Family Support Service Specialist - 2025700

World Relief•Olympia, WA

11d•Hybrid

About The Position

World Relief Western Washington (WRWW) seeks a Family Support Services Specialist to help expand our Family Support Services (FSS) program to the local immigrant, refugee and asylee community. FSS provides individualized support to children and families in accessing and navigating various early childhood and learning systems as well as school systems and other supports for students. FSS also provides pro-active support with accessing various community resources and opportunities such as childcare subsidy, student enrichment, behavioral health supports, and student scholarships. Overall, our programs aim to support and invest in refugee and immigrant children and their families through strengths-based, culturally-responsive, and healing-centered wraparound programs that are focused on holistic development, educational support, community integration and a sense of belonging.

Requirements

Mature and personal Christian faith
Committed to the mission, vision, and values of World Relief
Desire to serve and empower the Church to impact vulnerable communities
Able to affirm and/or acknowledge World Reliefs Core Beliefs , Statement of Faith , Christian Identity and National Association of Evangelicals' For the Health of The Nation document
Bachelors in Education or Social work or equivalent combination of education and experience required.
At least 1-2 years of social work or casework experience working with families in accessing community resources and navigating systems related to children/students.
Skilled at active listening, providing trauma-informed care, and engaging families and children in a culturally responsive manner.
Excellent oral and written communication skills in English
Must be able to establish strong relationships cross culturally.
Ability to communicate effectively, professionally, collaboratively, and positively with caregivers, students, volunteers, and other staff.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Ability and willingness to travel to participant homes, partner and program sites.
Valid Driver's license and ability to pass a driving record check.
Current (or ability to quickly secure) CPR/First Aid Certification required.

Nice To Haves

additional Bilingual language proficiency strongly preferred.
Individuals with lived immigrant/refugee experience strongly encouraged to apply

Responsibilities

Build and maintain the FSS program caseload by following up on referrals from within WRWW, community partners, and direct family requests.
Follow all due intake and enrollment process.
Conduct community outreach efforts as needed.
Partner with families in a culturally responsive and healing-centered framework - assessing their requirements, setting goals based on strengths and barriers, facilitating community and resource connections, and offering them relevant supports.
Ensure sustained engagement through active follow-up and relationship-building with families.
Provide home-visits and accompany families to help with navigating systems, as needed.
Assist with applying and navigating WCCC subsidies, childcare, and early childhood systems such as ECEAP/Head Start, Preschool, home-visitation programs, and Kindergarten.
Assist with school navigation including any school registrations, IEP or 504 plans, and other academic or English language learning needs for the students.
Research and facilitate connection of families with enrichment opportunities, tutoring supports and resources for behavioral and mental health needs of students.
Build community partnerships with early childhood and school age providers in the community to continue facilitating warm connections and expanding the availability of quality services for refugee and immigrant families and children.
Support with coordinating and organizing family engagement events, programs, and trainings/workshops.
Coordinate and support with initiatives to provide family resources and meet felt needs (e.g., backpack drives), as needed.
Administer ASQs and PICCOLOs screenings, and any other internally developed assessments or surveys, and provide any follow-up services with regards to child development, disability services, and family well-being.
Use internal tools and database to collect, track and update participant information, documents, case notes, feedback, and other program details.
Work closely with the Coordinators and Programs Manager to ensure all early childhood programs data are recorded in a timely manner.
Assist the rest of the Children and Family programs team with work planning, services, and support with other planned program activities as needed.
Contribute to overall programming with insights and expertise in order to strengthen the programming to best serve our families and children in the community.
Attend department team meetings, and job shadowing, 1 time a week in person in King County the first 90 days.
Other related duties as assigned