What are the responsibilities and job description for the Family Support Specialist position at Family & Childcare Resources of N.E.W.?
Family Support Specialists provide direct support and guidance to families, helping them access resources, build strengths, and achieve goals that promote well-being. Working as part of the Family Support team, this role delivers high-quality, evidence-based, and culturally responsive services. The Specialist engages families through outreach, education, and individualized support, while documenting services and outcomes in alignment with program standards.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES
- Provide direct family support services, including case management, referrals, and resource navigation.
- Conduct family intakes, assessments, and goal-setting sessions to identify needs and strengths.
- Deliver evidence-based and trauma-informed programming following the Parents as Teachers curriculum
- Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential documentation of all services provided.
- Assist families in accessing community resources such as childcare, healthcare, housing, employment, and educational supports.
- Foster positive relationships with families, promoting trust, empowerment, and engagement.
- Participate in team meetings, trainings, and supervision sessions to enhance service quality.
- Provide feedback to the Family Support Coordinator regarding program successes, challenges, and family outcomes.
- Support outreach and engagement efforts, representing the program at community events or partner meetings as needed.
- Uphold program fidelity by adhering to established models, policies, and procedures.
MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT USED
- Personal
- Computer & Printer
- Telephone
- Copy Machine
- Automobile
- Calculator
Education and Experience:
- Associate’s degree in human services, Social Work, Education, or related field (or equivalent combination of education and experience).
- 1–3 years of experience working directly with families, children, or in a human services setting.
- Knowledge of child development, family systems, and community resources.
- Experience with documentation, case management, or program participation tracking preferred.
- Bilingual skills (preferred, depending on community served).
Licenses and Certifications:
- Valid Wisconsin driver’s license and reliable means of transportation.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Ability to establish trusting, respectful, and culturally responsive relationships with families.
- Ability to cope with frequent exposure to stressful, or emotionally intense circumstances.
- Knowledge of local community services, benefits, and referral systems.
- Strong organizational and communication skills.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and adhere to ethical standards.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and data entry systems.
- Commitment to trauma-informed, strengths-based, and family-centered practices.
Physical Demands
- Frequent sitting.
- Intermittent standing, walking, stair climbing, bending and reaching.
- Infrequent stooping, kneeling and crouching.
- Frequent talking, hearing, and reading, requiring near vision, hand/eye coordination, depth perception and visual accommodation as in desk-to-computer screen work.
- Occasional lifting, pushing/pulling of objects weighing 10 lbs. or less.
- Intermittent handling of objects such as books and files.
- Frequent need for finger dexterity adequate to use a computer keyboard and calculator.
This position description should not be interpreted as all-inclusive. It is intended to identify the major responsibilities and requirements of this job. The incumbents may be requested to perform job-related responsibilities and tasks other than those stated in this description.