Familly Engagement Specialist

Iris Family Support Center•Elkhart, IN

About The Position

The Family Engagement Specialist provides structured, goal-oriented, time-limited services to families in natural environments, including homes, the community, and the office. Service lines include Supervised Visitation, Father Engagement, and Home-Based Casework. The specialist completes intakes, assessments, and ongoing case management for families referred by the Department of Child Services and Juvenile Probation, working with families to promote stabilization and child safety. Services use evidence-based practices and a trauma-informed approach. The specialist maintains an active caseload, works independently and as part of a team, and may be required to testify in court about services provided. The role involves frequent face-to-face work with families, including at least 20 hours of face-to-face services per week and a minimum of 50% of the work week dedicated to face-to-face service provision. Approximately 30% travel is expected, including daily travel within the assigned region and occasional in-state travel for training and meetings. The employee must work 40 hours each week and be available during designated core hours.

Requirements

One year of full-time experience in home management, home maintenance, and/or child care.
Reliable daily transportation for work and transporting others; vehicle operators must have a valid driver's license and proof of insurance.
Ability to maintain strict confidentiality in accordance with agency requirements.
Ability to work 40 hours per week and remain available during core hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.
Ability to meet the physical demands of the role, including climbing and maneuvering stairs and narrow spaces; tolerating strong odors; lifting and physically manipulating up to 60 pounds; reading in poorly lit areas; operating standard office equipment and a motor vehicle; and responding rapidly to rescue a child.
Ability to evaluate sounds, interactions, movements, and environmental safety using sight, hearing, and smell, including assessing potential child abuse and neglect.
Ability to communicate with and teach parents and children with varying intellectual capabilities.
Ability to work in environments where exposure to infectious diseases, substances, and contaminated articles may occur.
Communication skills, both verbal and written.
Relationship- and rapport-building skills.
Ethical practice and a trauma-informed approach.
Critical thinking, resiliency, continuous learning, personal accountability, and problem-solving skills.
Demonstrates maturity.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with families, parents, or children in a human service organization.
Life or job experience caring for children.

Responsibilities

Maintain an active caseload and meet productivity requirements and service contract outcomes.
Provide crisis intervention, intakes and family assessments, safety planning, treatment planning, interventions, and aftercare planning.
Complete Motivational Interviewing certification within the first 90 days of employment and required training in Nurturing Parenting, Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and 24/7 Dads within 12 months.
Provide multiple hours of in-home services each week and complete at least 20 hours of face-to-face services weekly.
Collaborate with referral sources, courts, DCS, probation, foster parents, guardians ad litem, CASA volunteers, colleagues, supervisors, and team members.
Complete assessments, clinical recommendations, progress notes, treatment plans, monthly reports, and other required paperwork in the appropriate databases by established deadlines.
Implement evidence-based models and meet required fidelity measures and timeframes.
Use customer service strategies and creative outreach to engage and enroll clients, including visits, drop-ins, calls, texts, and social media.
Build and maintain emotionally supportive, nonjudgmental, trusting relationships with parents, using independent judgment and adapting services as needed.
Establish and regularly review case plans with clients, setting goals, objectives, and activities based on referral-source, staff, and client-identified needs.
Help clients achieve case-plan goals, incorporate client feedback, and exercise discretion in selecting appropriate actions.
Advocate for clients and connect families with additional community resources and services.
Learn and implement Motivational Interviewing, 24/7 Dads, Trust Based Relational Intervention, and Nurturing Parenting.
Provide client transportation as needed to achieve program and case-plan goals.
Provide crisis assistance as needed, including hands-on lice treatments.
Teach and model approved parenting techniques and, as appropriate, home management, financial management, childcare, discipline, nutrition, and personal skills.
Immediately report cases involving imminent or threatened harm to a supervisor.
Attend 8 to 12 in-service training sessions annually and continually develop customer service and case management skills.
Meet with the supervisor as required and collaborate with supervisors and team members on customer service practices.
Attend court hearings, case conferences, team and department meetings, and other required meetings.
Travel within the assigned region, which includes Allen, Whitley, DeKalb, Noble, Steuben, and LaGrange Counties.
Submit mileage and enter payroll on time each week.
Perform other duties as assigned.