ACCESS Diversion Specialist (Syracuse, NY)

Position:  ACCESS Diversion Specialist
Program/Department:  ACCESS - Onondaga County Child and Family Services (CFS)
Location: Syracuse, NY (onsite)
Compensation:  $52,062.40 

ABOUT THE POSITION:  The ACCESS program serves as a central location for families to request assistance should their child/youth be experiencing emotional or behavioral challenges.  As a member of the ACCESS Team, the Diversion Specialist serves as the point-person for responding to Persons in Need of Supervision (PINS) Diversion referrals received from families and or school districts in Onondaga County.  This preventive response offers voluntary assistance to youth/families through a partnered assessment process that supports opportunities for problem solving, solution building and best-fit service connection to address identified challenges and divert youth from the need for Family Court and or Juvenile Justice intervention.  

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:

• Responds to Diversion referrals generated from families/school district(s)
• Serves as diversion support point-person for families struggling with children/youth experiencing challenges including but not limited to habitual truancy from school and/or unmanageable behavior at home, in school or in the community  
• Serves as instiller of hope for parents, partnering with families to complete assessment process, explore natural supports, assist with problem solving and support service planning
• Conducts home visits/meetings with assigned families
• Completes a family driven assessment process; uses diverse assessment tools as needed
• Educates families on services and community resources available and completes associated referrals
• Coordinates and facilitates/co-facilitates meetings with families that may include school district personnel and or service providers
• Maintains a connection with the youth/family and associated school district/building personnel, providing short term continued support and or case management services throughout diversion response process
• Contributes to technical support for ACCESS/Child Welfare Response Team and community partners as needed to strengthen continuum of support for addressing diversion related needs identified
• Maintains effective professional relationships with service providers and community organizations in the interest of client’s and program goals; represents and promotes ACCESS Team and its process at meetings and community events as needed/assigned
• Presents referral information as applicable to designated Onondaga County Juvenile Justice Service personnel for PINS petition consideration and completes related paperwork/other as required
• Participates in Individual and Group Supervision or Coaching sessions for consultation and identification of best fit service/support opportunities available for families
• Inputs and maintains records of all response activity in designated system within the established timeframes and maintains hard copy records, statistics, other as directed
• Maintains communication and coordination with applicable school(s) throughout the response process and completes follow up
• Provides ACCESS Team intake overflow support/coverage as needed
• Delivers service in a manner that is strengths based, family driven, trauma informed and culturally competent
• Performs other duties as assigned

• BA/BS in the Human Services field with 2 years of relevant professional experience and/or some advanced hours of training, or equivalent education and work experience (see CCSI's equivalency chart ).
• Previous direct work with youth experiencing social or emotional challenges, habitual truancy from school and/or unmanageable behavior at home, in school or in the community preferred.

Additional Requirements

• Valid Class D New York State Driver License and access to motor vehicle insured with $300,000 liability coverage to meet transportation requirements as applicable.
• Satisfactory completion of required background screenings:  criminal, Statewide Central Register and driving.

We Are CCSI!

CCSI employs more than 500 talented, dedicated professionals who provide program management services, consulting, and operational support needed by local departments of mental health and social services, state agencies, community-based organizations, and school districts across New York State and beyond! Our mission, simply put, we help people and communities.

CCSI’s vision is to be an exceptional place for individuals to grow and build a career, while expanding our capacity to invest in communities. We do this by prioritizing employee voice and equity to ensure we protect employees from harm; provide connection and community; enable work-life harmony; foster mattering at work; and creating opportunities for growth and development.

This is a full time position