Familly Engagement Specialist

Iris Family Support Center•South Bend, IN

About The Position

The Family Engagement Specialist provides structured, goal-oriented, time-limited services in families’ natural environments, including homes, communities, and offices. The position delivers Supervised Visitation, Father Engagement, and Home-Based Casework services to families referred by the Department of Child Services and Juvenile Probation. The specialist completes intakes, assessments, and ongoing case management to support family stabilization and child safety, using trauma-informed and evidence-based practices. The role maintains an active caseload and may require court testimony regarding services provided. The specialist works independently and as part of a team to help families achieve case-plan goals while maintaining child safety. Services include face-to-face work with families, case planning and documentation, outreach, advocacy, referrals to community resources, parenting and home-management education, crisis assistance, and transportation when needed. At least 50% of the work week is dedicated to face-to-face family services, with a scorecard expectation of 20 face-to-face service hours weekly. Approximately 30% travel is expected within the assigned region, with occasional in-state travel for training and meetings. The employee must work 40 hours each week and be available during core hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. Some flexibility in hours is allowed.

Requirements

One year of full-time experience in home management, home maintenance, and/or child care.
Life or job experience caring for children.
Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Relationship- and rapport-building skills.
Ethical practice and a trauma-informed approach.
Critical-thinking and problem-solving skills.
Resiliency, continuous learning, and personal accountability.
Demonstrated maturity.
Reliable daily transportation for work use and transporting others; vehicle operators must have a valid driver’s license and proof of insurance.
Ability to maintain strict confidentiality under agency requirements.
Ability to travel within all counties in the assigned region, including Allen, Whitley, DeKalb, Noble, Steuben, and LaGrange Counties.
Ability to work 40 hours weekly and be available during core hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
Ability to meet the physical demands of the position, including lifting and physically manipulating up to 60 pounds; navigating steps, narrow hallways, and small rooms; tolerating strong odors; reading in poorly lit areas; operating standard office equipment and a motor vehicle; evaluating environmental safety and potential child abuse or neglect; and responding rapidly to rescue a child.
Ability to communicate with and teach parents and children with varying intellectual capabilities.
Ability to work in environments that may involve infectious diseases, substances, contaminated articles, and safety precautions.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with families, parents, or children in a human service organization is preferred.

Responsibilities

Maintain a caseload that meets productivity requirements and agency expectations.
Provide services including crisis intervention, intake and family assessments, safety planning, treatment planning, interventions and activities to help families meet goals, and aftercare planning.
Complete Motivational Interviewing certification within the first 90 days of employment.
Complete training expectations for Nurturing Parenting, Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and 24/7 Dads within 12 months of employment.
Provide multiple hours of in-home services per week and dedicate at least 50% of the work week to face-to-face family services.
Collaborate with courts, the Department of Child Services, probation, foster parents, guardians ad litem, CASA volunteers, colleagues, and other referral sources to support family goals.
Complete assessments, clinical recommendations, progress notes, treatment plans, monthly reports, and other required documentation accurately and on time.
Implement evidence-based models and meet required fidelity measures and timeframes.
Use customer-service strategies to promote client engagement and satisfaction; conduct outreach to enroll clients in services.
Complete scheduled appointments within the requirements of the applicable program.
Build emotionally supportive, nonjudgmental, trusting relationships with parents and adjust approaches using independent judgment as needed.
Use communication models to identify and address breakdowns in client interactions.
Develop and periodically review and revise case plans with clients, incorporating referral-source, staff, and client-identified needs and goals.
Help clients achieve case-plan goals and objectives within established timeframes while incorporating client feedback.
Use discretion and judgment to identify actions for achieving goals, including through direct contact with clients, government entities, agencies, and courts.
Advocate for clients and connect families with community resources and services.
Learn and implement Motivational Interviewing, 24/7 Dads, Trust Based Relational Intervention, and Nurturing Parenting.
Complete required paperwork in applicable databases, formats, and deadlines.
Adapt to changing priorities, deadlines, and duties.
Provide client transportation as needed to meet program and case-plan goals.
Assist with crisis needs as required, including hands-on lice treatments.
Teach and model parenting techniques using approved methods and materials.
Teach home management, financial management, childcare, discipline, nutrition, and personal skills as appropriate.
Immediately report cases involving imminent or threatened harm to a supervisor.
Attend 8 to 12 in-service training sessions annually and continuously develop customer-service and case-management skills.
Meet with a supervisor as required by service standards, department requirements, and supervision best practices.
Work with supervisors and team members to implement customer-service best practices.
Attend court hearings, case conferences, team and department meetings, and other required meetings.
Complete 20 hours of face-to-face services weekly and meet service-contract and agency outcomes.
Submit mileage and enter payroll on time each week.
Perform other duties as assigned.