Available Positions
FEATURED JOB
Youth Advocate – Roxbury
FEATURED JOB
Licensed Clinician-Worcester
There are no open positions at this time.
Licensed Clinician-Worcester
We intervene upstream by teaming up with families to stay together. Families in crisis are often facing real-world stressors, such as poverty. But the right combination of supports when they need it most can help build bridges to brighter days.
Through our Support & Stabilization program, we provide intensive in-home supports to families involved with the Department of Children and Families (DCF) who are working to maintain or regain custody of their children. We provide services to alleviate the crises that brought them there, so that more families can stay intact and fewer children are placed into foster care.
Who We Are Looking ForHopeWell’s Support and Stabilization Program seeks a licensed clinician who combines professional excellence with genuine compassion to transform family outcomes. You’ll bring advanced therapeutic skills directly into homes and communities, creating healing environments for children and families referred by the Department of Children and Families (DCF). Your clinical license isn’t just a credential—it’s the foundation for your adaptable, strengths-based approach that helps families navigate complex challenges toward reunification or permanency planning. If you thrive in dynamic settings, find fulfillment in meeting clients where they are, and believe in every family’s capacity for positive change, your expertise could become the catalyst that helps vulnerable families rewrite their stories.
The Impact You’ll CreateAs a Licensed Clinician guided by our Clinical Supervisor, you’ll become the cornerstone of transformative care teams that change family trajectories. Your specialized therapeutic expertise will empower children and families as you collaborate seamlessly with HopeWell’s resource teams and DCF partners in a unified mission of healing. Through trauma-informed individual and family therapy, you’ll help clients rewrite narratives of pain into stories of possibility. Your clinical insights will inform case management strategies that connect families to vital community resources, while your advocacy ensures every child’s voice is heard and honored. With each therapeutic relationship, you’ll not only safeguard children’s immediate wellbeing but nurture the family resilience that creates lasting stability—turning professional standards into deeply personal victories for the families who need your expertise most.
Your Impact Will Include (Job Responsibilities)- Provide in person community based clinical counseling services for caseload of children, adolescents and families
- Conduct ongoing assessments and evaluations of children’s and families’ strengths, progress and needs
- In conjunction with the treatment team, develop strength-based treatment plans and safety plans as needed for each child or family outlining specific goals, objectives and evidenced based therapeutic interventions
- In cases where the service delivery calls for a team approach; act as the primary HopeWell team lead to ensure a safe, affirming environment is established and maintained for all youth served
- Maintain case files and documentation for children, foster families and biological families in accordance with state regulations and agency policies
- Develop a working knowledge of community resources and make referrals and connections on behalf of those served
- Assist caregivers in navigating systems, to promote their awareness of resources and access to supports
- Collaborate with DCF, community organizations and service providers as appropriate
- Attend all necessary meetings including but not limited to Foster Care Reviews, treatment planning meetings, intake and discharge planning meetings
- Provide transportation for children to visits, appointments, court, meetings etc. as needed
- Participate in after hours on-call system on a rotating basis. This may occasionally include an emergency in person response outside of business hours
- Provide all pertinent paperwork, receipts and necessary information to ensure timely and accurate processing of billing, reimbursements, client support expenses, purchases, etc.
- Participate in weekly supervision, staff meetings, and required trainings
- License Eligible Master’s degree in Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, Marriage and Family therapy, or related discipline.
