Bridges Homeward is Hiring a Fathers Engagement Home Visitor (Spanish Speaking) Near Boston, MA
*This position qualifies for a $2,000 sign on bonus THE AGENCY: Bridges Homeward is one of the oldest human services agencies in Greater Boston. Founded in 1873 as the Avon Home, an orphanage for local children, Bridges Homeward has a long and distinguished history of serving children, adolescents, individuals and families in the Cambridge area, Greater Boston and its suburbs. Today, Bridges homeward provides services for foster and group care, adoption, developmental disabilities, and family support, which are all programs that support individuals and strengthen families in more than 100 cities and towns throughout Massachusetts. Believing in the value of self care and proper work-life balance, Bridges Homeward is currently piloting half day fridays to all eligible positions (like this one!) PURPOSE & SCOPE: The Home Visitor of Healthy Families-Massachusetts (HFM) is a member of the Bridges Homeward Team who utilizes a strengths-based, skill-building framework of service. HFM includes the whole family in service delivery, engaging fathers, mothers, babies, and extended family members. 'Extended family' is defined by the participant and may include significant support systems such as those individuals the family has identified as their kinship network. Through attuned interactions, HFM staff encourage participants at their own pace to develop the knowledge, skills, and support networks that will enable them to be strong, resilient parents with access to the resources needed to successfully manage their lives and be the best advocates for themselves and their children. The Healthy Families Program's goals are to:
Prevent child abuse and neglect by supporting positive, effective parenting skills
Achieve optimal health, growth, and development in infancy and early childhood
Promote increased educational attainment, job, and life skills
Reduce unintended repeat teen pregnancies
Promote optimal parental health and wellness
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The Fathers engagement home visitor is responsible with partnering with community organizations to increase father engagement in the program. Primarily focus on recruitment of fathers by attending trainings, going out into the community, partnering with different father networks. Home Visitor will work with fathers, and mothers as needed The HFM Home Visitor:
Provides parenting education and support in-home and in group settings
Helps to Reduce violent, impulsive, and risky behaviors among adolescent parents
Promotes safe and healthy homes
Improves family self-sufficiency while helping the most vulnerable families
Utilizes the Protective Factors Framework to provide in home services in order to support families in increasing resiliencies, resources, knowledge, skills, and support systems
Organizes and manages a caseload of families and children referred to Healthy Families Massachusetts
Collaborates with parents, children, community resources, and HFM staff in developing plans, specifying resources and services needed, making referrals, and monitoring service provision
Maintains regular contact with collaborating partners
Provides conflict resolution and mediation for families
Monitors safety of children in the home
Maintains complete, detailed, and accurate records
Helps support or present information alone or with other team members at parenting workshops
Duties and responsibilities are carried out in conformance with relevant Competences (attached). REQUIRED EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:
Highschool Diploma
Minimum of one year of experience providing case management and/or counseling services to children, adolescents, and families; preference given to those with experience working with pregnant or parenting teens or young adults
Lived parenting experience preferred
Bilingual required; we are seeking candidates that speak English and at least one of the following languages: Spanish, Portuguese, and Haitian Creole.
Other requirements:
Valid driver's license and properly insured vehicle
Bridges Homeward supports our employees by offering great benefits: