Family Support Specialist

UMATILLA-MORROW COUNTY HEAD START INC•Hermiston, OR

7d•$24 - $26•Hybrid

About The Position

The Family Support Specialist will provide comprehensive, family-centered, and strength-based services to families. The primary goals include establishing trusting relationships, strengthening parent-child attachment and relationships, improving parenting skills, ensuring a safe and nurturing home environment, enhancing the family support system, increasing problem-solving abilities, and assisting parents in optimizing child development through play and interaction.

Requirements

Minimum of 1 year home visiting experience, and show high degree of comfort and skill in working in diverse environments, homes, and communities.
Experience in working with or providing services to children and families that are family- centered and strength-based.
Demonstrating a strong background and passion in prevention services to expectant parents and babies through the age of three.
Demonstrate skill and proficiency in outreach and retention; ability to build quick rapport with parents.
Experience and willingness to providing services to culturally diverse communities/families.
Demonstrates a commitment to working well with parents, babies, and staff of culturally diverse backgrounds.
Knowledge of maternal/infant health, infant and child development, and parent-child attachments and relationships.
Open to reflective practice (i.e. has capacity for introspection, communicates awareness of self in relation to others, recognizes value of supervision, etc.).
Experience in coordination and implementation of parent support/education groups.
Strong verbal and written communication skills, to include computer skills and electronic communications.
Knowledgeable of resources in local community.
Demonstrates initiative and resourcefulness in work activities.
Ability to relate tactfully, confidently, sensitively, and non-judgmentally with parents, staff, and community partners.
Ability to establish trusting relationships.
Acceptance of individual differences.
Current CPR and First Aid cards.
Current enrollment in the Child Care Division’s Central Background Registry.
Current physical examination, drug screen, and TB screen documentation prior to hire.
Desire to work with low-income children and their families.
Communicate effectively with staff, families, children, and the public using the telephone and in face-to-face, one-to-one, and in group settings.
Fluent in English both verbally and written.

Nice To Haves

Associates degree (Bachelor’s degree preferred) in Social Services, Early Childhood Education, Social Work, Sociology or related field preferred.
Infant mental health endorsement level I or II preferred.
Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred.

Responsibilities

Initiate and maintain regular, long-term home visits to support families, using a strength-based approach to promote positive parent-child relationships, support healthy child growth and development, and enhance family functioning by identifying strengths and utilizing problem-solving skills.
Assist parents in completing the ASQ and ASQ-SE and other tools in order to determine developmental progress and needs of their child.
Assess family strengths and needs through the Family Resilience and Opportunities for Growth scale, Family Concerns and Referrals, ongoing home visits, and other tools.
Develop goals with the parent(s) and make a plan for accomplishment of those goals (Family Goal Plan). This plan will be based on family, parent, and child assessed needs and will facilitate the parent in working on their goals.
Provide information on child development and parent/child attachment. Encourage, and provide opportunities for, positive parent/child interactions.
Assess and provide guidance related to child safety.
Track child immunizations and help families establish an ongoing relationship with health and dental care providers.
Provide resources, referrals and information to families as appropriate.
Maintain appropriate and up-to-date client records, including completion of the statewide research data, and month end reports in a timely manner.
Participate in Medicaid Admin tracking on selected days and input into the state system in a timely manner.
Screen families using the New Baby Questionnaire and be knowledgeable of Healthy Families Oregon eligibility requirements.
Participate in weekly Reflective Supervision.
Develop and maintain positive, working relationships with community resources/partners.
Participate in staff meetings, conferences, training sessions and workshops as assigned.
Demonstrate familiarity with employment policies, performance standards, work plan and objectives of Agency.
Maintain congenial and respectful relations with staff, children, families and community.
Keep current and accurate records and file reports on time.
Maintain confidentiality in regards to staff and family information.
Maintain objectives and professional standards.
Improve self-skills and education.
Fulfill role as mandated reporter as stated in Child Abuse and Neglect Policy.
Be present at work in order to provide consistency of services.
Be a contributory team member in a positive/productive manner.
Demonstrate commitment to mission, values, and policies in the performance of daily duties.
And or any other duties deemed necessary by your supervisor.