The Family Support Specialist supports the delivery of home-based parenting education services. They play a crucial role in providing support, information, and resources to parents to help them create a positive and nurturing home environment for their children.
The Family Support Specialist plays a key role in providing services to families with the fewest possible barriers.
Schedule: 20-40 hours per week, Monday-Friday some evening and weekend availability required
essential duties
Administrative Tasks

1. Follow up with assigned families and initiate enrollment.
2. Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of home visits, assessments, and family goals.
3. Participate in reflective supervision and team meetings.
4. Receive and maintain Parents as Teachers (PAT) certification.
5. Collaborate with other professionals, such as healthcare providers and social workers, as needed.

Service Delivery Tasks

1. Ensure services provided are high quality, consistent, and responsive to client needs.
2. Conduct initial assessments of families to identify their strengths, needs, and goals.
3. Provide home visits to families using the Parents as Teachers (PAT) Affiliate foundational visit plans and other PAT supplemental materials, maintaining required service levels.
4. Ensure services focus on child development and parenting practices, activities to foster participant observation of their child's behavior and parent-child interaction, and family goals.
5. Complete required child development screenings as required by PAT.
6. Provide referrals and linkage to a wide variety of community resources to support family needs and goals.
7. Participate in monthly group connections for families.

job requirements
a. Education and Experience

1. High School Diploma or General Education Diploma (GED).
2. Minimum of 2 years of relevant work experience with children and families.
3. Demonstrated knowledge of MS365 Power Platform.

b. Additional Requirements

1. Must satisfactorily pass criminal history check.
2. Must satisfactorily pass tuberculosis (TB) test.
3. Must have reliable transportation and a valid Washington State driver's license (or be able to obtain one by date of employment).
4. Employees and volunteers who operate their own or Friends of Youth vehicles on Friends of Youth business, must have a safe driving record as defined by Friends of Youth.
5. Employees and volunteers who operate their own vehicle(s) on Friends of Youth business must carry auto liability insurance that complies with the requirements of Friends of Youth.
6. Must successfully complete the following health certification requirements within 30 days of employment: CPR, First Aid and Bloodborne Pathogens.
7. Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required. There are no exemptions.

c. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

1. Able to engage with diverse populations in a culturally responsive manner.
2. Demonstrate a commitment to the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion by honoring and celebrating diverse characteristics and expressions of personal identity.
3. Strong commitment to Friends of Youth's mission, vision, and values.
4. Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
5. Knowledge of coping skills, crisis intervention, and supportive strategies for individuals experiencing homelessness and trauma.
6. Strong group process and facilitation skills.
7. Able to communicate effectively with a wide range of professionals.
8. Able to maintain strong personal and professional boundaries.
9. Able to learn and implement relevant Council on Accreditation (COA) standards and participate in Performance and Quality Improvement (PQI) processes.
10. Knowledge of infant and child development.
11. Proficient skill set with Microsoft Office programs.

We offer:

• Generous time off including 15 vacation days per year, paid sick leave, 11 paid holidays, 2 social justice leave days per year for full-time employees
• Health insurance package including medical, dental, vision, 24/7 access to telehealth, long term disability and life insurance
• Retirement plan with match
• Transgender Health Benefits

Friends of Youth is committed to equity and creating a diverse and inclusive work environment as an equal opportunity employer. We welcome, honor, and celebrate our clients, colleagues, and communities' diverse identities and cultures. For more information, email hr@friendsofyouth.org.