Family Support Specialist

Gila Regional Medical Center•Silver City, NM

About The Position

The Beginning Years Family Support Specialist conducts home visits with families participating in the Beginning Years Program, serving families from the prenatal period until children are three years old. The role promotes child development, confident parenting, and family support. The Specialist helps families identify informal support networks, refers them to community resources, provides information about prenatal health, newborn care, and child development, develops safety plans with families, and guides families, caregivers, and adoptive parents through child development curricula. The Specialist implements prevention, promotion, and targeted home intervention techniques; maintains accurate and current client records; advocates for the Beginning Years Program in the community; and collaborates with other community agencies. The role also includes program meetings and trainings, supervision, meeting productivity and home-visit standards, maintaining confidentiality, entering information into databases, submitting reports, completing office functions, and participating in community events and a community committee or consulting panel.

Requirements

An associate’s degree in a related field is required; accepted fields include early childhood, education, psychology, social work, infant family studies, or another approved field. Experience may substitute for the 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 if hired with a degree, or four years without a degree.
Ability to maintain accurate and up-to-date electronic and physical records and correspondence.
Ability to use Microsoft Outlook and enter information into a database.
Reliable transportation and a valid New Mexico driver’s license.
Obtain CPR certification within the first 90 days of employment.
Present all required documents at the time of hire.
External applicants must successfully complete pre-employment drug and alcohol testing; employment is contingent upon successful completion.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

Attend all Beginning Years Program staff meetings and scheduled program trainings.
Attend and actively participate in scheduled staff support and supervision with the Clinical Supervisor or Program Manager.
Communicate requests for sick or PTO leave and obtain manager approval in a timely manner.
Meet productivity standards set by the program and funding sources.
Enroll 75% of assigned clients and serve them for a minimum of six months.
Conduct 75% of weekly home visits at a consistent time and day.
Maintain client records according to program standards and requirements, including required timeliness and content.
Enter registration, client activity, progress notes, evaluation, and similar information into the database on the designated weekly paperwork day.
Maintain confidentiality of families participating in the Beginning Years Program.
Implement appropriate home intervention techniques and use the curriculum optimally.
Incorporate Circle of Security content with all clients.
Submit required reports to administrative staff on time, including quarterly and monthly activity reports.
Perform assigned office functions consistently, accurately, and on time.
Represent and advocate for the Beginning Years Program in the community by 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.
Provide home visitation and support to participating families from the prenatal period until children are three years old.
Help families identify informal support networks and connect them with community resources.
Provide information on prenatal health, newborn care, and child development; conduct safety planning; and guide families, caregivers, and adoptive parents through child development curricula.