Family Support Specialist FT

The Family Support Specialist (FSS) is a peer with shared lived experience who works with parents and caregivers raising a child with emotional, behavioral, mental health, developmental or other health challenges. The FSS role is to support parents and caregivers navigate complex systems of care by assisting families in navigating social service and child and family serving systems, connecting them with resources, providing navigational support through complex systems and providing support to improve family well-being, protective factors, and child development. The FSS uses lived and living experience as a parent and professional training and practice of FSS core competencies to provide consultation and coaching to develop and improve parent/caregiver partnerships with system providers and maximize parent/caregiver voice, choice, and involvement in driving the services and supports for their child/youth or family. FSS’s work in a variety of system environments and support the unique needs of families by using consistent and unified principles of the Family Support practice and competencies. Family Support Specialists serve as a connector and synthesizer between the parent/caregiver experience navigating systems and actionable feedback for agencies and policy makers. FSS serve as trusted guides for families and collaborative partners with system providers across multiple sectors such as behavioral health, education, health and healthcare, community based organizations, juvenile justice and developmental disabilities.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Direct Family Support (60%)

• Offer culturally responsive, non-judgmental, and linguistically appropriate support to families.
• Use personal lived and living experience and professional knowledge to provide family support guided by best practices and approved Family Support Core Competencies.
• Facilitate access and participation of parents/caregivers in systems of care and support engagement throughout the youth and family planning process.

• Explore and identify the strengths, needs, cultural background, and vision of the child and family.
• Attend and actively participate in child and family team meetings to ensure the family’s voice is heard and respected.
• Support parents in navigating multiple child and family systems including educational supports such as Individualized Education Programs (IEP), Section 504 plans, etc.
• Encourage open discussion and help the family and team address concerns in a collaborative, strengths-based manner.
• Model effective, respectful communication and help families reframe concerns constructively.
• Serve as a consistent source of encouragement, hope, and support throughout the family’s journey.
• Maintain a supportive and positive approach, avoiding blame or shame while promoting family-friendly environments.
• Follow through on agreed tasks and maintain consistent communication based on the family’s plan and evolving needs.
• Assist families in identifying and connecting with natural supports in their community.
• Support parents/caregivers in addressing sensitive topics and managing respectful communication with providers.
• Uphold clear personal and professional boundaries to maintain safety and the integrity of the family support peer role.
• Participate regularly in both peer and clinical supervision to support role effectiveness and development.

System Advocacy and Community Engagement (20%)

• Participate in policy committees and workgroups as requested to effect system improvement, integration, and collaboration.
• Represent core organization and program values and principles in all work settings and maintain two way communication to build stronger relationships between families and system providers.

• Provide active participation at local and state levels to expand recognition of the family support workforce and strengthen peer delivered services and the value of a family driven system.
• Gather stories and insights from families and help translate real life experiences into actional feedback for system providers.
• Serve as cultural ambassadors to identified communities to support increased engagement and contribute to a broader representation of family experiences that inform systemic change and amplifies marginalized voices.

Administrative (20%)

• Produce and maintain accurate and timely documentation according to assigned work (e.g., scheduled reports, timesheets, progress notes, documentation).
• Attend organizational meetings and required trainings
• Maintain THW certification and other certifications as needed
• Maintain assigned office and community-based work schedule. (80% in person & 20% virtually)

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide a variety of supportive services for parents/caregivers (e.g., support groups, family activities, recognition events, outreach, training).
• Provide family support using a variety of platforms such as in person meetings, warm line, support groups, family discussions, listening sessions, parent advisory council engagement and policy level advocacy.

• Assist with and attend special events and programs to support the vision of the organization.
• Maintain local resource information for families to access independently.
• Participate in family respite events as needed, including working directly with children and youth.
• Develop and maintain constructive and positive relationships as a member of a team, demonstrating qualities of dependability, empathy, genuineness, respect as a team member and as a peer.
• Other duties as assigned or needed by the organization.

