Family Liaison Service Provider - Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD) - 991395

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Primary Purpose:

Position will offer personalized support and guidance to families navigating autism and related disabilities.

• Job Category: Non-Exempt
• Hiring Range:  $24.00/hour
• Pay Basis:  Hourly
• Subject to Grant Funding? Yes  

Essential Job Functions:

This position is contingent on the availability and continuation of external-funding and/or contract. As such, any offer of employment may be withdrawn or employment ended in the event the external funding and/or contract ceases or is reduced.

1. Provides direct individual family assistance (intakes) to potential Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD) constituents under the supervision of a designated coordinator.
2. Provides an array of family support services, (e.g., development of visual supports, consultation on self-advocacy, instruction on strategies for behavior management, independent living skills, and guidance on health and safety), in community settings, constituents’ homes, and CARD offices.
3. Under the supervision of a designated coordinator and in collaboration with CARD staff, facilitates and participates in CARD support groups for families.
4. Under the supervision of a designated coordinator, participates in public education and awareness activities related to CARD and its constituents. Serves as a CARD representative at local public education and resource fair events such as schools and local agencies.
5. Participates in creating community awareness in fundraising activities as related to the grant’s mission.
6. Maintains contact data in accordance with statewide CARD uniform reporting guidelines.
7. Meets with local Autism Spectrum Disorder service providers to obtain information on services, share information on CARD services, and provide guidance on family issues.
8. Creates visual supports and other materials (i.e., makes individualized visual supports at the request of CARD Specialists, creates upgraded handouts for training sessions, develops an inventory of model visual supports for display at trainings and Public Education booths/tables).
9. Represents CARD at meetings of relevant organizations and family events in the community (e.g., extend CARD coverage to things like the elder services division of Broward Area Agency on Aging, which runs programs for grandparents raising their grandchildren; reconnect with the Seminole tribe folks who work with their disabled children).
10. Identifies and collects information on autism-friendly summer and school break camps, respite services, and integrated childcare options.
11. Provides family-oriented information and referrals to services regarding guardianship, transition to post-school life, respite, and interaction with law enforcement.
12. Maintains connectedness with inactive CARD families, providing them with guidance, resource information, and support for current needs.
13. Attends meetings, educational conferences, and training workshops and serves on committees.
14. Provides parent perspectives at CARD training and other program events.
15. Completes special projects as assigned.
16. Performs other duties as assigned or required

Job Requirements:

Required Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities: Knowledge:
1. Customer and Personal Service - General knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of user satisfaction.
2. English Language - General knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Skills:
1. Active Listening - Proficient skills in giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
2. Speaking - Advanced skills in talking to others to convey information effectively.
3. Critical Thinking - Proficient skills in using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
4. Reading Comprehension - Advanced understanding of written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
5. Judgment and Decision Making - Proficient skills in considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the appropriate one.
6. Writing - Advanced skills in communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
7. Complex Problem Solving - Proficient skills in identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
8. Service Orientation - Proficient skills in actively looking for ways to help people.
9. Excellent customer service and communication skills.

Abilities:
1. Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
2. Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
3. Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (including finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
4. Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
5. Ability to exercise proper telephone protocol and handle difficult customer situations.
6. Proactive, punctual and reliable.

Physical Requirements:
1. Speech Recognition - Must be able to identify and understand the speech of another person.
2. Speech Clarity - Must be able to speak clearly so others can understand you.
3. Near Vision - Must be able to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
4. May be required to work nights or weekends.
5. Travel - Must be able to travel on a daily and/or overnight basis.
6. May be exposed to short, intermittent, and/or prolonged periods of sitting and/or standing in performance of job duties.
7. May be required to accomplish job duties using various types of equipment/supplies, to include but not limited to pens, pencils, and computer keyboards.

Required Certifications/Licensures:

Required Education: Associate's Degree

Major (If Required:

• Required Experience: 1. Three (3) years’ experience working with individuals with autism, including daily living skills, direct caregiving, and advocacy.
• 2. Experience in interacting with families who have a child diagnosed with autism or related disabilities.
• 3. Two (2) years’ experience connecting with agencies providing direct educational, therapeutic, recreational, and/or medical services to individuals with autism or related disabilities.

Preferred Qualifications:

Is this a safety sensitive position? No  

Background Screening Required?  No  

Pre-Employment Conditions:

Sensitivity Disclaimer: Nova Southeastern University is in full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and does not discriminate with regard to applicants or employees with disabilities and will make reasonable accommodation when necessary.

NSU considers applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status or any other legally protected status.