To ensure child safety by working with families involved with Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice cases, assisting them to improve on safety concerns in their parenting skills and household management and to develop positive coping mechanisms.
After initial orientation and training, the Family Specialist is expected to routinely flex their schedule and/or create an alternative schedule to work nights and weekends with parents and families per the families' schedules. 

1. Works with families to teach basic parenting skills and strategies to promote safety in family functioning and the home, including skills such as positive parenting, hygiene, housekeeping, age-appropriate recreation, and education, etc. Develops activities to engage parents in improving these areas.
2. Conducts home visits to assess family needs and provide case management, when necessary, while promoting self-sufficiency.
3. Provides psycho-educational services on family related matters, such as: child development, parenting, life skills, home management, personal problem solving and accessing community resources as needed.
4. Establishes trusting relationships with primary caregivers and children, encouraging positive family dynamics and teaching skills to provide them with a safe, protected, home environment.
5. Works with parents to facilitate transportation
6. Supervises family visitation and provides oversight when needed
7. Maintains the family recovery room. Monitors and replenishes supplies and organizes the room to ensure it is appropriate for visits at all times.
8. Acts as an advocate for child(ren) and mentor for the parent(s).
9. Sets appropriate boundaries and limits with children and families.
10. Provides access duties for the Family Services Section as needed.
11. Coordinates with the Child Protection social workers, develops and encourage good holistic outcomes for families.
12. Attends court hearings, staffing and other Family Treatment Court meetings and family functions as needed.
13. Maintains strict confidentiality of all information pertaining to families and related work performed
14. Participates in supervision/consultation.
15. Performs other duties as assigned.

A. Associate Degree in Human Services, Criminal Justice, or other related field.
B. Two year working experience with children and families.
C. Knowledge of drug/alcohol dependence and the needs of individuals in recovery,
D. Knowledge of child development and positive parenting.
E. Demonstrated ability to perform work in an independent manner, with minimal supervision from the Family Services Manager.
F. Microsoft Office Word and Excel intermediate level with ability to type 40wpm.
G. Valid Wisconsin driver's license and reliable transportation.
Physical Demands
A. Ability to sit or stand for extended periods of time while performing duties in an office or home environment.
B. Ability to drive
C. Light lifting – up to 40 pounds
D. Ability to work out in the field (e.g. climb stairs, move through a facility or home)
E. Requires physical demands such as seeing, hearing, and color perception to make judgments both in the office and out in the fieldKnowledge, Skills, and Abilities
A. Interpersonal Skills
1) Recognizes and acknowledges the feelings of others and demonstrates respect for families
2) Recognizes the importance of dealing with difficult issues within families in a purposeful and meaningful manner to facilitate hope/vision/change.
3) Identifies, with the family, strengths that can be linked to promoting change.
4) Facilitates a team approach with the family and other providers.
5) Persists in engaging families, gathering information, and seeking out resources.
B. Personal/Professional Awareness
1) Recognizes/respects needs and beliefs of individuals of diverse cultures.
2) Understands that people can change and integrates this belief into case practice.
3) Understands how values, style and background can impact objectivity/bias.
4) Identifies personal strengths and limitations and understands how this is related to their professional role.
5) Displays an ability to be decisive.
6) Displays openness to new information.
7) Seeks out and applies evidence based practices and applies them to working with children and families.
C. Analytical Thinking
1) Displays an ability to gather information from a variety of sources and understands family situations/conditions/dynamics.
2) Ability to identify and successfully apply strength based and solution based strategies when working with children and families.
D. Communication Skills
1) Creates situations that allow for open communication with families and collateral providers.
2) Communicates clearly and accurately, orally and in writing.
E. Organizational Skills
1) Completes required documentation accurately.
2) Meets all required timelines.