The Community Support Associate (CSA) exists to teach, coach, model, and accompany youth with diagnosed mental health disorders so they can safely and independently function in their familial, social, academic, and community environments. CSA will be proactive in teaching independent living skills, social and emotional regulation skills, critical thinking and problem solving, coping skills, and interpersonal skills through non-clinical but therapeutic behavioral interventions, support, and skills training. Such services will take place in the youth’s home school, intensive outpatient program.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES: CSA will provide community support services to children and adolescents who struggle with aggression, impulse control, depression, anxiety, delayed social skills, familial conflict, independent living skills or other issues as a result of mental health disorders and/or trauma.

• ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTION/S:
• Establish rapport with client’s and their families. Maintain relationships and work to increase communication between client, family, and treatment team providers.
• Provide and assist in activities that are intended to assure successful transition to the least restrictive environment through utilization of skills training as identified in the client’s Individual Treatment Plan (ITP).

Services should include one of the following services per 908 KAR 2:250: Skills training, cueing or supervision as identified in the client’s ITP; Medication adherence and recognizing symptoms and side effects; non-clinical but therapeutic behavioral intervention, support and skills training; Assistance in accessing and utilizing community resources; Emotional regulation skills; Crisis coping skills, and developing and enhancing interpersonal skills.

Services can include teaching and modeling following such skills but not limited to: routine household care/chores; activities of daily living such as personal hygiene and toileting; medication management; expressing feelings and emotions; frustration tolerance; emotional regulation; relationship building; participating in social and community activities; academic achievement; and goal attainment.

• Community Support Services may be provided in the academic setting, clinical setting, client’s home, and/or community locations.
• Services are limited to no more than 3 hours per week per client.
• Complete pre-test and post-test with clients upon entry and discharge from services.
• With clients 11yo and older complete the Ansell-Casey Living Skills Assessment.
• Employee is responsible for record keeping associated with the services provided. Each service provided shall be documented in the client record and documentation shall substantiate the service provide and include the type of service provided.
• Attend supervision face-to-face no less than one (1) time every two (2) weeks with the community support associate’s supervisor.
• Attend treatment team meetings to review client progress, regression and goal attainment.
• During each subsequent year of employment, a community support associate shall complete and maintain documentation of a minimum of six (6) hours of training or continuing education.

Within six (6) months of hire successfully complete Comprehensive Community Support Services training. Minimum training requirements include the following areas: 1) Principles of recovery and resilience; 2) Principles of psychiatric rehabilitation; 3) Effective listening and communication skills; 4) Diagnosis and medication management of mental health disorders or co-occurring disorders; and 5) Crisis coping skills.

• Attend trainings as relevant to job description and client population.
• Must be able to perform the essential functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodations.
• Other duties as assigned by your immediate supervisor.

• MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENTS:
• High School diploma or equivalent with at least 1 year of full-time experience in working with individual who have a mental illness or co-occurring mental health disorder. Associate degree in a human service field preferred.
• One year demonstrated experience with youth required, and/or experience with persons with social and emotional issues and diagnosed mental health disorders.
• Ability to complete written documentation, as needed.
• Demonstrate proven sensitivity to the various cultural and socioeconomic characteristics of Astra Behavioral Health and BIS’s clients, children, and staff.
• Required Experience:
• Caregiving: 1 year (Preferred)
• Required Education:
• High School diploma or equivalent. Associate degree in a human service field preferred.

• Job Type: Full-time
• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance
• Physical Demands and Work Environment:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk and talk or hear; use hands to finger, hand or feel objects; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to sit, kneel, squat, and hold objects or carry.

• The employee much occasionally lift and/or move up to 10lbs, and sometimes move and/or lift up to 100lbs.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.
• The environment consists of indoor and outdoor activities with different temperatures.
• Cleaning and using cleaning materials, including chemicals are a demand of this position.
• Other:
• We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.
• Shift availability: Day Shift (Preferred)

Work Location: In person