- Mid-tier license (LCSW, LSMHC) working towards independent licensure within licensing standards required
- Independent License Preferred (LMHC, LICSW, LMFT)
- Minimum of 1 year in clinical setting working with children, adolescents and families with severe behavioral, social and emotional difficulties
- Demonstrated experience working with children, adolescents and families, including experience navigating children’s systems and supports within the community
- Knowledge of and training in child development, children’s mental health, family systems, and therapeutic interventions
- Capacity to be nonjudgmental in interacting with families involved in child welfare
- Ability to support families in developing their strengths to problem-solve and develop practical skills
- Ability to establish trusting relationships through compassion, empathy and insight
- Demonstrated sensitivity to the needs of families from diverse cultural or linguistic backgrounds
- Proficient in basic computer skills and Microsoft Office. Ability to navigate and document in clinical computerized patient care records
- Ability to work in predominantly home based and community-based settings where there may be possible environmental exposures including pets
- Effective teamwork and collaboration skills
- Clearing of background checks as required by state and federal law
- Must remain current in all required trainings and licensure requirements
- Access to an automobile is required as is a valid Driver’s License
- Staff schedules can shift over time as youth needs, staff caseloads, and program needs change
- Some evening and weekend work as well as occasional in person emergency response outside of business hours may be required
- Other duties as assigned to support quality care
- Generous Hiring Bonus
- Independent License Differential offered for Licensed Clinician Role
- We offer a generous bilingual bonus to new hires who speak a second language that meet the needs of our families (other than English) – up to $3,500
- Access to our excellent BCBS medical benefits
- Retirement benefits including 401K match up to 6%
- Generous paid time off up; up to 5 weeks off; 2 floating holidays, 2 personal days, 14 paid holidays, up to 15 sick days
- Professional development opportunities such as tuition reimbursement up to $3,000 per year and discounted tuition rates to select partnership colleges and universities! Additional funds for training and development.
- Reimbursement is available for employees to cover the registration costs and annual fees for any professional license required for work! As well as bonuses for licensure attainment
- Wellness benefits including access to employee resource groups, discounted gym memberships, and an Employee Assistance Program.
- Student Loan Pay-Down Program – Let us help you pay down your student loans!
- Licensure supervision and on-call stipend
- And more…Click this link to find out more about our benefits beyond the paycheck! https://hopewellinc.org/careers/benefits/
Shared Living Coordinator – Taunton, MA
We support adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in a variety of community-based living options as they pursue independence, live with dignity, and engage as full members of their communities. In a world that is not equally optimized for everyone’s success, we believe every person is entitled to receive resources, supports, and opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive.
HopeWell’s Shared Living Program offers high quality placements that support individuals toward leading happy, healthy, and fulfilling lives. Staff develop partnerships with individuals and caregivers centered around individuals’ needs and interests that evolve as they age.
Who We Are Looking ForWe’re seeking a compassionate relationship-builder who thrives on creating meaningful connections between people and possibilities. The ideal candidate brings a blend of empathy and organizational excellence, approaching each placement as an opportunity to transform a life. You’re a natural collaborator who communicates effectively with diverse stakeholders while maintaining unwavering attention to detail. Your innovative thinking helps you navigate challenges with creative solutions, and your resilience keeps you focused when circumstances evolve. Most importantly, you’re driven by a genuine passion for empowering individuals with different abilities to live their fullest lives in welcoming community settings. If you believe in the power of home to nurture independence and see yourself as both an advocate and enabler of positive change, you might be exactly who we’re looking for.
The Impact You’ll CreateThe Shared Living Coordinator manages and oversees high quality placements, with the goal of supporting individuals in HopeWell’s Shared Living and In-Home Support programs to live a happy, healthy, and productive life. We achieve our goals by implementing industry best practices, creating innovative solutions to complex problems and employing staff who care deeply about individuals, our mission, and our values. This position is an exciting opportunity to work collaboratively with the Director, Home & Community-Based Adult Services in supporting, developing, and growing the Shared Living program.
Your Impact Will Include (Job Responsibilities)- Provide ongoing assessment of individual well-being and develop plans to ensure safety and de-escalate crisis as needed.
- Assure high quality support & comprehensive training is provided to the individuals through a Positive Behavior Support (PBS) approach, which increases individuals’ independence.
- Collaborate with program leadership to engage in recruitment, selection, matching, transition, retention, and evaluation of caregivers. Maintain & train current and new caregivers in all aspects of their responsibilities.
- Collaborate with program leadership to complete referrals and intakes with a focus on ensuring appropriate placements are made.
- Provide on-call coverage and crisis management that ensures individuals’ well-being. Notify and consult with program leadership, DDS, caregivers, and other stakeholders where appropriate.
