Birth & Beyond AmeriCorps Volunteer

Save to Favorites

Birth & Beyond AmeriCorps Volunteer

Department: Family Development

Reports to: Team Leader and Family Resource Center Coordinator

Status: Full-time

Organization Information
WellSpace Health believes that everyone deserves to be seen, no matter who you are, where you come from, where you work or what place you call home. We see you and are here for you. To that end, we have committed ourselves to finding solutions for our community’s health and wellbeing to achieve regional health through high quality comprehensive care.

Our focus has always been to offer a full range of quality medical care, dental care, mental health and behavioral health services, and enabling services to underserved people. We do this by placing ourselves within the communities we serve and employing outstanding healthcare professionals who are devoted to our mission.

We are a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and are accredited by the Joint Commission for Ambulatory Care and Behavioral Health. We are also certified by the Joint Commission as a Primary Care Medical Home and a Behavioral Health Home.

AmeriCorps is a community service program that is funded by the government and WellSpace Health, which is designed to help communities meet the specified needs in their area by recruiting and training individuals who are willing to devote one to two years serving in selected community projects. Services programs strengthen communities, encourage responsibility, expand opportunities for education, provide experience and increase life skills. For more information on AmeriCorps, please visit www.americorps.gov .

Position Summary
This position has duties of a Home Visitor and a Family Resource Center Aide. When completing Home Visitation functions the AmeriCorps Member shall serve as the family’s primary contact with the Birth & Beyond (B&B) Program. Under the direction of the Team Leader or Family Resource Center Coordinator, the AmeriCorps Member conducting Home Visitation is responsible for developing a relationship with the family and working in their home and community to build upon strengths. The AmeriCorps Member is tasked with following an identified program model and curriculum, providing culturally responsive services and referrals/resources to enhance social/emotional development of families with children 0-17 years. When
acting in a Home Visitation capacity, The AmeriCorps Member acts as a communication and trust bridge between the family, and other community partners such as child protective services, social services, and mental health systems.

AmeriCorps Members also complete Family Resource Aide functions and will facilitate workshops, lead community outreach efforts, acts as a communication and trust bridge between the family, and other community partners such as child protective services, social services, and mental health systems. They may also provide case management services to empower families to meet goals and navigate public systems. AmeriCorps Members when completing Family Resource Aide functions are responsible for collaborating broadly across systems and providing effective supports based on a deep understanding of the community served.

All duties are performed within a strength-based, culturally responsive, and trauma informed manner.

Required Qualifications:

• Must be 18 years old or older;
• Must be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident;
• Must be able to pass a rigorous background check that includes fingerprint screening in addition to other background screens;
• Must possess a high school diploma or GED;
• Must possess a valid California Driver’s license, reliable transportation and auto insurance and insurable driving record;
• Must be able to read, write, speak and understand the English language;
• Able to extend acceptance to all, despite previous experiences, personal judgements and bias;
• Experience in working with culturally diverse communities and families, with the ability to be culturally sensitive and appropriate;
• Ability to demonstrate good organizational skills;
• Able to self-initiate multiple tasks in an efficient manner within scope of position description and supervisor guidance;
• Good computer skills and ability to learn new systems;
• Able to communicate clearly and professionally both orally and in writing;
• Exhibit strong interpersonal skills and the ability to relate to individuals who may not share basic commonality, including value systems and behavior norms;
• Skill to maintain a professional, confidential work environment;
• Knowledge or experience in child development, and/or social services in community settings with families preferred;
• Able to work occasional evening and/or weekend hours;
• Bilingual/Bicultural preferred

Essential Responsibilities:

• Deliver parenting workshops, including planning, coordinating, and administering appropriate assessments to parents of children 0-18 years old following an assigned curriculum and/or model.
• Advocate and engage in the community; act as a cultural guide for the families served.
• Assist in planning parent support groups, activities, and special events for the FRC and community in cooperation with the FRC Coordinator and participate as requested.
• Conduct regularly scheduled home visits to assigned families, to provide designated parenting curriculum to parents and children in their homes and provide assistance with linkage to their local education programs and/or schools/school district.
• Conduct screens and assessments with assigned families.
• Empower families to engage in problem solving.
• Assures service planning and service delivery are equitable among program participants.
• Model nurturing attitudes and behaviors in all contacts with program participants and teammates.
• Link parents to community resources based on family goals.
• Advocate for and act as a liaison for families with existing community services and agencies, which may include routine translation and interpretation within agency guidelines. Work with families to empower them to engage in problem solving.
• Complete documentation as required by WellSpace Health and B&B Policies & Procedures; including but not limited to: visit reports; Multi-Disciplinary Resource Team forms; Immunization Records; Critical Incident Reports, CPS reports, etc.
• Attend 1-2 hours a week of supervision with the FRC Coordinator, Team Leader, or Program Manager to receive support and consult regarding individual families served, discuss workshops, classes, events, data and review member’s performance, trainings, member’s hours, etc.
• Receive additional support and consult with supervisor through open door policy when necessary.
• Attend staff meetings.
• May attend community trainings related to: Child Development, Special Needs, Literacy, etc....
• Attend required B&B trainings provided by The Child Abuse Prevention Center, the County of Sacramento, and its Contractors.
• Members will be trained and expected to adhere to Corporation for National and Community Service CNCS prohibited activities.
• Seek out and participate in outreach, referrals, and volunteer generation.
• Familiarize with local government and community.
• Build relationships and capacity within the community and school district;
• Adherence to infection control procedures, including but not limited to, standard precautions of temperature monitoring, hand washing, symptom self-monitoring, masking and social distancing.
• Assist and support the Center/Department/Program to meet standards of High Reliability.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The work environment is characteristic of a medical clinic environment. Essential duties take place in client homes and/or other community locations. 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. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit; use hands to handle, or feel. The employee is also required to stand; walk; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The employee must also possess hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the phone. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.

The employee may be in contact with individuals and families in crisis who may be ill, using substances and/or not attentive to personal health and safety for themselves or their homes. The employee may experience a number of unpleasant sensory demands associated with the client’s use of alcohol and drugs, and the lack of personal care. The employee may also be exposed to bodily fluids (blood, urine) and hazardous chemicals.

We are committed to complying with all federal, state, and local laws providing equal employment opportunities, and all other employment laws and regulations. It is the intent of WellSpace Health to maintain a work environment free of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation because of age, race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and/or related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other status protected by federal, state or local laws. WellSpace Health is dedicated to the fulfillment of this policy in regard to all aspects of employment, including but not limited to recruiting, hiring, placement transfer, training, promotion, rates of pay, and other compensation, termination, and all other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Wellspace Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer