Program Therapist (Senior) at The University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, NM

Job description

The Center for Development and Disability (CDD), established in 1990, is New Mexico's University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Service. These centers, authorized by the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act, build the capacities of states and communities to respond to the needs of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. The Senior Program Therapist position is a leadership position for Healthy Families America (HFA), an evidence-based home-visiting program that supports families with young children across the Albuquerque metro area. The program serves families referred from a variety of community and healthcare settings, including families with newborns hospitalized in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) who may benefit from support during hospitalization and as they transition home. This position plans and develops program goals and objectives, ensures services are delivered with fidelity to the Healthy Families America model, and supports quality assurance through data tracking, review, and continuous quality improvement. The Senior Program Therapist works closely with the program’s director, Healthy Families America model consultant, program staff, and community partners to support effective program implementation and growth. The Senior Program Therapist works as a member of a team and develops community partnerships that directly support families and program services. This individual may provide supervision and/or mentorship to lower-level staff and provide leadership for program quality assurance, model fidelity, staff development, and other projects in support of program implementation and growth as assigned. Services focus on strengthening parent-child relationships, supporting parents in meeting their child's emotional and developmental needs, and helping families access resources that support their overall well-being. Services are delivered using the Healthy Families America evidence-based model and other evidence-informed home-visiting practices. Approaches are relationship-based, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and developmentally informed. Staff are trained in the Healthy Families America evidence-based model, the Parents as Teachers curriculum and/or other secondary curricula or approaches deemed appropriate to meet the needs of families, the Newborn Behavioral Observations system, infant massage education, and the Facilitating Attuned Interactions (FAN) approach. Services may occur in families' homes, healthcare settings including NICUs, or other community settings. This position requires flexibility, teamwork, and the following skills: Ability to lead and support implementation of the evidence-based Healthy Families America model with fidelity, including the use of additional tools and approaches needed to support specialized home-visiting services; support program quality assurance, data tracking, continuous quality improvement, and model fidelity; collaborate effectively with healthcare providers, including medical staff within NICU settings, Healthy Families America model consultant, and community partners; provide and support services using infant mental health (IMH) competencies. IMH endorsement is preferred; support program implementation, development, and growth. Solid knowledge of early childhood development, parent-child relationships, and working with parents and young children. Capacity for effective collaboration with interdisciplinary teams and internal and community partners. Knowledge of community resources, including resources addressing basic needs, housing, behavioral health services, and other needs identified by families. Knowledge of applicable state and federal reporting requirements. Families may self-refer to Healthy Families America or may be referred by healthcare providers, community organizations, and other partners throughout the Albuquerque metro area. Referrals may also come from