- Ensure that the program meets and complies with all applicable DDS regulations, policies, and procedures. Oversee compliance of caregivers specified in the licensure & certification indicator guidelines.
- Develop positive relationships with individuals and caregivers. Ensure that individuals we support are treated with dignity and respect in accordance with Hopewell’s Human Rights policy. Support the development and growth of all individuals served in the program and provide all annual and other relevant training to individuals.
- Conduct home and community-based visits as required.
- Complete all required internal assessments, HCSIS ISP assessments and participate in the ISP meeting.
- Collaborate closely with local DDS Area Offices, Survey & Certification, and other Department personnel as delineated by the Director.
- Keep accurate and up to date program records and documentation.
- Actively participate in program and agency internal (e.g., supervision, collaborating with colleagues, caregiver & staff meetings, town halls) and external meetings (e.g. collaborating with other providers, external committee meetings) both in person and virtually as assigned.
- Perform all duties in accordance with the agency’s policies and procedures.
- BS/BA in human services field preferred
- Minimum of 2 years’ experience working with individuals with intellectual disabilities, preferably in a Shared Living setting
- Experience with Positive Behavior Supports preferred
- Excellent communication skills, sound judgment, and strong organizational and time management skills; demonstrated ability to be flexible, resourceful, and juggle multiple tasks and priorities
- A high level of professionalism in work and interpersonal interactions with both internal and external contacts; presents to others as organized, informed, reliable, dependable and approachable
- Able to work independently as well as a member of a diverse, multidisciplinary team; collaborative and open-minded; welcomes constructive feedback; incorporates opinions of others and practices the art of compromise
- Demonstrated ability to work with diverse populations
- Computer skills to perform essential functions
- Strong interpersonal skills; ability to build rapport and trusting relationships with individuals and caregivers and other professionals
- High level of personal accountability for the quality and impact of work and demonstrated ability to effectively organize, plan, and prioritize work; desire to learn and grow professionally and comfortable asking questions
- Must be comfortable working in community settings (e.g. caregiver homes, in the community).
- Empathy and desire to work with adults with developmental disabilities
- Demonstrates sound problem solving and decision making, and seeks assistance when necessary, especially when complex and unexpected situations arise; ensures all relevant parties have needed information in a timely manner
This role involves some home-based and community-based work, some office-based work, and some remote opportunities. During home and community visits there are possible environmental exposures including pets.
- Daily access to an automobile is required.
- Driving is required in and out of the catchment area and could include transporting of individuals and caregivers at times.
- A valid MA State Driver’s License.
- Remain current in all required trainings.
- Clearing of background checks as required by state and federal law.
- Remain current in all required trainings.
- Staff schedules can shift over time as individual and caregiver needs, staff caseloads, and program needs change.
- Some evening and weekend work as well as occasional in person emergency response outside of business hours may be required.
- Other duties as assigned to support quality care.
Physical Requirements and Working Environment
- Position requires the ability to perform community-based work in various settings including individuals’ homes and public spaces
- Must be physically capable of conducting safety assessments, which may include using stepladders or similar equipment to check household safety features
- Required to accompany and observe individuals in community settings to evaluate independence skills and readiness
- Must be able to navigate diverse environments including individual’s home, day and employment programs, and public spaces in the community while providing services, which may involve walking up and down multiple flights of stairs or significant distances in the community
- Ability to stand, walk, and remain mobile for extended periods during community-based assessments and interventions
- Work involves both indoor and outdoor environments in varying weather conditions
- Regular travel between service locations required
- Generous Hiring Bonus
- We offer a generous bilingual bonus to new hires who speak a second language that meet the needs of our families (other than English) – up to $3,500
- Access to our excellent BCBS medical benefits
- Retirement benefits including 401K match up to 6%
- Generous paid time off up; up to 5 weeks off; 2 floating holidays, 2 personal days, 14 paid holidays, up to 15 sick days
- Professional development opportunities such as tuition reimbursement up to $3,000 per year and discounted tuition rates to select partnership colleges and universities! Additional funds for training and development.
