Katie Beckett Parent Consultant

RIPIN, Inc.

Job Posting

Katie Beckett Parent Consultant

$20 - 22 /hour

About RIPIN: RIPIN deploys a peer model to support people with special healthcare and education needs across the whole lifespan. Founded in 1991 by a group of parents of children with special needs, RIPIN continues to be peer-led: a majority of our board and more than three-fourths of our staff are parents or caretakers of loved ones with special needs. RIPINs peer professionals now help more than 45,000 Rhode Islanders every year navigate healthcare, schools, and other support systems.

Job Summary:

The Katie Beckett Parent Consultant is embedded within the Katie Beckett program housed at the Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS) and provides peer-to-peer support, education, and resources to families applying for, renewing, or transitioning from Medical Assistance through the states Katie Beckett Program. The Parent Consultant assists families with application and recertification requirements, access to supporting documentation, and questions about program rules, policies, and expectations. This position serves as a liaison between applicants, enrolled families, DHS clinical and eligibility staff, and RIPIN to help resolve pending issues, reduce barriers to services, share program updates and trends, and support accurate data collection and reporting. This position will receive assignments from the DHS point person at the Katie Beckett Program.

Essential Functions:

- Assist consumers and families with the Katie Beckett application and renewal process, including application and recertification assistance, access to supporting medical documentation, and collection of other documentation required to support Katie Beckett Medicaid eligibility.

- Support consumers and families whose children are aging out of the Katie Beckett program by helping them transition to maintain continuity of services and Medicaid eligibility.

- Conduct ongoing outreach to families to answer questions, clarify program rules, policies, and expectations, and reduce barriers to accessing programs and services for children with disabilities .

- Serve as a liaison between applicants, enrolled families, DHS clinical and eligibility staff, and RIPIN to help resolve pending issues related to documentation requirements, eligibility determinations, post-eligibility processes, and related services.

- Participate in DHS trainings related to Katie Beckett eligibility processes, system access, and system functionality necessary to respond to customer inquiries and provide program updates.

- Collect data requested by DHS and RIPIN to support program monitoring, coordination, and reporting.

- Educate RIPIN staff on the Katie Beckett application process and related program requirements.

- Inform RIPIN of trends in childrens services at DHS, including emerging needs, barriers, and service coordination issues.

- Prepare data reports and program updates as requested by DHS and RIPIN.

- Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

- Possess intimate knowledge of the Katie Beckett Application and process, health systems, terminology, supports, and services

- Ability to relate to consumers and to address barriers to care, health and wellness

- Effectively demonstrate sensitivity to the issues facing consumers served

- Demonstrated ability and skill to work collaboratively with co-workers, consumers, families, service providers, and health plans, etc.

- Ability to promote and advocate for person- and family-centered, culturally sensitive care

- Skilled and/or willingness to learn and initiate motivational interviewing techniques with consumers

- Knowledgeable of the Rhode Island systems of care supporting children and adults with special needs

- Demonstrated prior success in accessing community-based resources in Rhode Island

- Problem-solving skills to facilitate empowering experiences and positive outcomes with consumers

- Excellent written and oral communication skills to speak to groups, including staff, providers, and parents

- Excellent organizational skills to manage multiple priorities and tasks

- A deep understanding of, commitment to, and ability to carry out the mission, vision, philosophy, and values of RIPIN

- Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office 365, computer skills to enter data, prepare reports, and correspondence

- Demonstrated written and verbal fluency in Spanish or Portuguese preferred

Education and Experience:

- High School diploma or GED and a combination of education and skills to effectively carry out responsibilities and assignments

- Community Health Workers certification preferred; non-certified incumbents are expected to earn certification within 18 months of hire date

- Personal experience navigating state and community services and programs on behalf of self or a family member, or

- Previous experience supporting families or individuals with special care needs or disabilities or families or individuals accessing health programs and services, or

- Previous experience in working effectively with professionals supporting individuals/ parents/families of children with special needs

- Demonstrated ability to work both independently and as an effective team member

- Demonstrated experience working with diverse populations

- A combination of education and experience demonstrating acquisition of the skills and abilities required

Physical Demands:

- Regularly required to talk or hear.

- Regularly required to stand, walk, sit, use hand to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms.

- Regularly required to climb stairs, reach, stretch, stand, and bend.

- Required to have the ability to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

- Required to remain at their station for prolonged periods of time.

Working Conditions/ Work Environment:

- Maintain onsite availability a minimum of three days per week and as needed to access state systems related to Katie Beckett services, enter case notes, and research case-related information

- Dedicate 25 hours per week to the DHS Katie Beckett unit and 2 hours per week to RIPIN-related activities

- Primary work location is a climate-controlled indoor office environment; however, may also be required to conduct visits in private homes, climbing up to three flights of stairs, and community locations

- Flexibility for statewide travel related to job requirements

- Flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends as needed

- Ability to travel independently and provide reliable transportation, with a valid driver's license and proof of automobile insurance meeting Rhode Island minimum requirements

- Ability to work effectively in office-based, community-based, hybrid, and remote environments while adapting to changing organizational and programmatic needs

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions

RIPIN provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.