Careers and Internships

Current Employment Opportunities

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy: Family & Children’s Service provides equal opportunity employment to all employees and applicants for positions with the organization. No individual will be discriminated against in application, hiring or employment on the basis of race, age, culture, ability, ethnicity or nationality, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, marital status, religious affiliation, and socioeconomic status.  Additionally, Family & Children’s Service’s policies and practices in application, hiring and employment are developed to be consistent with all applicable local, state and federally mandated obligations imposed through regulation or statute, which govern employment practices. This policy applies to all agency positions.

 

Benefits offered by Family and Children’s Service:

  • Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) and holiday schedule.
  • Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage options for employees and eligible dependents.
  • Option to create a hybrid office/home work schedule.
  • Pre-tax savings options: FSA, self-funded; HSA, employer contribution (depending on medical plan participation.
  • Enhanced Short Term Disability, Free Basic Life and AD&D.
  • 403(b) Retirement Plan with employer contributions after one year of employment.

Title: Director of Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
Department: Administration
Status: Full- Time, Exempt (37.5 hours/week); Eligible for hybrid remote/in person work
Responsible To: Executive Director
Salary Range: $75,000

General Summary:

When you join Family & Children’s Service of Ithaca (F&CS) as the Director of Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging you will provide strategic oversight and direction on all equity initiatives and collaborate with colleagues to develop responsive and effective strategies and execute equity-related change initiatives across F&CS.  You will lead with a vision to develop and foster an inclusive community that attracts, respects, supports, and retains a diverse, inclusive, staff committed to advancing the health and well-being of our community and to those that provide that care and support.

Click for Full Job Description

Responsibilities:

  •  Oversees all aspects of the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) road map (rolled out in Spring 2023), including program design and delivery, policy development, and capacity-building activities; establishes a framework for measuring F&CS’s performance against its EDI objectives and tracks performance according to those objectives and the goals of the road map
  • Serves as a member of the Management Team, providing organizational leadership as a member of that team
  • Serves as the Chair of F&CS’ Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion committee, incorporating executive support and providing operational management
  • Works with managers across the agency in designing and implementing systems interventions and infrastructure development projects, including creating and supporting implementation of equity strategies across all functional areas, to improve health- and institutional-equity and accessibility of services
  • Directly facilitate and implement equity dialogues; conduct ongoing training and other program offerings focused on management skills, leadership, and driving results with an equity lens
  • Engage in relationship building and peer-mentorship for managers and leaders across F&CS; serve as content expert and resource for equity related management concerns
  • Respond to and monitor reports of bias, in collaboration with Human Resources; support investigations and provide coaching related to employee relations and operational gaps in response to complaints of bias; promote positive employee relations programs and initiatives, including conflict resolution services
  • Help to develop a pipeline for more diversity at supervisory/management levels

 

Minimum Qualifications: 

  • Bachelor’s degree in human resources or a related field, and at least three years of work experience in that field
  • A demonstrated commitment to health equity, and gender and racial justice
  • Deep understanding of power structures and privilege differentials and institutional systems that foster systemic inequalities
  • Proven ability to provide strategic leadership, including setting and inspiring an inclusive organizational vision, bringing diverse groups together for a stronger whole while addressing needs and goals of subgroups
  • Demonstrated record of success in partnering across functions to develop and manage EDI strategies and programs that support engagement and organizational goals
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to effectively work and interact respectfully within a diverse and inclusive environment
  • Able to exercise a high degree of confidentiality and discretion, independent judgment and initiative
  • Demonstrated experience in providing workshops and training on EDI topics

 

Preferred additional qualifications:

  • Experience working in a human services organization or mental health and/or health care setting
  • Lived experience
  • Experience in program development, institutional change, community engagement or adjacent areas
  • Demonstrated ability to partner with other leaders in guiding the implementation of a strategic plan, establishing metrics, measuring progress, and adapting as necessary as the organization and culture evolve

 

Contact Information: Please email a cover letter and resume to: Alicia Kenaley, Executive Director at akenaley@fcsith.org. In the cover letter, please specifically address relevant experience as it pertains to minimum qualifications and any additional qualifications, including equity, diversity, and inclusion experience, and reasons for your interest in this particular position. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Title: Billing Specialist
Department: Billing
Status: Full- Time, Non-Exempt (37.5 hours/week); Eligible for hybrid remote/in person work
Responsible To: Finance Manager
Starting Salary: $50,000

General Summary:

At Family & Children’s Service of Ithaca (F&CS), we are committed to providing equitable and inclusive mental health services to community members of all life stages. We are seeking a Billing Specialist who will be responsible for collecting, posting and managing account payments; submitting claims and following up with insurance companies; ensuring all client payments and fee structures are reported accurately; and ensuring the accurate depiction of all outstanding accounts receivable balances.