- Reimbursement is available for employees to cover the registration costs and annual fees for any professional license required for work! As well as bonuses for licensure attainment
- Wellness benefits including access to employee resource groups, discounted gym memberships, and an Employee Assistance Program.
- Student Loan Pay-Down Program – Let us help you pay down your student loans!
- Licensure supervision
- And more…Click this link to find out more about our benefits beyond the paycheck! https://hopewellinc.org/careers/benefits/
Youth Advocate – Roxbury
HopeWell supports transition age youth with child welfare involvement in a variety of community-based environments as they work towards their goals around healthy living, housing stability, sustainable employment, and educational achievement. HopeWell offers a continuum of transition age youth services that offer community-based case management and individualized education and employment support.
Through My First Place™, youth ages 18 and older receive these services while residing in stable, safe and affordable housing provided by HopeWell. My Next Step is for youth ages 16 and older who are typically living in foster care, with extended family, or independently in the community. And for youth who have exited the child welfare system and obtained an FYI voucher through their local Public Housing Authority, we also help them find housing that will accept their voucher.
Who We Are Looking ForThe Youth Advocate is a dynamic, collaborative, and results-oriented service provider who is passionate about a future where the disparities between foster care-involved youth and their non-foster peers have been eliminated. HopeWell offers a unique approach in a highly collaborative environment, delivering services by a team of staff including a Youth Advocate, an Education and Employment Specialist, and a Housing Specialist. The Youth Advocate will be excited about the ways that delivering services as a unified team can best meet youth needs.
We are seeking someone who will bring a strength-based, youth-centered approach to partnering with and coaching youth on their path to independence. The Youth Advocate will take an individualized, therapeutic approach to case management, psychosocial assessment, and development and implementation of intervention strategies, and will be comfortable working independently and directly with youth in the program, able to assess danger and risk, and make sound decisions in partnership with youth and program leadership.
The Impact You’ll CreateYouth often face uncertainty as they enter adulthood — and this is especially true for those with child welfare involvement. To help them reach their full potential at a pivotal time in their lives, HopeWell’s continuum of services for transition age youth provide support that prepares them for independence as they launch into adulthood. HopeWell’s transition age youth services are steadily expanding, and this is an exciting opportunity to join a growing and engaged team to support youth comprehensively.
Your Impact Will Include (Job Responsibilities)- Develop a partnership strategy with each youth. Provide direct support, coaching, mentoring, and intervention to increase youth self-sufficiency and goal attainment.
- Provide youth with individual counseling, crisis intervention, referrals, advocacy and life skills training, as well as crisis counseling as needed.
- Provide on-going assessment of youth well-being and develop plans to ensure safety and de-escalate crisis as needed.
- Provide clinical leadership to multi-disciplinary teams consisting of youth, family and other natural supporters, social workers, Employment and Education Specialists, and Housing Specialists to ensure seamless and effective service delivery. Ensure continuous information sharing and communication.
- Collaborate with community providers including but not limited to social workers, courts, professionals, vocational and independent living skills programs, schools, universities, family members and significant others.
- Complete documentation including but not limited to intake paperwork and consents, Care and Services plans, needs assessments, and progress notes.
- Participate on a rotating basis to provide on-call coverage.
- Actively participate in program and agency internal (e.g. collaborating with colleagues, staff meetings, town halls) and external meetings (e.g. collaborating with other providers, DCF) both in person and virtually as assigned.
- Other duties as assigned. HopeWell’s service continuum is evolving, and as such, the roles and responsibilities of various team members will likely adapt and change over time to most comprehensively and effectively meet youth needs.
This is a comprehensive list of qualifications that we believe will lead to success in the role. We strongly encourage candidates with lived experience with the foster care system to apply.
- Master’s degree in social work, mental health counseling, or related field preferred.
- Experience working with transition age youth with complex presentations, including chronic trauma, preferred.
- Must be comfortable working in community settings.
- High level of personal accountability for the quality and impact of work and demonstrated ability to effectively organize, plan, and prioritize work.
- Effective risk management and sound judgement in the face of complex challenges, including seeking assistance when necessary.
