What are the responsibilities and job description for the Family Support Worker position at Morris Heights Health Center?
Position Overview
Healthy Families Morris Heights is a voluntary, primary prevention home visiting program funded by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) and affiliated with Healthy Families America (HFA). The program provides intensive home visiting services to expectant parents and families with newborns residing in Bronx zip codes 10452, 10453, 10467, and 10468. Services continue until the child enters Head Start or turns 5 years old.
The program’s goal is to prevent child abuse and neglect by promoting child health and development, positive parent-child interactions, and family self-sufficiency.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
Under supervision, the Family Support Worker (FSW) is responsible for:
Qualifications
Education & Training: Preferred: Associate’s or bachelor’s degree in human services, Public Health, Social Work, Psychology, or a related field.
Healthy Families Morris Heights is a voluntary, primary prevention home visiting program funded by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) and affiliated with Healthy Families America (HFA). The program provides intensive home visiting services to expectant parents and families with newborns residing in Bronx zip codes 10452, 10453, 10467, and 10468. Services continue until the child enters Head Start or turns 5 years old.
The program’s goal is to prevent child abuse and neglect by promoting child health and development, positive parent-child interactions, and family self-sufficiency.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
Under supervision, the Family Support Worker (FSW) is responsible for:
- Providing intensive home visiting services on a regular basis until the child begins school.
- Conducting initial and ongoing family assessments to monitor progress and needs.
- Completing a Family Goal Plan with each family and supporting goal achievement.
- Maintaining accurate and timely documentation of all visits, contacts, activities, and referrals.
- Building strong, professional, and confidential relationships with families.
- Empowering families to problem-solve and increase their self-sufficiency.
- Conducting outreach activities (e.g., baby showers, calls, mailings, street outreach) to engage and retain participants.
- Submitting a minimum of 5 home visit documentation entries to the supervisor weekly.
- Acting as a liaison/advocate for participants with outside agencies (education, health, housing, legal, etc.)
- Supporting recruitment efforts by conducting outreach in the community (e.g., businesses, schools, clinics).
- May accompany new staff on training home visits and assist participants in benefit/entitlement applications.
- Administering and scoring the Parent Survey tool (after training).
- Attending required trainings and applying program model standards.
- Working occasional evenings and weekends for program events.
- Being prepared to encounter household pets, pests, or communicable illnesses in client homes.
- Adhering to Healthy Families America model fidelity and all organizational policies and procedures.
Qualifications
Education & Training: Preferred: Associate’s or bachelor’s degree in human services, Public Health, Social Work, Psychology, or a related field.
- Acceptable: High School Diploma/GED with relevant experience in home visiting, early childhood, or family support.
- Minimum 1 year of administrative or social services experience, preferably in a healthcare or community-based setting.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
- Experience with HRIS systems (e.g., ADP) a plus.
- Willingness to learn new software and data systems.
- Interpersonal & Communication: Ability to build trusting relationships with participants and work collaboratively with colleagues.
- Problem Solving: Ability to assess situations, gather information, and develop logical, culturally appropriate responses.
- Language Skills: Strong verbal and written English communication; bilingual (Spanish, French, etc.) preferred.
- Literacy Skills: Able to write service plans, assessments, notes, and reports.
- Mathematical Skills: Ability to apply basic math, including percentages and averages.
- Technical Skills: Must be comfortable using electronic systems and data entry tools.
- Must be willing and able to conduct home and field visits year-round in various weather conditions.
- May be exposed to household pets, pests, and communicable illnesses in participant homes.
- Occasional lifting (up to 25 lbs) may be required.