Family Development Specialist

Established in 1926, Family Service League is a social services agency transforming lives and communities through mental health, addiction, housing, and essential human services with more than 60 social service programs in over 20 locations.

SCHEDULE

Monday – Friday, 8:30AM – 4:30PM

SUMMARY:

Family Service League is seeking a full time Family Development Specialist (FDS) for our Home Safe program. The FDS will be responsible for direct service to parents with child protective service involvement, completing program documentation as necessary, and tracking program milestones and outcomes. They will work in accordance with, DSS and FSL parameters. The FDS will document all client interactions, act as part of an interdisciplinary team as necessary, meet families individual needs, and be well informed about community resources.

We offer a generous benefits package including the following:

• Health and Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Retirement Savings Plan with a 5% employer contribution 
• Life and AD&D Insurance
• Generous PTO (paid time off)
• Up to 11 paid Holidays
• Paid Sick Leave
• Student Tuition Remission Program
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Company paid Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
• Employee Discounts and more!

RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Conduct linkage, coordination, advocacy and mentoring.
• Focus services on goal achievement surrounding the factors that contributed to the family's involvement with child protective services.
• Work with clients in a culturally and linguistically responsive manner.
• Utilize Motivational Interviewing to facilitate change.
• Carry a caseload of 14 families that are visited weekly.
• Utilize the FAST assessment to aid in goals development and assist family in goal achievement.
• Provide parenting education.
• Help parents satisfy court mandates.
• Increase family self-sufficiency to avoid placement or aid in return of children.
• Communicate all crisis situations to the Program Coordinator and skill builder (as applicable).
• Conduct home visits throughout Suffolk County.
• Complete prompt and accurate documentation.
• All other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

High School diploma with at least 4 years experience with families in a related capacity, or a Bachelor's Degree with 2 years’ experience required. 

Candidate must possess the ability to work with diverse populations, as well as, engage both youth and parents in service delivery. 

Excellent interpersonal and verbal and written communication skills required. 

Candidate must have knowledge of community resources, possess sound judgement, be reliable, flexible and have the ability to multitask. 

Proficient computer skills, including Microsoft Office required. 

Bilingual in Spanish preferred.

Valid and clean New York State Driver’s License and owns a car that is properly insured, registered and maintained to drive from worksite to worksite required.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

 This position requires sitting for long periods of time at a computer and travelling to conduct home visits.