Family Support and Resource Specialist

Position Title: Family Support and Resource Specialist

Position Overview:

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. Virtual visits may take place as needed. 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 and honors 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.

The Family Resource Specialist (FRS) is responsible for completing the validated Family Resilience and Opportunities for Growth (FROG) Scale with families to identify family strengths and areas to address at the start of services with parents. The FROG Scale is a family-centered tool used to identify the presence of both protective factors that promote resilience and factors associated with increased risk of child maltreatment or other adverse childhood experiences. The FROG Scale is administered objectively and reliably, and in a relationship-building, conversational style. The FRS must have good communication and writing skills and knowledgeable of community resources to offer referrals to the appropriate community-based agencies, depending on the family’s needs.

Selection Criteria for Family Support and Resource Specialist:

• minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent, college coursework preferred
• experience in working with or providing services to children and their families
• an ability to establish trusting relationships
• acceptance of individual differences
• experience and humility to work with the culturally diverse families
• knowledge of infant and child development
• willing to engage in building reflective capacity (e.g., capacity for introspection, communicating awareness of self in relation to others, recognizing value of supervision, etc.)

Major Areas of Responsibility

• Through your home visiting with each family, focus on the three Home Visiting goals during each visit:
• Goal 1: Cultivate and strengthen nurturing parent-child relationships.
• Goal 2: Promote healthy childhood growth and development.
• Goal 3: Enhance family functioning by reducing risk and building protective factors.
• During each home visit, engage with the family by maintaining a strength-based and family-centered perspective. Use reflective strategies to build rapport and build on the strengths that each family possess.
• Complete required documentation (home visit records, service plans, progress reports, case notes, Release of Information, family data).
• Create a Family Goal Plan with each family and always maintain an active family goal. The goal should be led by the family and include their own goals.
• Talk with each family about possible community-based resources that may be a good fit for the family and make referrals.
• Receive weekly reflective supervision from Program Director.

Standard Competency Areas:

Taking Responsibility:

• Completes assignments in a thorough, accurate, and timely manner
• Sets an example for and adheres to agency policies and procedures
• Handles multiple responsibilities in an effective manner
• Uses work time productively
• Attends, participates in, and is on time for assigned meetings

Customer Focus:

• Is dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal (Healthy Foundations and Shelter Teams and leadership) and external customers (community partners, families).
• Acts with customers in mind
• Establishes and maintains effective relationships with both internal and external customers and gains their trust and respect
• Goes above and beyond to anticipate customer needs and responds accordingly

Problem-Solving:

• Identifies and analyzes problems
• Formulates alternative solutions
• Takes or recommends appropriate actions
• Follows up to ensure problems are resolved

Collaboration/Teamwork:

• Uses diplomacy and tact to maintain harmonious and effective work relationships with co-workers and constituents
• Adapts to changing priorities and demands
• Actively shares information and resources with others to promote positive and collaborative work relationships
• Supports agency values through daily work
• Supports the agency’s strategic direction
• Has an overall understanding and commitment to their role and contribution to the team

Communication/Interpersonal Skills:

• Can effectively communicate and influence others to meet organizational goals
• Shares information openly and proactively for the betterment of the organization
• Relates well to all kinds of people
• Manages conflict situations in a mature and professional manner
• Can speak well and write effectively

Other:

• Seeks out relevant training, and is willing to participate in suggested training
• Maintains a professional work environment through attendance, attire, performance of assigned duties, and respectful and open communication
• Strictly protects the confidentiality of information concerning families and children in services, donors, volunteers, board members, and WCS employees according to agency policy and all applicable state and federal confidentiality laws
• Attends networking or key social events as a representative of the organization as needed or assigned
• Position may require in-state trave as necessary or as deemed appropriate by the Program Director, or Executive Director
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Supervisor, Program Director, or Executive Director

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $20.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Mileage reimbursement
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person

Salary : $20