Description

The Family Support Specialist (FSS) is a peer with shared lived experience who works with families raising a child with emotional, behavioral, mental health, developmental or other health challenges. The FSS role is to support the family, help them to engage and actively participate on their team and/or treatment process and make informed decisions that drive the process. The FSS uses personal and professional life experience to provide consultation and coaching to increase awareness and improve parent/caregiver-professional partnerships and maximize parent/caregiver voice, choice, and involvement. FSS’s work in a variety of environments, such as Wraparound, Community and Transition Services (CATS), Community Based programs, Reach Out Oregon parent warm line, Rapid Response, Caring Contacts, etc. and support the unique needs of families by using consistent and unified principles of the Family Support practice and competencies.

Qualifications

• Direct experience as a parent or primary caregiver who has navigated multiple child-serving agencies, including but not limited to, mental health, addiction treatment services, child welfare.
• Must be able to meet all state requirements and be registered as a Traditional Health Worker with a worker type of Family Support Specialist within 6 months of hire.
• Ability to articulate the experience and perspective of a parent/caregiver of a child with complex needs to build mutuality with families.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, and ability to present and work with diverse audiences, specifically racial, ethnic, gender expression, socioeconomic, education, spiritual and alternative cultural backgrounds.
• Must be able to pass preemployment requirements, which includes a criminal and abuse background check.
• Must be able to work with multiple projects within tight timelines and deadlines.
• Demonstrate excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to work independently and part of a team.

• Have reliable transportation, valid and current automobile insurance, and an insurable driving record, or access to reliable transportation.

• Comprehensive knowledge of, or the ability to use, Microsoft Office (such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and online platforms (such as Zoom and Google Meets).
• Comprehensive knowledge of, or ability to use, Microsoft Office (such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint), database, electronic health record software, and virtual platforms (such as Zoom and Google Meets)."