FAMILY SUPPORT SPECIALIST

Gila Regional Medical Center•Silver City, NM

About The Position

The Beginning Years Family Support Specialist provides home visitation to families participating in the Beginning Years Program. The specialist partners with families from the prenatal period until children are three years old to promote child development, confident parenting, and family support. Duties include helping families identify informal support networks, referring them to community resources, sharing information on prenatal health, newborn care, and child development, conducting safety plans, and guiding families, caregivers, and adoptive parents through child development curricula. The specialist implements appropriate prevention, promotion, and targeted home intervention techniques; uses the Circle of Security content with clients; maintains current client records; and advocates for the Beginning Years Program in the community. The role also involves collaborating and coordinating services with community agencies, participating in community events and a community committee or consulting panel, attending program meetings and trainings, meeting productivity standards, and submitting required records and reports on time.

Requirements

An associate’s degree in a related field, such as early childhood, education, psychology, social work, infant family studies, or another approved field; experience may be substituted for the degree.
If experience is substituted for a degree, obtain an Early Childhood Certificate within two years of hire.
Obtain a New Mexico Infant Mental Health Endorsement within two years of hire.
At least two years of experience working with young children and their families with a degree, or four years without a degree.
Reliable transportation and a valid New Mexico driver’s license.
CPR certification within the first 90 days of employment.
Ability to maintain accurate, up-to-date electronic and physical records and correspondence.
Ability to use Microsoft Outlook and enter information into a database.
All required documents must be presented at the time of hire.
External applicants must successfully complete pre-employment drug and alcohol testing as a condition of employment.

Nice To Haves

Circle of Security training.
One year of experience conducting home visits.

Responsibilities

Provide home visitation to families participating in the Beginning Years Program, from the prenatal period until children are three years old.
Promote child development, confident parenting, and family support.
Help families identify informal support networks and refer them to community resources.
Provide information on prenatal health, newborn care, and child development.
Conduct safety plans with families.
Guide families, caregivers, and adoptive parents through child development curricula.
Implement appropriate prevention, promotion, and targeted home intervention techniques and use the curriculum effectively.
Incorporate Circle of Security content with all clients.
Maintain client records according to program standards, including timely and complete documentation.
Enter registration, client activity, progress notes, evaluation, and similar information into a database on the designated weekly paperwork day.
Maintain confidentiality of participating families.
Enroll 75% of assigned clients and serve them for at least six months.
Ensure 75% of weekly home visits occur at a consistent time and day.
Attend program staff meetings, scheduled trainings, and staff support or supervision sessions; participate actively in supervision.
Meet productivity standards set by the program and funding sources.
Submit required reports to administrative staff on time, including monthly and quarterly activity reports.
Perform assigned office functions consistently, accurately, and on time.
Represent and advocate for the Beginning Years Program in the community, including participating in at least three community events per year.
Collaborate and coordinate services, including presentations, with other community agencies.
Serve on one community committee or consulting panel and attend meetings consistently each month.
Communicate requests for sick or PTO leave and obtain manager approval in a timely manner.