- Strong reading and writing skills and a high degree of effective oral and written communications skills.
- A high level of professionalism in work and interpersonal interactions with both internal and external contacts.
- Demonstrated understanding of and competence in serving BIPOC and LGBTQ+ identifying youth.
- Demonstrated flexibility and collaborative spirit; thoughtful, curious, and open-minded approach to learning, growth, and change.
- Computer skills sufficient to perform essential functions.
- Demonstrated experience working with children, adolescents and families, including experience navigating children’s systems and supports within the community
- Knowledge of and training in child development, children’s mental health, family systems, and therapeutic interventions
- Capacity to be nonjudgmental in interacting with families involved in child welfare
- Ability to support families in developing their strengths to problem-solve and develop practical skills
- Ability to establish trusting relationships through compassion, empathy and insight
- Demonstrated sensitivity to the needs of families from diverse cultural or linguistic backgrounds
- Proficient in basic computer skills and Microsoft Office. Ability to navigate and document in clinical computerized patient care records
- Ability to work in predominantly home based and community-based settings where there may be possible environmental exposures including pets
- Effective teamwork and collaboration skills
- This role involves some home-based and community-based work, some office-based work, and some remote opportunities. During home and community visits there are possible environmental exposures, including pets.
- Daily access to an automobile is required.
- Driving is required in and out of the catchment area and includes some transporting of youth.
- A valid MA State Driver’s License.
- Clearing of background checks as required by state and federal law.
- Remain current in all required training.
- Other duties as assigned to support quality care.
- Generous Hiring Bonus
- We offer a generous bilingual bonus to new hires who speak a second language that meet the needs of our families (other than English) – up to $3,500
- Access to our excellent BCBS medical benefits
- Retirement benefits including 401K match up to 6%
- Generous paid time off up; up to 5 weeks off; 2 floating holidays, 2 personal days, 14 paid holidays, up to 15 sick days
- Professional development opportunities such as tuition reimbursement up to $3,000 per year and discounted tuition rates to select partnership colleges and universities! Additional funds for training and development.
- Reimbursement is available for employees to cover the registration costs and annual fees for any professional license required for work! As well as bonuses for licensure attainment
- Wellness benefits including access to employee resource groups, discounted gym memberships, and an Employee Assistance Program.
- Student Loan Pay-Down Program – Let us help you pay down your student loans!
- Licensure supervision
- And more… Click here to find out more about our benefits beyond the paycheck!
Literacy Interventionist, Full Time
RISE (Readiness, Inquiry, Scholarship, Education) is HopeWell’s newest innovative solution to advance equity in education and improve educational opportunities for children experiencing foster care. The program aims to build students’ early literacy skills through a culturally responsive, evidence-informed curriculum designed to meet the unique needs of children in foster care by integrating literacy learning, social and emotional skill development, and a trauma-informed approach.
Why Work for RISE? Tutors in the program benefit from …
• Extensive training in our curricula and ongoing opportunities for professional learning
• The support of a dedicated data team who ensure just-in-time access to exactly the information tutors need for planning
• The direct, weekly support of an expert literacy coach
• A well-organized resource space with a range of tutoring resources at hand
• A creative, collaborative team culture.
The Interventionist is a dynamic, collaborative, and results-oriented service provider who will partner with foster care-involved youth and their caregiver(s) to support them as youth build literacy, social, and emotional skills. We are seeking someone who is passionate about education, child welfare, and social justice and is enthusiastic about the idea of piloting, strengthening, and growing a brand new education program that delivers real results. This individual will believe that all children can learn and have the strong ability and desire to work well with BIPOC youth.
The Impact You’ll CreateThis is an exciting opportunity to join a growing and engaged team to work toward closing the opportunity gap for foster care-involved youth. RISE offers an innovative solution, turning the typical model on its head. With tutoring and other educational supports specifically designed around the unique challenges faced by foster care-involved children, RISE is a home-based service that follows children as they move and incorporates supports for any caregivers involved in a child’s life (e.g. foster parents, biological parents, kinship caregivers). This provides children with continuous academic support, even as they experience changes in their placement and permanency goals. RISE launched during the 2021-22 school year and is currently supporting students who join RISE in kindergarten through 3rd grade in the Greater Boston area, and will be growing in size and scope in the coming years.
