Are you someone who is passionate about making a difference in the lives of others? Do you enjoy caring for and mentoring others with disabilities?

MyPath and its Operating Companies provide specialized services and dignified care for children, adolescents and adults with special needs. Our companies provide a spectrum of services and support which promote the ability of those we serve to live as independently as possible in the community.

Overview

Are you passionate about making a difference in the lives of others? Do you enjoy guiding and supporting individuals in a therapeutic, team-based environment? Genesee Lake School, a MyPath Company, provides residential, educational, and community-based services for children and young adults with emotional, behavioral, and developmental challenges. Our mission is to promote growth, independence, and a high quality of life for the individuals we serve.

POSITION PURPOSE:   

The Respite Specialist is responsible for the planning, coordination, and oversight of respite care services at Genesee Lake School. This position plays a critical role in supporting both families and internal staff by facilitating short-term relief services that meet the individual needs of students and their caregivers.

The Respite Specialist ensures the delivery of high-quality, well-organized respite experiences by coordinating logistics, maintaining communication with caregivers, and collaborating closely with school staff. Key responsibilities include training staff involved in respite care, creating detailed and individualized visit plans, and proactively addressing any challenges or concerns that arise during the respite process.

This role is essential in supporting Genesee Lake School’s mission by promoting caregiver well-being, student safety, and positive, structured care experiences.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Coordinates all aspects of the Respite program including admissions, discharges, and all paperwork related to the respite visits.
• Serves as the internal and external liaison during Respite visits (communication, management of issues, etc.).
• Oversees the coordination of program area placement and maintenance of the Respite schedule.
• Promotion, development, and market outreach of the Respite Program.
• Monitor respite care services to ensure safety, compliance with regulations, and that the care provided aligns with the individual’s needs and preferences.
• Organizes and manages respite files and records.  Maintains an up-to-date file on each individual enrolled in the Respite program in a professional and confidential manner.
• Attends Admission and Marketing Department meetings, as/if assigned.
• Attends scheduled Residential Program Meetings (e.g. Program Coordination, Program Supervisors, etc.) as/if assigned.
• Assists with developing a marketing plan and annual budget for the Respite program.
• Serve as a liaison between caregivers and GLS, helping families navigate funding sources, eligibility criteria, and access to community resources.
• Completes monthly Respite billing, as needed, in an accurate and timely manner.
• Completes monthly Respite reports (use, trends, etc.) in a professional and timely manner.
• Reviews Respite program systems and makes changes, as necessary, to ensure efficiencies and quality service provision.
• Serves as a training resource related to the Respite program, during staff orientation, as requested.
• Assists with Discharge and Transition planning under the direction of the Family and Community Transition Support Coordinator. This can include:
  • Coordinates and ensures the completion of all discharge paperwork.
  • Sends out Discharge Surveys to external stakeholders. Collates all Discharge Survey for reporting.
  • Conducts follow-up with the students/family/guardian post-discharge and ensures that all required documentation is completed.
• Conducts self in positive, respectful and collaborative manner demonstrating proactive actions and decision making that foster supportive work relationships and a healthy and safe environment for the students.
•  Communicates effectively verbally and in writing with internal and external customers maintaining professional conduct and confidentiality.
• Complies with and positively reinforces with others the expectations outlined in: MyPath Handbook; MyPath Beliefs and Behaviors, policies and procedures including emergency/disaster procedures, fire/tornado safety and maintains confidentiality.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Age 21 or older required.
• Bachelor Degree required in relevant field.
• At least 2 years experience in a licensed RCC or equivalent residential program preferred.
• Solid understanding of trauma-informed care, behavioral health needs and RCC best practices.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Basic business and budget planning preferred.
• Familiarity with state regulatory requirements (e.g., DCF 52, DHS 83) and agency policies.
• Must be organized, reliable, and able to work independently while coordinating with multiple team members.
• Must have some flexibility in schedule.

WORKING CONDITIONS  

Mental and Physical Requirements                                                                              

• Ability to, with assistance, manage, transfer, and move clients.
• Ability and willingness to implement approved de-escalation and intervention techniques as in serviced by company.
• Requires mental and emotional ability to remain calm, polite, and function effectively during stressful/emergency situations, and with clients who may be disruptive, demanding, cognitively challenged or exhibit behavioral outbursts.
• Bending, twisting, reaching, lifting, walking, standing, running, squatting, and bilateral manual dexterity to perform interventions and other essential job functions.
• Requires the ability to accompany, participate with and supervise clients on field trips to zoos, amusement parks, public swimming pools, trampoline parks, etc.  
• Ability to sit for periods of up to two hours.
• Ability to lift up to 15 lbs. regularly and up to 40 lbs. occasionally.
• Ability to supervise and communicate to clients using sight, hearing, and speech.
• Ability to read, speak, write, and understand English.

• Ability to multitask and flexibility for changes in priorities.

• Ability to remain awake and alert during entire shift.

Working/Environmental Conditions:

• Fast pace changing work environment.
• May involve multi-step tasks and simultaneous projects.
• May be noisy.
• Some work areas are not air-conditioned, and some duties require exposure to outside weather conditions.
• Client behavior can be offensive or intrusive.
• Risk of exposure to blood or other body fluids and may require the occasional use of gloves or CPR micro shields as necessary.
• No reasonably anticipated exposure to hazardous equipment, assorted chemicals, gases, vapors, or other pollutants.
• Position requires the use of typical office machines, audio-visual equipment and some medical and personal protective equipment.

Comprehensive Employee Benefits Package

At Genesee Lake School, a MyPath Company, we are committed to supporting our employees' well-being, financial security, and professional growth. Our benefits package includes:

Financial & Retirement Benefits

• 401(k) Retirement Plan with MyPath Financial Wellness Resources
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
• On-demand Access to Earned Wages
• Student Loan Pay Down Assistance
• Tuition Reimbursement

Health & Wellness

• Medical, Prescription, Dental, and Vision Plans
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Life & Disability Insurance
• Voluntary Life Insurance Options
• Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity Insurance
• My Voyage Wellness Program

Work-Life Balance & Additional Perks

• Paid Time Off (PTO) Accrual
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Childcare Search Assistance
• Employee Discount Program via PerkSpot
• Pet Insurance Discount

We value our employees and are dedicated to providing meaningful benefits that enhance our owners’ lives

Additional Information

Starting pay: $50-$53K.

MyPath is composed of a beautifully diverse spectrum of employees with different characteristics, abilities, and life experiences. We believe that equitable, diverse, and inclusive practices in our workspaces are integral to the existence of MyPath. We value our diverse spectrum of Owners, the individuals we serve and the communities we encounter.

Our success as an organization is directly proportional to our ability to create belonging and genuinely engage our Owners and potential Owners.  We ask for demographic information so that we can be intentional in supporting our Owners best.  Although not required, we would appreciate you sharing to help our commitment of cultivating a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and belonging MyPath.

Our Culture

At MyPath, we support an ownership culture throughout the organization. Our culture is based on our five beliefs and behaviors:

• Passion

• Accountability

• Teamwork

• Openness

• Continuous Learning and Innovation

As an employee owner, you can expect transparency, respect and appreciation. You’ll impact the place you work and map a career within MyPath. With your passion and our breadth of services, your options are nearly limitless!

MyPath is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. We embrace the unique characteristics, abilities, and life experiences of our employees and believe that equitable and inclusive practices are essential to our success. We value the diversity of our Owners, the individuals we serve, and the communities we engage with.