Bilingual Family Support Specialist

Job Description

Healthy Families Prince George's, an evidence-based home visiting program developed to support families as they prepare for and welcome new babies into their homes, is seeking a Bilingual Family Support Specialist for Healthy Families Prince George's. Must have knowledge of infant/child development, mental health and experience working with families. Strong problem-solving, interpersonal and communication skills are required, as well as a willingness to work with culturally diverse families and colleagues. A four-year degree is preferred but not required. Extensive training and supervision is provided.

This full-time job comes with an excellent benefits package including health insurance and retirement plan. There are opportunities for advancement.

Must have reliable transportation and be willing to use personal vehicle to conduct home visits. Mileage is reimbursed at the current rate as determined by the IRS.

Job Summary

Provide in home intervention to prenatal and pregnant mothers. Intervention includes teaching parenting skills, health education, appropriate mother-baby interaction, basic child development, infant care, and advocacy. Assess the need for referrals and perform case management duties as necessary. Goal of the program and intervention is to increase mother’s knowledge of infant care, to reduce risks for child abuse and neglect, ensure positive parent-child relationships, reduce poor birth outcomes, and prevent health and developmental problems of newborns.

Qualifications

• High school graduate (minimum education).
• Work experience in childcare, child development, home visiting, and /or relevant work with families and children.
• Access to reliable transportation, ability to work flexible hours.
• Motivated to work as a member of a culturally diverse team; bilingual skills may be necessary.
• An ability to establish trusting relationships and acceptance of individual differences
• Knowledge of infant and child development (physical, social and emotional development)

Specific Tasks

• Work with a minimum caseload of 15 families at a time.
• Develop a Family Goal Plan (FGP) with parents, presenting concerns specifically defined by the families.
• Conduct regular review and reassessment of service plan per program standards.
• Conduct home visits with each family focusing on positive parenting techniques according to level of intensity.
• Conduct an overall needs assessment.
• Refer all families at risk to appropriate intervention services and provide support for follow through to the client.
• Educate parents on nutrition and WIC services; facilitates access to WIC.
• Monitor and facilitate client participation in pre-natal care, including keeping medical appointments, and accessing birthing classes
• Educate families regarding smoking cessation, drug and alcohol use during pregnancy and, if needed, assist them in accessing treatment.
• Educate parents regarding the risk of sexually transmitted diseases and HIV during pregnancy, as well as the risk of prenatal transmission to their infants.
• Monitor and facilitate client participation in postpartum visits.
• Ensure and record process of accessing immunizations for children according to the EPDST schedule.
• Educate parents on the importance of early and continuous medical care; facilitate a positive relationship between family and a primary health provider.
• Help parents reach goals regarding self-sufficiency.
• Educate parents on the safety needs of their children and assist parents to child proof their home.
• Provide breast-feeding mothers with on going support and education.
• Discuss methods of contraception, both prenatal and postpartum; continue to teach values of family planning.
• Prepare appropriate client file documentation, statistics in a timely manner
• Assist in organizing monthly peer support group.
• Assure updating and completion of program curriculum.
• Assist, when needed, in training new FSSs.
• Work in collaboration with supervisor and management team in selection of new FSSs.
• Meet all programmatic goals for home visits.
• Assess families’ needs and help connect them to appropriate resources, ensuring their participation.
• Demonstrate the ability to work as part of a team and maintain professional interpersonal staff relationships.
• Work effectively with members of community agencies and demonstrate the ability to form community partnerships.

Responsibilities

• Engage families in a trusting, supportive, and empowering relationship
• Accurately document interventions, complete required paperwork, submit paperwork in a timely manner in accordance with program standards. Assist supervisors in the collection of program data.
• Completes time sheets, mileage sheets, reimbursement sheets accurately and submit on time to supervisor
• Participates in weekly team meetings, staff meetings and trainings
• Participates in individual and group supervision sessions
• Support day-to-day functions of program and organization.
• Frequent movement (sitting, standing, walking, driving, sitting on floor at home visits, and lifting less than 50 pounds)

Consistently follow Healthy Families policies and procedures

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: $32,000.00 /year

Pay: $40,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Tuition reimbursement

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Application Question(s):

• Home visitors use their own automobiles and travel throughout Prince George's County. Do you have access to reliable transportation so you can fulfill your job duties? (employees are reimbursed for mileage expenses)

Education:

• High school or equivalent (Required)

Experience:

• infant and toddler child development or home visiting: 1 year (Preferred)

Language:

• Spanish or French (Required)

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Hyattsville, MD 20783

Salary : $32,000 - $40,000