Your Impact Will Include (Job Responsibilities)- Implement assessment and intervention tools with an in person tutoring caseload of K-3 youth and their caregiver(s). o Use standardized assessment tools (literacy, social and emotional learning) to continuously measure youth skills and learning gaps.
- Observe and assess youth’s home environment to identify and engage in opportunities for improving learning (e.g. creating a cozy and relatively quiet nook to read for fun).
- Collaborate with RISE Education Support staff to assess and develop a plan to address any needs for additional learning supports (e.g. an IEP that would benefit a youth and is not yet being provided).
- Collaborate with RISE Literacy Program Manager and Tutor’s supervisor to individualize RISE curriculum learning routines and approaches to best meet each youth’s educational needs based on assessment and observation data, as well as information and feedback from caregivers, school staff, and other providers.
- Implement individualized version of core tutoring curricula through frequent, in person, one-on-one tutoring sessions with youth, typically in their home.
- Ensure high fidelity of the RISE curriculum model and employ a trauma-informed approach.
- Partner with RISE Education Support staff (where appropriate) to communicate and collaborate with caregiver(s) about youth’s progress and about how they can best promote youth’s educational progress.
- Communicate regularly and collaborate effectively with community providers, including but not limited to school staff, Department of Children and Families staff, and mental health providers.
- When appropriate, partner with RISE Education Support staff to participate in meetings related to a youth’s educational goals (e.g. IEP meetings, informal school conferences). Communicate about youth’s needs and goals and uphold youth’s rights before, during, and after the meeting.
- Complete documentation including, but not limited to, intake paperwork and consents, needs assessments, service plans, case notes.
- Actively participate in program and agency internal (e.g. collaborating with colleagues, staff meetings, town halls) and external meetings (e.g. collaborating with other providers, schools) both in person and virtually as assigned.
- Other duties as assigned. RISE is a brand new program, and as such, the program model will be subjected to a continuous cycle of analysis and assessment as it launches. It will change iteratively as we learn more about how to best support youth needs, and as a result the roles and responsibilities of various team members will likely adapt and change as the program is launched and evolves.
This is a comprehensive list of qualifications that we believe will lead to success in the role. We strongly encourage candidates with lived experience with the foster care system to apply.
- Bachelor’s degree required.
- One year experience serving youth who have experienced trauma and implementing support strategies that use student-centered and trauma-informed approaches preferred.
- Prior experience with child welfare involved youth a plus.
- Prior experience in public education system a plus.
- Must be comfortable working in community settings.
- Strong reading and writing skills and a high degree of effective oral and written communications skills.
- High level of personal accountability for the quality and impact of work and demonstrated ability to effectively organize, plan, and prioritize work.
- Demonstrated understanding of and competence in serving BIPOC youth.
- Demonstrated flexibility and entrepreneurial spirit; thoughtful, curious, and open-minded approach to learning, growth, and change.
- High level of professionalism in work and interpersonal interactions with both internal and external contacts.
- Computer skills sufficient to perform essential functions.
- This role involves some home-based and community-based work, some office-based work, and some remote opportunities. During home and community visits there are possible environmental exposures including pets.
- Daily access to an automobile is required.
- Driving is required in and out of the catchment area.
- A valid MA State Driver’s License.
- Clearing of background checks as required by state and federal law.
- Remain current in all required trainings.
- Other duties as assigned to support quality care.
- Maintain availability to work up until 7 pm on weekdays, as most of the tutoring occurs in the afternoon and early evening. Staff schedules are centered around both the needs of youth enrolled in RISE and required program staff meeting. Staff schedules can shift over time as youth needs, staff caseloads, and program needs change. Please note that when scheduled into the early evening, staff coordinate with program leadership to flex other hours to align with HopeWell’s 35 hour work week while meeting all job expectations.
