Human Services Counselor I - 64068595

State of Florida • Largo, FL

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

This position is responsible for establishing trusting relationships with culturally diverse fathers and families, providing case management and care coordination, and linking fathers to community supports and services. The role involves utilizing trauma-informed practices, promoting positive co-parenting, identifying protective factors, and facilitating resilience within families. The counselor will conduct assessments, assist in developing Family Goal Plans, provide in-home parent education using various curriculums, and offer education and counseling on tobacco risks and smoking cessation. Services are voluntary and family-centered, aiming to build trust, address barriers, increase access to services, and achieve greater equity. The position requires meticulous documentation in the HMS electronic health record, meeting grant goals, and adhering to program standards and regulations. The counselor will also promote father involvement in the community, participate in collaborative meetings, attend outreach events, and help organize dad groups and activities. Regular supervision meetings with the supervisor are required for case review and management. Collaboration with moms' support specialists is also a key aspect of the role.

Requirements

• At least one year of experience working with children and/or families
• At least one year of experience working with high-risk populations
• Must have reliable personal transportation daily and a valid drivers license.
• Demonstrates motivation to learn & apply knowledge of child development, family development and family planning.
• Effectively applies basic counseling skills with families such as developing rapport, establishing & maintaining effective supportive professional boundaries, using active listening & reflection & empowerment to support families in reaching their goals.
• Maintains case work standards as developed by program.
• Documentation will be completed electronically in HMS within 2-working days of date of service.
• Maintains dependable, punctual work schedule appropriate to the needs of the program.
• Willing to work a flexible schedule to meet the needs of families, which can include evenings and weekends.
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
• Knowledge of basic computer software and ability to enter data in computer.
• All Florida Department of Health positions require the incumbent to be able to learn and communicate effectively, orally and in writing, in English.

Nice To Haves

• Bilingual with fluency in English and Spanish
• Experience working with fathers
• Someone with experience as a father

Responsibilities

• Establishes a trusting relationship with culturally diverse fathers and families by initiating and maintaining regular client contact.
• Provides case management/care coordination for fathers, by visiting families in the community/their home or wherever is appropriate.
• Maintains a case weight per program requirements.
• Links fathers to supports and services available in the community.
• Communicates and coordinates with other providers, as necessary.
• Tracks services as appropriate.
• Closes cases in a timely manner when no further services are needed, or the client is ineligible for services.
• Ensures services are provided that satisfy the needs of the participant.
• Utilizes trauma informed practices, promotes positive co-parenting, identifies protective factors to address identified risks and promote resilience.
• Facilitates the development of protective factors within the family unit.
• Promotes positive parent child interactions and facilitates attuned parent child interaction through activities, curriculum and reflective strategies.
• Determines the participant's needs through screenings and assessments including home safety questionnaires, Edinburgh Depression Screens, the Father Engagement Scale, and developmental screening tools.
• Assists the dad in developing a Family Goal Plan.
• Provides referrals to address risk factors.
• Provides in-home parent education utilizing recommended curriculums, including 24/7 Dads, Fathering in 15, GGK and the FSU curriculums.
• Provides tobacco risks and smoking cessation education/counseling and referrals.
• Offers services voluntarily utilizing personalized, family centered outreach efforts to build trust with families.
• Identifies and addresses existing barriers, increases access to services, and achieves greater equity in service delivery.
• Utilizes program forms to document case management, client progress and activities.
• Maintains an electronic health record for each client served.
• Responsible for maintaining the integrity of the EHR in HMS.
• Completes Encounters and EARS in HMS to document direct services, risk factors, service checks and other work activities.
• Completes all HVR within designated program time frames.
• Meets grant goals, performance measures and objectives, programmatic and funder requirements.
• Maintains standards applicable regulations for personnel, medical records management, programmatic/funder requirements.
• Promotes father involvement in the community.
• Participates on the Pinellas Fatherhood Collaborative meetings.
• Attends community outreach events as assigned to represent the Gold Medal Dads Program and generate self referrals into the program.
• Attends other meetings to promote father involvement/engagement.
• Participates in planning and implementing dad groups and activities.
• Meets weekly with supervisor for reflective and administrative supervision to discuss case findings and corresponding case management activities.
• Levels cases according to need.
• Supports the team to ensure the flow of work activities.
• Participates in regular staff meetings.
• Completes trainings as required by the program.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Attends meetings and groups as assigned to promote father involvement/engagement.
• Helps organize and implement the Dad Groups.
• Establishes and maintains working relationships with moms' support specialists to collaborate on cases and to generate new fathers services program referrals.

Benefits

• Annual and Sick Leave benefits
• Nine paid holidays and one Personal Holiday each year
• State Group Insurance coverage options, including health, life, dental, vision, and other supplemental insurance options
• Retirement plan options, including employer contributions
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Tuition waivers

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed