Family Support Worker II

State of Maryland•Washington County, MD

23h

About The Position

The main purpose of this position is to assist with the Health Department’s mission of promoting, protecting, and improving the health of the county citizens. This position is responsible for initiating and maintaining regular and long-term (up to 5 years) contact and support with families. This activity will occur primarily within the family’s home; each visit should last for at least one hour. Virtual visits may take place as needed. The interventions should be family-centered, strength-based, and directed at establishing a trusting relationship; strengthening the parent-child relationship; promoting healthy childhood growth and development; and enhancing family well-being by reducing risk and building protective factors. This position will partner with families and honors diverse family structures and parenting practices, and activities will include but are not limited to: administering screening tools such as the ASQ, ASQ-SE, Depression Screens etc.; identifying and referring families for other supportive services, including health care services. This position will also be responsible for assisting the family in establishing goals and supporting them throughout this process and is responsible for implementing activities outlined on the Family Service Plan to address areas of concern that were identified on the FROG scale.

Requirements

Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.
Two years of experience providing support services to children or adults through teaching and demonstrating practical living skills in order to promote and maintain independent living or assist in preserving the family structure.
Candidates may substitute experience as defined above or experience in child or adult care giving, on a year-for-year basis, for the required education.
Candidates may substitute nine credit hours from an accredited college or university in a human service program or human development program such as child development, sociology, social work, psychology, counseling, nursing, criminology, juvenile justice, human growth and development, human services, or mental health for one year of the required experience.
Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a non-commissioned officer in Social Services classifications or Social Services specialty codes in the Social Science, Psychology, and Welfare field of work on a year-for-year basis for the required experience.
Employees in this classification may be assigned duties that require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator’s license valid in the State of Maryland.
Some positions in this classification may be assigned duties that require the employees to acquire and maintain a license as a Certified Nursing Assistant or a Geriatric Nursing Assistant from the Maryland Board of Nursing at 4201 Patterson Avenue Baltimore, Maryland 21215.
Employees in this classification who work with families with dependent children must successfully complete an approved entry-level training program before permanent appointment to positions.
Employees in this classification may be required to have access to and use their personal automobile in order to transport clients. Verification of appropriate vehicle insurance, which shall include coverage for transporting clients, must be provided to the department prior to the performance of transport duties.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with or providing services to children and families.
Experience/knowledge of infant and child development.

Responsibilities

Initiating and maintaining regular and long-term contact and support with families.
Conducting home visits lasting at least one hour (virtual visits as needed).
Establishing a trusting relationship with families.
Strengthening the parent-child relationship.
Promoting healthy childhood growth and development.
Enhancing family well-being by reducing risk and building protective factors.
Partnering with families and honoring diverse family structures and parenting practices.
Administering screening tools such as the ASQ, ASQ-SE, Depression Screens etc.
Identifying and referring families for other supportive services, including health care services.
Assisting the family in establishing goals and supporting them throughout this process.
Implementing activities outlined on the Family Service Plan to address areas of concern that were identified on the FROG scale.