- Generous Hiring Bonus
- We offer a generous bilingual bonus to new hires who speak a second language that meets the needs of our families (other than English) – up to $3,500
- Access to our excellent BCBS medical benefits
- Retirement benefits, including 401K match up to 6%
- Generous paid time off up; up to 5 weeks off; 2 floating holidays, 2 personal days, 14 paid holidays, up to 15 sick days
- Professional development opportunities such as tuition reimbursement up to $3,000 per year and discounted tuition rates to select partnership colleges and universities! Additional funds for training and development.
- Reimbursement is available for employees to cover the registration costs and annual fees for any professional license required for work! As well as bonuses for licensure attainment
- Wellness benefits include access to employee resource groups, discounted gym memberships, and an Employee Assistance Program.
- Student Loan Pay-Down Program – Let us help you pay down your student loans!
- Licensure supervision
- And more…Click this link to find out more about our benefits beyond the paycheck! https://hopewellinc.org/careers/benefits/
Literacy Interventionist, Part Time
RISE (Readiness, Inquiry, Scholarship, Education) is HopeWell’s newest innovative solution to advance equity in education and improve educational opportunities for children experiencing foster care. The program aims to build students’ early literacy skills through a culturally responsive, evidence-informed curriculum designed to meet the unique needs of children in foster care by integrating literacy learning, social and emotional skill development, and a trauma-informed approach.
Why Work for RISE? Tutors in the program benefit from …
• Extensive training in our curricula and ongoing opportunities for professional learning
• The support of a dedicated data team who ensure just-in-time access to exactly the information tutors need for planning
• The direct, weekly support of an expert literacy coach
• A well-organized resource space with a range of tutoring resources at hand
• A creative, collaborative team culture.
The Interventionist is a dynamic, collaborative, and results-oriented service provider who will partner with foster care-involved youth and their caregiver(s) to support them as youth build literacy, social, and emotional skills. We are seeking someone who is passionate about education, child welfare, and social justice and is enthusiastic about the idea of piloting, strengthening, and growing a brand new education program that delivers real results. This individual will believe that all children can learn and have the strong ability and desire to work well with BIPOC youth.
The Impact You’ll CreateThis is an exciting opportunity to join a growing and engaged team to work toward closing the opportunity gap for foster care-involved youth. RISE offers an innovative solution, turning the typical model on its head. With tutoring and other educational supports specifically designed around the unique challenges faced by foster care-involved children, RISE is a home-based service that follows children as they move and incorporates supports for any caregivers involved in a child’s life (e.g. foster parents, biological parents, kinship caregivers). This provides children with continuous academic support, even as they experience changes in their placement and permanency goals. RISE launched during the 2021-22 school year and is currently supporting students who join RISE in kindergarten through 3rd grade in the Greater Boston area, and will be growing in size and scope in the coming years.
Your Impact Will Include (Job Responsibilities)- Implement assessment and intervention tools with an in person tutoring caseload of K-3 youth and their caregiver(s). o Use standardized assessment tools (literacy, social and emotional learning) to continuously measure youth skills and learning gaps.
- Observe and assess youth’s home environment to identify and engage in opportunities for improving learning (e.g. creating a cozy and relatively quiet nook to read for fun).
- Collaborate with RISE Education Support staff to assess and develop a plan to address any needs for additional learning supports (e.g. an IEP that would benefit a youth and is not yet being provided).
- Collaborate with RISE Literacy Program Manager and Tutor’s supervisor to individualize RISE curriculum learning routines and approaches to best meet each youth’s educational needs based on assessment and observation data, as well as information and feedback from caregivers, school staff, and other providers.
- Implement individualized version of core tutoring curricula through frequent, in person, one-on-one tutoring sessions with youth, typically in their home.
- Ensure high fidelity of the RISE curriculum model and employ a trauma-informed approach.
- Partner with RISE Education Support staff (where appropriate) to communicate and collaborate with caregiver(s) about youth’s progress and about how they can best promote youth’s educational progress.
- Communicate regularly and collaborate effectively with community providers, including but not limited to school staff, Department of Children and Families staff, and mental health providers.
