Bilingual Family Support Specialist

Children's Hope Alliance•Morganton, NC

About The Position

The Bilingual Family Support Specialist (FSS) provides intensive, long-term, family-centered home visitation services through Catawba Valley Healthy Families, which uses the evidence-based Healthy Families America model. Services support pregnant families and families parenting children from birth to age five in Burke, Caldwell, McDowell, Catawba, and Iredell counties. Current program needs place the primary geographic focus in Burke and McDowell counties, with duties potentially extending across the service area. The FSS begins services during pregnancy or within three months of a child’s birth and builds trusting relationships while respecting diverse family structures and parenting practices. The specialist develops individualized plans that address family concerns and identify strengths, helps families set and achieve goals, and provides activities, education, and connections to resources to strengthen parent-child relationships, support healthy child development, and enhance family well-being. Home visits last at least one hour, and the role includes being available to families on call 24/7. The position also involves assessments and screenings, referrals and coordination with community agencies, appointment support, and timely documentation in the Family Wise Database and family files. The FSS participates in team meetings, individual supervision, trainings, and occasional outreach events. The role has no supervisory responsibilities. Frequent driving, carrying supplies, and working in active home environments are part of the job.

Requirements

Minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent.
Knowledge of infant and child development.
Experience working with or providing services to children and families.
Ability to diffuse difficult situations or confrontations and establish trusting relationships.
Knowledge of the dynamics of child abuse and neglect.
Ability to work with individuals and professionals from different disciplines and embrace family-centered, strength-based services.
Acceptance of individual differences and experience and humility working with culturally diverse families.
Willingness to build reflective capacity, including introspection, awareness of oneself in relation to others, and recognition of the value of supervision.
Proficient computer skills for communication, participant record documentation, and accessing and interpreting information.
Valid North Carolina driver’s license and maintained insurance coverage.
Must submit to and pass pre-employment drug screening, criminal, HCPR, and driving checks.
Ability to meet the physical demands of the role, including frequent driving, lifting or moving up to 30 pounds, kneeling, bending, reaching, sitting on the floor, reading, typing, writing, speaking, telephone use, and prolonged desk and computer work.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Child Development, Early Childhood, B-K, Human Services, Social Work, or a related child and family field.
At least one year of experience related to the program, or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
Bilingual Spanish/English abilities; preference is given to bilingual candidates.
Infant Mental Health Endorsement.

Responsibilities

Engage referred families and schedule, administer, document, and score the Family Resilience and Opportunities for Growth (FROG) initial assessment.
Provide regular, long-term family support through home visits lasting at least one hour and 24/7 on-call availability; respond to calls and texts, with occasional in-person support between scheduled visits as needed.
Build trusting relationships that honor diverse family structures and parenting practices.
Develop and regularly update an individualized Family Service Plan addressing needs identified through the FROG assessment and during services.
Help families set and achieve meaningful goals, and support parents in developing problem-solving, coping, and family advocacy skills.
Provide parent education using Partners for a Healthy Baby, Nurturing Program, Growing Great Kids, and supplemental curricula.
Use targeted activities, observation, and the parallel process to strengthen parent-child interactions and support healthy childhood growth and development.
Administer family screenings, including intimate partner violence, depression, and child development screenings (ASQ-3 / ASQ-SE), and make appropriate referrals.
Connect families with community agencies and maintain knowledge of local resources that may enhance family well-being.
Help families schedule and attend prenatal and postnatal care, well-child checkups, immunizations, and other appropriate appointments.
Attend CVHF staff meetings, weekly individual supervision meetings, group parent trainings, occasional community outreach events, and other required meetings and trainings.
Attend training upon hire and throughout employment; some training may require travel and overnight stays.
Document all family contact and maintain required screens, family data, referrals, and other records in the Family Wise Database and/or family files.
Assist parents in creating a goal plan within 45 days of enrollment and update it every six months.
Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.
Contribute to the organization’s mission; plan and prioritize work; complete required professional development; meet expectations for timely, accurate work; follow policies and procedures; communicate effectively; coordinate work with others; contribute to teamwork; and demonstrate cultural competence.