone calls and emails accordingly
• Maintain Personal Information and Training
• Attend and participate in staff meetings as scheduled
• Attend and participate in required training as scheduled
• Maintain required certifications
• Review, understand, and respond to program policies

Qualifications/Competencies
• Master’s degree in psychology, Social Work, Counseling, or a related subject area. Persons with a related bachelor’s degree and significant clinical experience in treating serious antisocial behavior in youth may also qualify at the discretion of the agency
• Direct use of pragmatic (i.e., structural, strategic, and functional) family therapies
• Individual therapy with children and adults using cognitive behavioral techniques
• Marital therapy using behaviorally based approaches
• Behavioral therapy targeting school behavior and academic performance
• Implementation of interventions within or between systems in the youth’s natural ecology that affect or influence the behavior of youth (i.e., family, peer, school, and neighborhood)
• Family systems theory and application
• Social ecological theory and application
• Behavioral therapies theory and application
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy theory and application
• Pragmatic family therapies theory and application
• Child development research and its application in the treatment
• Social skills assessment and intervention
• Strong organizational skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Ability to manage time wisely
• Strong communication, listening, and interpersonal skills, including public presentation
• Basic computer skills (Microsoft Word and Excel)
• Conflict resolution and negotiation abilities
• Optimistic, creative, and open to new ideas strategies, and concepts

Other
The ideal candidate will possess the following:
• Technical expertise that allows well-informed decisions, usage of available tools and resources, and training to execute job responsibilities
• Accountable for work being completed accurately and in a timely manner as well as following up as needed
• Ability to collaborate with other staff to ensure best practices and sound decisions
• Ability to communicate using appropriate tone when corresponding verbally or written (as well as proper usage of grammar and spelling)
• Ability to adapt and adjust to the course and be open to new ideas
• Ability to manage workload by having a clear understanding of task/project and set realistic timelines and goals
• Commitment to our vision and mission should be demonstrated in work

Schedule
This is a full-time position and typically works Monday – Friday 10am – 7pm but requires flexibility as the services occur at the convenience of the family.

Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, stand and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to lift and/or move up to 20 pounds.