- When appropriate, partner with RISE Education Support staff to participate in meetings related to a youth’s educational goals (e.g. IEP meetings, informal school conferences). Communicate about youth’s needs and goals and uphold youth’s rights before, during, and after the meeting.
- Complete documentation including, but not limited to, intake paperwork and consents, needs assessments, service plans, case notes.
- Actively participate in program and agency internal (e.g. collaborating with colleagues, staff meetings, town halls) and external meetings (e.g. collaborating with other providers, schools) both in person and virtually as assigned.
- Other duties as assigned. RISE is a brand new program, and as such, the program model will be subjected to a continuous cycle of analysis and assessment as it launches. It will change iteratively as we learn more about how to best support youth needs, and as a result the roles and responsibilities of various team members will likely adapt and change as the program is launched and evolves.
This is a comprehensive list of qualifications that we believe will lead to success in the role. We strongly encourage candidates with lived experience with the foster care system to apply.
- Bachelor’s degree required.
- One year experience serving youth who have experienced trauma and implementing support strategies that use student-centered and trauma-informed approaches preferred.
- Prior experience with child welfare involved youth a plus.
- Prior experience in public education system a plus.
- Must be comfortable working in community settings.
- Strong reading and writing skills and a high degree of effective oral and written communications skills.
- High level of personal accountability for the quality and impact of work and demonstrated ability to effectively organize, plan, and prioritize work.
- Demonstrated understanding of and competence in serving BIPOC youth.
- Demonstrated flexibility and entrepreneurial spirit; thoughtful, curious, and open-minded approach to learning, growth, and change.
- High level of professionalism in work and interpersonal interactions with both internal and external contacts.
- Computer skills sufficient to perform essential functions.
- Other Essential Requirements
- This role involves some home-based and community-based work, some office-based work, and some remote opportunities. During home and community visits there are possible environmental exposures including pets.
- Daily access to an automobile is required.
- Driving is required in and out of the catchment area.
- A valid MA State Driver’s License.
- Clearing of background checks as required by state and federal law.
- Remain current in all required trainings.
- Other duties as assigned to support quality care.
- Part time work schedules will be negotiated at hire based on programmatic need and candidate availability, but will typically involve 10 – 25 hours per week during the afternoon and early evening. Staff will be asked to maintain availability at least between the hours of 4 pm – 7 pm, ideally Monday through Friday, with some additional availability for weekly RISE staff meetings before 4 pm. Staff schedules can shift over time as youth needs, staff caseloads, and program needs change.
Shared Living Caregivers
Shared Living Caregiver
Caregivers will become an essential part of the individuals’ life and through modeling and teaching will empower them to maximize their independence. They will assist the individual to maintain optimal health, which could include the oversight and assistance with their medications, medical and psychiatric appointments. Caregivers need to be strong advocates for individual’s and when a crisis occurs, evaluate and report this to the Shared Living team, as well as assist the individual to work through their crises.
Caregivers, depending on the individual’s ability and training needs, could be supporting the individual in the management of their funds and/or following a financial teaching plan. They will attend and provide input at the individual’s planning meetings with the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) and assist them in setting goals based on their life desires.
The Expertise We Can’t Do Without (Qualifications)Caregivers must be 18 years or older, have a valid driver’s license and go through a background check (CORI & fingerprinted). Additional requirements for mandatory trainings apply.
Other Essential RequirementsCaregivers will need to participate in mandatory and elected trainings as deemed necessary by DDS and the Shared Living team. The mandatory trainings are as follows, but are not limited to:
- First Aid (2 Years)
- CPR (2 Years)
- Infection Control
- COVID-19
- DDS Mandated Reporter
- Fire Safety & Safety Plan
- Positive Behavioral Supports (PBS)
- Health Observation Guidelines – Signs & Symptoms of Illness
- 509 Healthy Eating Habits
- Unique Support needs of the individual
- Individual Service Plans (ISP) Goals & Objectives
If Applicable:
- Medication Treatment Plan (MTP)
- Guidelines/Behavior Plan
- Supported & Protective Devises