FAMILY SUPPORT SPECIALIST

The Family Support Specialist (FSS) is responsible for initiating and maintaining regular and long-term (up to three or five years) contact and support with families. This activity will occur primarily within the family’s home; each visit should last for at least one hour. The interventions should be family-centered, strength-based, and directed at establishing a trusting relationship; strengthening the parent-child relationship; promoting healthy childhood growth and development; and enhancing family well-being by reducing risk and building protective factors. The FSS partners with families honor diverse family structures and parenting practices. Activities may also include but are not limited to administering the Family Resilience and Opportunities for Growth Scale (FROG) Scale; administering screening tools such as the ASQ, ASQ-SE, Depression Screens etc.; identifying and referring families for other supportive services, including health care services. The FSS will also be responsible for assisting the family in establishing goals and supporting them throughout this process and is responsible for implementing activities outlined on the Family Service Plan to address areas of concern that were identified on the FROG scale. 

 Responsibilities: 

• Accepts case management responsibilities in assessing client needs; planning, coordinating, and organizing care both within and outside the agency; and referring clients to other services as needed.
• Initiates appropriate preventative teaching, refers clients to access appropriate community resources and is an advocate for families.
• Actively participates in a multidisciplinary team approach by providing family focused care. 
• Communicates appropriately verbally and in writing with clients, staff, health care providers, referral sources, funding sources and other community resources.
• Evaluates effectiveness and outcomes of client care.
• Promotes collaboration with clients and families. Develops, implements, evaluates, and revises a service plan. 
• Provides family-centered, strength-based home visits directed toward improving family functioning, knowledge of child growth/development and parent-child interactions.
• Communicates appropriately verbally and in writing with clients, staff, health care providers, referral sources, funding sources and other community resources.
• Assists families in establishing goals and accomplishing those goals.
• Meets all the documentation and productivity standards including outcomes of care as identified by the agency. 
• Respects and maintains client confidentiality.
• Functions independently with minimal supervision.
• Promotes a positive working environment for program staff and the agency.

 Requirements: 

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, Human Services, Early Childhood Development, or related field preferred. Coursework and experience may be considered in lieu of degree but must be a high school graduate.
• Certified in Basic Life Support
• Experience collaborating with community agencies, including implementing a referral process. Ability to interact with a multidisciplinary team and other providers involved in the care of clients. 
• Possess maturity and experience working with or providing services to children and families with children 0-5 years of age. 1-2 years’ experience working with families in a home setting. Must have knowledge of infant and child development.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including ability to effectively communicate with internal and external customers. Ability to present information and respond to questions from employees, clients, managers, and public.
• Excellent computer proficiency. (MS Office – Word, Excel and Outlook)
• Able to work under pressure and meet deadlines, while maintaining a positive attitude and providing exemplary customer service.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish strongly preferred but not required.