Family Specialist

FamilyWise•Minneapolis, MN

10d•Hybrid

About The Position

FamilyWise is hiring a Family Specialist to work as part of a multidisciplinary team to provide parent education and therapeutic coaching to clients referred by County systems. Services occur in-home or at community sites in a 1:1 format with a parent and/or families. The goals of the programs are to eliminate child abuse and neglect by parents, improve parenting skills, and reunify children with their parents when possible.

Requirements

A Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Development, Child Psychology, Family Social Science, Special Education, or a related human service field (2-year degree with 2+ years of experience providing parenting services also considered).
2-3 years of experience in child development, abuse/neglect services, or parent education using intervention methods for children with special needs.
Previous experience working with culturally and racially diverse populations in lower socio-economic conditions.
Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
The ability to maintain a good working relationship with all co-workers and the general public.
The ability to use good judgment in recognizing the scope of authority.
Excellent written and oral communication skills.
The ability to work evenings and weekends as needed.
A thorough understanding of parenting and child development issues.
A strong work ethic and desire to work in a team-oriented environment.
The ability to work independently, establish priorities, and meet deadlines.
The ability to travel to client sites within a 15-mile radius of the office.
A valid driver’s license, access to reliable transportation, and the ability to meet FamilyWise’s driving record requirements. Please note that if the license was not issued in the state of Minnesota, you have 60 days after becoming a Minnesota resident in which to apply for your Minnesota driver's license or permit.

Nice To Haves

Being bilingual in Hmong, Somali, Spanish, or other languages is highly valued.

Responsibilities

Provide a secure and neutral environment for parents and their children.
Assess parent/family social, emotional, and cognitive skills.
Teach parent education sessions based on curriculum and expertise.
Conduct parenting observations and provide parents feedback on their interaction skills.
Model appropriate social skills for parents and their children.
Provide life skills education to increase parental capacity for positive family dynamics.
Prepare timely monthly written reports.
Attend all appropriate collateral meetings with counselors and referring agencies.
Develop and implement service plans with clients.
Coordinate and communicate with county workers, referring partners, and other stakeholders.
Facilitate meetings of family, professionals, and natural supports.
Collaborate with community partners.
Teach parenting groups monthly for a group setting option.

Benefits

Paid vacation and sick time
Nine paid holidays and three floating holidays
Competitive health, dental, and vision insurance
Health Savings Account (HSA), and options for Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
Long-term disability insurance – the employer pays the premiums
Employer-paid basic life insurance with the option for additional coverage paid by the employee
Voluntary benefits: Accident, hospital indemnity, critical illness, short-term disability insurance
FWS sponsors a retirement plan with 3% employer match and immediate vesting
Discounted tuition for Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate programs at St. Mary’s University
Professional development opportunities at St. Mary’s University
Access to advancement (internships, job placement, field practice) at St. Mary’s University