Click for Full Job Description

Responsibilities:

  • Claims Processing: Prepare and submit insurance claims for mental health services, ensuring all necessary information and documentation is included.
  • Verify insurance coverage and eligibility for clients and follow up on any claims-related issues.
  • Billing and Invoicing: Generate invoices and statements for clients detailing services rendered and any applicable co-pays or deductibles.
  • Monitor accounts receivable and follow up on outstanding balances, negotiating payment plans as necessary.
  • Coding and Documentation: Accurately assign diagnostic and procedure codes (e.g., ICD-10-CM, HCPCS, and CPT codes) to patient records and claims.
  • Review clinical documentation to ensure it supports the services billed and complies with insurance requirements.
  • Compliance: Stay up-to-date with relevant healthcare billing regulations and insurance company policies to ensure compliance.
  • Ensure adherence to patient confidentiality and HIPAA regulations in all aspects of the job.
  • Payment Posting: Post payments and adjustments to patient accounts, reconcile with insurance payments and resolve discrepancies.
  • Denials Management: Investigate and resolve claim denials by insurance companies, writing appeals, follow up with insurance reps, and resubmit claims when necessary.  Collaborate with healthcare providers to gather additional information to support claims.
  • Reporting: Prepare and maintain billing reports and records for tracking billing activities, revenue, and collections.
  • Provide regular reports to management on the financial health of the mental health facility.
  • Customer Service: Address billing inquiries and concerns from clients, insurance companies, and healthcare providers professionally and helpfully.
  • Additional duties and responsibilities as assigned

 

General Office Support:

  • Available for general client/guest/clinician support.
  • Always respect client dignity and confidentiality.
  • Maintain HIPAA compliance.
  • Maintain a welcoming, professional manner and appearance with all clients—team-based communication.
  • Documentation according to established procedures and channels of communication
  • Communication with clinicians per established procedures.
  • Active participation as an administrative support team member via daily communication and weekly meetings.

 

Minimum Qualifications: 

  • High school diploma or equivalent (Associate degree in a related field is a plus). Billing/Coding Certification is a plus.
  • Previous experience in healthcare billing, particularly in mental health services.
  • Proficiency in medical billing software and electronic health records (EHR) systems.
  • Understanding of both UB-04 and 1500-claim form and billing regulations.
  • Understanding how to read remittance advice, CARC, and RARC definitions.
  • Understanding of NCCI and MUE edits.
  • Knowledge of insurance contracts and expected reimbursement.
  • Knowledge of Medical coding, CPT, ICD-10-CM, and HCPCS.
  • Familiarity with insurance verification and claims processing procedures.
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills to interact with clients and colleagues effectively.
  • Attention to detail and accuracy in data entry and documentation.
  • Understanding of healthcare compliance regulations, particularly HIPAA.
  • Problem-solving and critical-thinking skills to address billing-related issues.
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

 

Our Rewards & Benefits
Family & Children Services of Ithaca provides a supportive and dynamic work environment that is built on collaboration and professional growth. We offer a competitive salary, a comprehensive benefits package, and opportunities for career advancement.

  •  A competitive starting salary of $50,000
  • 403 (b) retirement plan with an employer match
  • Generous 25 days of Paid Time Off (PTO), in addition the following paid holidays: New Year’s Day, MLK Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Day
  • Hybrid work arrangement
  • Comprehensive health, dental, and pretax HSA/FSA benefits program for you and your eligible dependents
  • Enhanced Short Term Disability, Free Basic Life, and AD&D

 

Contact Information: Please email a cover letter and resume to: Alicia Kenaley, Executive Director at akenaley@fcsith.org. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Title: Assistant Billing Specialist
Department: Billing
Status: Part- Time, Non-Exempt (20 hours/week); Eligible for hybrid remote/in person work
Responsible To: Finance Manager
Starting Hourly Rate: $24.04/hour

General Summary:

The Assistant Billing Specialist will be responsible for collecting, posting and managing account payments; submitting claims and following up with insurance companies; ensuring all client payments and fee structures are reported accurately; and ensuring the accurate depiction of all outstanding accounts receivable balances, with a focus on follow-up work on accounts receivable.