  The Family Support Specialist (FSS) is a peer with shared lived experience who works with parents and caregivers raising a child with emotional, behavioral, mental health, developmental or other health challenges. The FSS role is to support parents and caregivers navigate complex systems of care by assisting families in navigating social service and child and family serving systems, connecting them with resources, providing navigational support through complex systems and providing support to improve family well-being, protective factors, and child development. The FSS uses lived and living experience as a parent and professional training and practice of FSS core competencies to provide consultation and coaching to develop and improve parent/caregiver partnerships with system providers and maximize parent/caregiver voice, choice, and involvement in driving the services and supports for their child/youth or family. FSS’s work in a variety of system environments and support the unique needs of families by using consistent and unified principles of the Family Support practice and competencies. Family Support Specialists serve as a connector and synthesizer between the parent/caregiver experience navigating systems and actionable feedback for agencies and policy makers. FSS serve as trusted guides for families and collaborative partners with system providers across multiple sectors such as behavioral health, education, health and healthcare, community based organizations, juvenile justice and developmental disabilities.

  ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

  Direct Family Support (60%)

• Offer culturally responsive, non-judgmental, and linguistically appropriate support to families.
• Use personal lived and living experience and professional knowledge to provide family support guided by best practices and approved Family Support Core Competencies.
• Facilitate access and participation of parents/caregivers in systems of care and support engagement throughout the youth and family planning process.
• Explore and identify the strengths, needs, cultural background, and vision of the child and family.
• Attend and actively participate in child and family team meetings to ensure the family’s voice is heard and respected.
• Support parents in navigating multiple child and family systems including educational supports such as Individualized Education Programs (IEP), Section 504 plans, etc.
• Encourage open discussion and help the family and team address concerns in a collaborative, strengths-based manner.
• Model effective, respectful communication and help families reframe concerns constructively.
• Serve as a consistent source of encouragement, hope, and support throughout the family’s journey.
• Maintain a supportive and positive approach, avoiding blame or shame while promoting family-friendly environments.
• Follow through on agreed tasks and maintain consistent communication based on the family’s plan and evolving needs.
• Assist families in identifying and connecting with natural supports in their community.
• Support parents/caregivers in addressing sensitive topics and managing respectful communication with providers.
• Uphold clear personal and professional boundaries to maintain safety and the integrity of the family support peer role.
• Participate regularly in both peer and clinical supervision to support role effectiveness and development.

• System Advocacy and Community Engagement (20%)

• Participate in policy committees and workgroups as requested to effect system improvement, integration, and collaboration.
• Represent core organization and program values and principles in all work settings and maintain two way communication to build stronger relationships between families and system providers.
• Provide active participation at local and state levels to expand recognition of the family support workforce and strengthen peer delivered services and the value of a family driven system.
• Gather stories and insights from families and help translate real life experiences into actional feedback for system providers.
• Serve as cultural ambassadors to identified communities to support increased engagement and contribute to a broader representation of family experiences that inform systemic change and amplifies marginalized voices.

• Administrative (20%)

• Produce and maintain accurate and timely documentation according to assigned work (e.g., scheduled reports, timesheets, progress notes, documentation).
• Attend organizational meetings and required trainings
• Maintain THW certification and other certifications as needed
• Maintain assigned office and community-based work schedule. (80% in person & 20% virtually)

• OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide a variety of supportive services for parents/caregivers (e.g., support groups, family activities, recognition events, outreach, training).
• Provide family support using a variety of platforms such as in person meetings, warm line, support groups, family discussions, listening sessions, parent advisory council engagement and policy level advocacy.
• Assist with and attend special events and programs to support the vision of the organization.
• Maintain local resource information for families to access independently.
• Participate in family respite events as needed, including working directly with children and youth.
• Develop and maintain constructive and positive relationships as a member of a team, demonstrating qualities of dependability, empathy, genuineness, respect as a team member and as a peer.
• Other duties as assigned or needed by the organization.

• 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 demonstrate flexibility in available hours to meet the needs of families.
• 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 ability to use, Microsoft Office (such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint), database, electronic health record software, and virtual platforms (such as Zoom and Google Meets).