Family Preservation Specialist

Wellpoint Care Network•Milwaukee, WI

3h•Hybrid

About The Position

At Wellpoint Care Network, our mission is to facilitate equity, learning, healing, and wellness by restoring the connections that help children and families thrive. Every person deserves the opportunity to reach their fullest potential. It’s part of human nature, and the promise of our country, that everyone be given a fair chance to be and do their best. Yet, many in our community live with unresolved childhood and generational trauma. We believe we can create a world where children and families have a clearer path to their fullest potential. Wellpoint Care Network has championed the restoration of families for nearly 175 years. Our next Family Preservation Specialist will use evidence-based assessments and services to improve family functioning for clients in Wellpoint Care Network’s In-home and ongoing Child Welfare programs. The Family Preservation Specialist consistently delivers high-quality direct services including support, guidance, visit coaching, mentoring, and education offered to parents who are receiving supervised family interaction sessions, parenting skill building interventions, basic home management, and life skills services.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Human Services/Social Work or related field required.
At least three years’ work experience in child welfare or social service setting.
Ability to lift and carry young children and car seats.
Proficient in the usage of computer software; demonstrate an understanding of computer file systems and computer software packages, e.g., Microsoft Office, Excel, Outlook, Teams, ADP, etc.
Must be honest, dependable, and able to meet deadlines; Self-motivated and able to work independently.
Physical exam, drug screen, motor vehicle report, and background checks are required for this position.
A valid Wisconsin Driver’s License or occupational driver’s license, reliable transportation and insurance is required.
Personal vehicle must be available for daily use.
Vehicle must be able to accommodate at least two children in car seats.

Nice To Haves

Experience in child welfare settings and in-home work preferred.

Responsibilities

Utilizes assessment information to establish relevant, strengths-oriented family goals that are in line with primary goals of child safety and improved family functioning. Ensures that progress towards family goals are documented, at minimum, monthly.
Delivers high-quality direct services including support, guidance, visit coaching, mentoring, and education offered to parents who are receiving supervised family interaction sessions, parenting skill building assistance, basic home management, and life skills services; examples of these services include but not limited to, crisis management during family interaction sessions; mediation and negotiation between family members; and basic parenting education and intervention.
Facilitates families’ connections to necessary community services as additional needs arise or that are identified as a risk in the assessment process.
Provides updates on family progress to all relevant staffing or planning meetings (i.e., permanency staffing, 45-day staffing, family team meetings, etc.).
Facilitates ongoing conversations with parents to identify informal supports to move towards a family-like setting with supervision of the visit coming from a natural support.
Effectively advocates for the needs and interests of families who are receiving supervised family interaction sessions through the Family Preservation program. Assesses family strengths and areas of need during family interaction sessions and one-on-one meetings with parents.
Maintains productive and respectful relationships with all team members and is proactive in facilitating regular and frequent contact with service providers. Maintains a highly professional and credible demeanor in all interactions. Delivers well-prepared and accurate testimony to legal parties and/or court proceedings, to include describing family progress that has been observed during family interaction sessions.
Articulates and makes appropriate recommendations for additional supports and services for families when identified as an area of need.
Communicates clearly and effectively with Case Management team regarding recommended changes to the Family Interaction Plan.
Facilitates learning opportunities for parents to build skills to ensure safety over time through increased challenges and independence.
Transitions services to community providers, family members and other natural/informal supports based on assessment and communication with team.
Demonstrates a solid understanding of the concepts of child safety and parental protective capacities. Is attuned and responsive to indicators of child safety in all interactions.
Actively seeks out information to contribute to safety assessment through interacting with all children in the home, all caregivers, any regular visitors to the home, and directly seeking relevant information from the family’s team.
Immediately intervenes upon threats to child safety and reports those threats to appropriate parties. Fully cooperates with any investigation of child maltreatment.
Provides accurate and professional documentation of family interaction sessions and one-on-one client meetings in all established data collecting systems.
Maintains client files in accordance with program policies and complies with audits as requested.
Completes paperwork within established due dates.
Performs transportation/driving services for client/children who are participating in family interaction sessions when needed and follows all laws, rules, and regulations while driving.
Provides transportation for client/children at various locations based on the needs of each family; some transports may arise without much notice.
Monitors client/child behaviors and maintains an awareness of the client/child’s well-being before, during and after transport, reporting any suspected child abuse or neglect as required by the mandatory reporter regulations. Using child safety discretion intervenes to ensure safety of families.
Professionally interacts with representatives from schools, foster homes, day care providers, etc. when providing transportation.
Using professional judgement offers recommendations and implements appropriate trauma informed care interventions with children as needed in order to help reduce any stress or anxiety through the transition from home/school to family interaction sessions.
All employees will be evaluated on their demonstration of a consistent commitment to the Agency’s Seven Essential Ingredients, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and engagement in the strategic initiatives of the organization. This will be measured by their active participation in committees and workgroups, and by their communication and practice within their daily work and in the community.
Participates in assigned meetings, events and learning as required.
Other duties as assigned, including serving in a coverage role for other department members.