The Institute for Family Development (IFD), which is a non-profit and licensed mental health organization, is the oldest and largest provider of home-based evidence-based programs (EBPs) for families in Washington State. Our internationally recognized Homebuilders program is one of the earliest and most effective “intensive family preservation” programs serving children, youth and families in the child welfare, juvenile justice and mental health systems in the country.
Our HOMEBUILERS® program has been designated with the highest rating (“Well Supported” program) for the Federal Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA), and as a EBP by the California Clearing House for Child Welfare and other national organizations. In addition to providing direct services to families in Washington State, IFD works with states throughout country as well as other countries to develop and implement Homebuilders programs. Currently there are Homebuilders programs in Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Washington and British Columbia, and anticipate developing new programs in these and other states over the next 12-24 months.

Social justice is a foundational value of our organization, and we are fully committed to creating an anti-racist, equitable and inclusive agency culture where all staff thrive. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruitment, support, and retention is how we will obtain the most diverse, highest quality workforce that shares, and helps us advance, our mission and values.
"A Social Justice approach to child welfare requires confronting racial and class bias, it requires concrete help for poor families, it requires humble tasks, and it requires stepping out of the role of noble healer and into the role of partner." Richard Wexler, executive director of the National Coalition for Child Protection Reform

Students will be placed with one of our Homebuilders clinical teams and have the opportunity to be trained in and provide Homebuilders services to families referred by the Washington State Dept of Children, Youth and Family Services (DCYF). Homebuilders is a short term (4-6 weeks) intensive (typically 8-10 face to face hours per week) program designed for families with children (age 0-18) who are at imminent risk of out of home placement due to abuse, neglect, family conflict, serious behavioral/ emotional concerns, substance abuse and other challenges facing families that are involved with the public child welfare system. Students will attend our Homebuilders Core Skills workshop (24 hours of initial training), training on our web-based clinical documentation system and our clinical paperwork. They will shadow their field instructor or supervisor on an entire Homebuilders intervention for 4-6 weeks. During this time the will be consulting with their field instructor or supervisor frequently throughout each week, as well as attending a weekly team consultation with the other members of their team (3-4 therapists and their supervisor). Following the shadowing of an intervention, students may be assigned their own family, and their field instructor or supervisor will shadow them (providing support, feedback, consultation) on the entire intervention. Students typically provide Homebuilders to 5 families during the placement. Their field instructor or supervisor will continue shadowing at least 3 intake sessions and other sessions throughout the placement. Supervisors are on call to the student 24/7 for consultation and support. During the placement period, students will also attend our workshops on Motivational Interviewing, Relapse Prevention, Cognitive and Behavioral Interventions and Teaching Skills to Families. Students are on call for emergencies to the one family they carry at a time. During the Homebuilders interventions they will have the opportunity to learn and use skills such as Motivational Interviewing, CBT, safety planning, suicide assessment and prevention, and teach a variety of parenting and other skills to parents/caregivers and children and youth, including positive behavioral support, communication, problem solving, relapse prevention, daily routines, emotion regulation skills. Students will also have the opportunity to collaborate and coordinate and do advocacy with referents from DCYF, school personnel, and other community providers and supports.

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Students will have the use of an agency cell phone, access to a web-based client documentation/data system and have the opportunity to participate in 60+ hours of training. Students will be paid mileage for all client related travel mileage (e.g., to and from homes, community meetings etc).

To be eligible, students must have a BSW or BA in a related field and two years related experience. Related experience could include services that address or provide counseling, case management, crisis intervention, parent education or support, work with children, youth or families, and populations experiencing domestic violence, substance use, homelessness, behavioral or mental health concerns etc.

English; other languages a plus

To apply please send a resume to:
Mary Fischer, MSW
mfischer@institutefamily.org

For more information, please email mfischer@institutefamily.org