Family Support Specialist | CD Office of Family Empowerment

City of Chattanooga•Chattanooga, TN

9h•Onsite

About The Position

A Family Support Specialist helps families experiencing poverty to change their lives and improve their economic security, by providing Family Coaching and case management, as well as short-term financial assistance with housing and utility bills. An FSS provides assistance for families by determining what type of aid they need in consultation with the family, developing a family goal plan as-appropriate, and providing coaching, expert advice, and relational support for families’ goals. An FSS provides financial assistance as-appropriate within the guidelines of assistance grants, including CSBG. An FSS researches services available to clients and coordinates services provided to clients, and assists clients with completing paperwork to apply for assistance programs.

Requirements

Associates Degree in Psychology, Sociology, Public Administration, or Social Work, supplemented by two (2) years' experience working with clients in similar situations, or four (4) years equivalent education, experience/training sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of this job will be considered.
Knowledge of Social Work principles and practices.
Knowledge of the causes and conditions of poverty in Hamilton County.
Skilled in defining problems, collecting data, establishing facts to draw valid conclusions.
Ability to form a professional supportive relationship with clients experiencing poverty.
Ability to actively listen, and to evoke desires, preferences, and solutions from clients.
Ability to motivate, appropriately challenge, and support clients as they progress toward their goals.
Ability to assist clients to solve the challenges they encounter as they progress toward their goals.
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents.
Ability to respond to common inquiries or concerns from clients, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community.
Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and board of directors.
Ability to provide excellent customer service.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Sociology or Social Work, or any combination of equivalent experience and education.

Responsibilities

Interviews and counsels clients requesting assistance from the Office of Family Empowerment to determine the nature and degree of their challenges.
Secures all information necessary to evaluate factors contributing to the client's situation. Evaluates contributing factors along with client's strengths and resources.
Determines eligibility for services and appropriate services to be rendered; develops a service plan in conjunction with the client to address the challenges identified.
Assists clients with completing applications and related documentation.
Processes application and documentation, and provides financial assistance as-appropriate.
Learns and correctly applies all grant guidelines and Office policies and procedures in processing assistance requests and completing work with clients.
Compiles and maintains client records.
Refers clients to community resources and other organizations.
Provides ongoing coaching and case management to clients enrolled in programming and coordinates with community partners and volunteer mentors to support client success.
Provides ongoing support for client’s goal plan, and supports client in making strong progress toward their goals within the program eligibility period.
Assists family to live the lives they want and achieve greater economic security
Must meet regular attendance requirements.
Must be able to maintain good interpersonal relationships with staff, co-workers, managers and citizens.
Must accomplish the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodations, in a timely manner.
Performs other duties as assigned.