Family Support Specialist

Dunebrook•Michigan City, IN

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Healthy Families - Family Support Specialist (HF-FSS) optimizes the family home environment for the physical and mental well-being of children who are at risk for abuse/neglect. The HF-FSS works in the families' homes to improve the quality of parenting by providing support, connecting parents to available resources to strengthen the parent-child relationship by improving parenting and independent living skills.

Requirements

High school or equivalent diploma required.
Experience in working with or providing services to children ages 0-5 and families.
Outstanding interpersonal skills, resilient, patient, non-judgmental.
Working knowledge of parent-child interaction and knowledge of infants and child development.
Understand the dynamics of child abuse and neglect and can demonstrate the foundational skills necessary to apply this knowledge.
The ability to offer support, encouragement, and to establish trusting relationships.
Motivated to learn new skills.
Strong analytical and assessment skills; Acceptance of individual differences.
Experience and humility to work with culturally diverse families; Excellent verbal, listening and written communication skills.
Willing to engage in building reflective capacity (e.g. capacity for introspection, communicating awareness of self in relation to others, recognizing value of supervision, etc.).
Proficient in Microsoft Office programs, including Word, Access and navigating the Internet; and ability to learn the Salesforce Online Web Application.
Must be available to attend required training.
Ability to travel as required, must have a valid driver's license and dependable transportation.
Employees are required to pass a criminal background check and provide assurance of current driver's license and auto insurance on an annual basis.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in human services (social work, psychology, sociology, family counseling, early childhood, or nursing) from four-year college or university preferred.
Infant mental health endorsement is preferred.

Responsibilities

Adheres to the Healthy Families America Critical Elements and Healthy Families Indiana, and Healthy Families Dunebrook policies and procedures.
Establishes a Family Goal Plan (FGP) to use as a guide for service for each family that includes goals, objectives, and activities; assist family to meet goals.
Teaches parenting skills and models nurturing behaviors during home visits using program approved curricula.
Inputs computer data and generate reports in a consistent, accurate and timely manner.
Establishes a trusting relationship with at-risk families by initiating and maintaining regular contact.
Assists parents in scheduling and planning transportation to appointments for doctors, social service agencies, etc., act as a liaison between families and other community agencies as needed.
Identifies community resources to reinforce independent living and parenting skills; educate the parents about the resources and facilitate the referral process.
Maintains confidentiality of program participants.
Meets with supervisor on a weekly basis to evaluate client status and service to families.
Attends regular Staff (Dunebrook Staff and Healthy Families Team) meetings, supervisions, in-service training, and other meetings/trainings as required.
Participates in community education fairs and work-related group responsibilities.