Family Visitation Coach

Child and Family Services (C+FS) Family Visitation Program supports parents working toward reunification with their children who are currently in the care of relatives or other caregivers.

The Family Visitation Coach guides parents in building healthy, nurturing relationships with their children through supervised visits. Visitation Coaches help parents strengthen positive parenting skills, encourage meaningful interaction, and provide coaching that supports family progress.

Family Visitation Coaches schedule and supervise visits at our Buffalo and Cheektowaga offices and frequently assist with transporting children to and from visits using agency vehicles when available. Family Visitation Coaches provide modeling and support to parents to help address any communication or relationship challenges between parents and the family members/caregivers with whom their children to improve outcomes for children and minimize any barriers towards family reunification. This position communicates and collaborates with referral sources to ensure successful service provision and family outcomes. Family Visitation Coaches must have reliable transportation for frequent travel throughout Erie County and be able to work a flexible schedule that includes regular evening and Saturday hours.

Major Responsibilities/Activities:

• Facilitate initial face to face meetings with parents to explain visit coaching, develop a visit schedule, begin to identify child’s needs, and develop a preliminary visit plan
• Supervise visits to ensure the safety and well-being of children and to ensure that children’s needs are the primary focus of each visit
• Meet with parents after each visit to review visit plan and rehearse as needed; meet with parents after each visit to review and develop plans for the next visit
• Use coaching, modeling, praising/cheering, rehearsal, and focusing on strengths to assist the parent in recognizing and meeting the needs of their children
• Frequently provide transportation to children as needed
• Ensure the timely completion of progress notes in the electronic case record following each visit
• Attend court hearings and reviews as needed, and complete court reports for the referral source
• Oversee scheduling of visitation rooms and responsible for overall upkeep of rooms
• Maintain positive working relationships with parents, family resources, children, program staff, and others within the agency. Demonstrate strong interpersonal skills during interactions with internal and external customers.
• Maintain and submit all required documents and comply with all aspects of the Vehicle Safety and Usage Policy
• Maintain a caseload of 10-12 families
• Implement interventions and practices outlined in the evidence-based practice of Motivational Interviewing
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree in a human services field
• Experience in child welfare, such as foster care/adoption or parenting education preferred
• Ability to form strength-based, collaborative working relationships
• Strong organizational skills
• Personable and outgoing
• Shifts may include evenings and weekends
• Valid NYS driver’s license and reliable transportation
• Bilingual a plus

Competitive Pay Rate of $22 to $24 per hour based upon education and experience.

CFS offers full-time employees the below benefits to support our employees and their families and help to create a healthy work environment.

• Paid Time Off (PTO)
  –20 PTO Days (25 Days After Five Years of Employment)
  –14 Paid Holidays (includes 2 flex holidays)
  – Bereavement: Four Paid Days
  – Paid Jury Duty
• Employer Paid Life Insurance
• Medical, Two Plan Options
• Dental, Two Plan Options
• Vision Insurance
• Wellness Program and Incentives
• Health Savings Account (HSA) and Quarterly Employer-Contributions
• Healthcare Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Dependent Care FSA
• Employee Referral Bonus
• Qualifying Employer for Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)
• 403(b) Right Away and Employer-Contributions After Two Years

Child & Family Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer:

Child & Family Services provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran or familial status, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Child & Family Services complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer leaves of absence, compensation, and training.