Family Support Specialist

The Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization•Ontario, OR

4d•$48,600•Onsite

About The Position

IRCO is seeking a Family Support Specialist (FSS) to align with the priorities set forth by the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC), Healthy Families Oregon (HFO), the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), and the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) Program. The Family Support Specialist (FSS) initiates and maintains regular, long-term (up to three to five years) supportive relationships with families. Services are primarily provided within the family’s home, with each visit lasting at least one hour. Home visits are family-centered and strengths-based, focusing on building trusting relationships, strengthening the parent–child bond, promoting healthy childhood growth and development, and enhancing family well-being by supporting protective factors and reducing risk factors. Working as an FSS in the Healthy Families program involves engagement with families experiencing complex and intersecting challenges, including multi-generational trauma, child welfare involvement, poverty, housing instability, chronic stress, and mental health and/or substance use challenges. The FSS partners with families while honoring differences in family structures, community traditions, and parenting practices.

Requirements

High School Diploma/GED required
1-2 years of experience in working with or providing services to children and their families
Must possess a valid driver’s license and verification of current auto-insurance and have full use of automobile during work hours
Bilingual in English and Spanish required
Parenting education and assessment, infant and child development, nutrition, preventive healthcare, home visiting practices, and community resources
Engaging families experiencing stress or adversity using a strengths-based approach
Establishing and maintaining trusting relationships with families
Working respectfully and effectively with individuals from various backgrounds and belief systems
Building reflective capacity, including openness to supervision and self-reflection
Ability to project a professional image in person, by phone, and in the community
Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs
Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team

Nice To Haves

Infant mental health endorsement preferred

Responsibilities

Conduct regular, planned home visits using a strengths-based, family-centered approach to support positive parenting, child development, and family well-being
Apply working knowledge of parent-child interaction, child development, and the impact of stress, trauma, and adversity to support protective factors and reduce risk factors associated with child abuse and neglect
Administer approved screening and assessment tools in accordance with HFO and MIECHV protocols, including the Family Resilience and Opportunities for Growth (FROG) Scale, Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ, ASQ-SE), depression screenings, and intimate partner violence screenings
Use assessment and screening results to collaboratively identify family strengths, priorities, and areas of concern
Partner with families during home visits to support family-driven goal development and ongoing progress toward goals
Teach, model, and reinforce problem-solving, coping, and parenting strategies, including developmentally appropriate parent-child activities and interactive play
Facilitate referrals and support families in accessing healthcare, mental health, social services, and community-based resources, including assistance with scheduling and attending appointments and completing applications or enrollment for needed services
Develop and maintain Family Service Plans, including goals, objectives, and activities, based on assessment results and family priorities
Prepare curriculum, activities, and referrals to support upcoming home visits
Record weekly client observations, activities, data tracking, and case management in the HFO Database
Act as a liaison between families and community agencies to support access to needed services
Complete monthly reports and submit data as requested
Travel throughout Baker and Malheur Counties for home visits
Participate in 1.5–2 hours per week of reflective supervision with a supervisor, in accordance with HFA/HFO model requirements
Attend staff meetings, team meetings, and trainings as required by the program and organization
Participate in ongoing monthly and annual training required by the program and organization
Maintain a high level of confidentiality
Attend community meetings/events as a program representative and outreach
Special projects as assigned by the Healthy Families Program Manager, Healthy Families Supervisor, and Early Learning Managers
Maintain regular communications with program, team, and site/organization/staff

Benefits

Many flexible working arrangements and schedule
Amazing opportunity to work with people who come from all over the world
Work that helps your community
3 to 6 weeks of PTO per year
401k match of over 100% on first 5%, immediate vesting
3% match for student loans or college savings
12 Paid Holidays and 1 Floating Holiday
Medical & Dental insurance options with 90% coverage for employee AND Families, no deductibles
Employer Paid Life, Short term, and Long-term Disability Insurance
Flexible spending account