Click for Full Job Description

Responsibilities:

  • Claims Processing: Prepare and submit insurance claims for mental health services, ensuring all necessary information and documentation is included.
  • Verify insurance coverage and eligibility for clients and follow up on any claims-related issues.
  • Billing and Invoicing: Generate invoices and statements for clients detailing services rendered and any applicable co-pays or deductibles.
  • Monitor accounts receivable and follow up on outstanding balances, negotiating payment plans as necessary.
  • Coding and Documentation: Accurately assign diagnostic and procedure codes (e.g., ICD-10-CM, HCPCS, and CPT codes) to patient records and claims.
  • Review clinical documentation to ensure it supports the services billed and complies with insurance requirements.
  • Compliance: Stay up-to-date with relevant healthcare billing regulations and insurance company policies to ensure compliance.
  • Ensure adherence to patient confidentiality and HIPAA regulations in all aspects of the job.
  • Payment Posting: Post payments and adjustments to patient accounts, reconcile with insurance payments and resolve discrepancies.
  • Denials Management: Investigate and resolve claim denials by insurance companies, writing appeals, follow up with insurance reps, and resubmit claims when necessary.
  • Collaborate with healthcare providers to gather additional information to support claims.
  • Reporting: Prepare and maintain billing reports and records for tracking billing activities, revenue, and collections.
  • Provide regular reports to management on the financial health of the mental health facility.
  • Customer Service: Address billing inquiries and concerns from clients, insurance companies, and healthcare providers professionally and helpfully.
  • Additional duties and responsibilities as assigned.

 

General Office Support:

  • Available for general client/guest/clinician support.
  • Always respect client dignity and confidentiality.
  • Maintain HIPAA compliance.
  • Maintain a welcoming, professional manner and appearance with all clients—team-based communication.
  • Documentation according to established procedures and channels of communication
  • Communication with clinicians per established procedures.
  • Active participation as an administrative support team member via daily communication and weekly meetings.

 

Minimum Qualifications: 

  • High school diploma or equivalent (Associate degree in a related field is a plus). Billing/Coding Certification is a plus.
  • Previous experience in healthcare billing, particularly in mental health services.
  • Proficiency in medical billing software and electronic health records (EHR) systems.
  • Understanding of both UB-04 and 1500-claim form and billing regulations.
  • Understanding how to read remittance advice, CARC, and RARC definitions.
  • Understanding of NCCI and MUE edits.
  • Knowledge of insurance contracts and expected reimbursement.
  • Knowledge of Medical coding, CPT, ICD-10-CM, and HCPCS.
  • Familiarity with insurance verification and claims processing procedures.
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills to interact with clients and colleagues effectively.
  • Attention to detail and accuracy in data entry and documentation.
  • Understanding of healthcare compliance regulations, particularly HIPAA.
  • Problem-solving and critical-thinking skills to address billing-related issues.
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

 

Our Rewards & Benefits
Family & Children Services of Ithaca provides a supportive and dynamic work environment that is built on collaboration and professional growth. We offer a competitive salary, a comprehensive benefits package, and opportunities for career advancement.

  • A competitive starting rate of $24.04/hour
  • 403 (b) retirement plan with an employer match
  • Generous 25 days of Paid Time Off (PTO), in addition the following paid holidays: New Year’s Day, MLK Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Day
  • Hybrid work arrangement
  • Comprehensive health, dental, and pretax HSA/FSA benefits program for you and your eligible dependents
  • Enhanced Short Term Disability, Free Basic Life, and AD&D

 

Contact Information: Please email a cover letter and resume to: Alicia Kenaley, Executive Director at akenaley@fcsith.org. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Clinical Internships

Please note: Internships for the 2023 – 2024 academic year have been filled. 

F&CS accepts graduate students in mental health disciplines (social work, mental health counseling) for clinical internships.  (Psychologists, marriage and family therapists, and creative arts therapist trainees should inquire- availability may vary.) Mental Health Counseling Students: We are able to host students who wish to perform their practicum and internship at the same site successively, however we do not host practicum only students.

We require a two semester minimum commitment. Applications for the Fall-Spring semesters should be submitted in March of the previous academic year.  Students who are interested in an alternate start date are encouraged to inquire for availability. Students should be aware that typically our site requires more than the minimum weekly hours required by most programs to meet the required face to face hours components. Internship hours are scheduled during business hours only.

In our clinical internship, students will work with an identified caseload of individual psychotherapy clients. There may be opportunities to work with groups, and with our EAP or intake services. Students receive at least weekly individual supervision, group supervision, and access to staff trainings and professional development.

Strong preference is given to students with previous human service experience, and those looking to develop skills working with underserved populations, particularly older adults and young children.

Please send a resume, brief letter of interest, and any specific requirements of your program to Lead Clinical Supervisor, Judy Clay at jclay@fcsith.org.