Social Service Specialist 1 8810

The Children's Home Society Of New Jersey•Brick Township, NJ

5d•$0 - $40,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Bilingual Social Service Specialist I/Family Partner role focuses on serving high-risk, underserved racially and ethnically diverse communities. The position requires upholding family support principles, conducting community outreach, engaging new families, and providing direct support to families utilizing core services. Responsibilities include facilitating workshops, offering guidance on parent-child interactions, making referrals, completing assessments, maintaining records in the Evolv database, and assisting with applications for NJ Family Care and ACA. The role also involves developing Family Success Plans, promoting father participation, and collaborating with leadership on parent leadership initiatives. The position requires maintaining professional and ethical standards, including confidentiality and respect for client rights.

Requirements

High School Diploma
Minimum of one to two years’ experience working with high risk, underserved racially and ethnically diverse communities, either in the human services, social service and/or maternal child health agency
Demonstrate ability to work cooperatively with the staff and a variety of persons external to the family support center, including representatives of other agencies and parents
Experience working effectively in a multi-cultural setting
Ability to model and teach appropriate interaction with children and parents
Evening, weekends and flexible hours required
Respect racial, ethnic, cultural and class differences of all clients and staff
Must have a valid driver’s license
Excellent computer skills are required
Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite
Bilingual English/Spanish (Written and Spoken) required
Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, designing forms and other office procedures and terminology

Nice To Haves

Associates degree and/or Bachelor’s Degree with additional training and work experience a plus
Maternal Child Health, Nursing and/or Health related experience preferred
Experience working in the area of women’s health is a plus
Some light travel may be required (including travel between Mercer and Ocean counties)

Responsibilities

Uphold and demonstrate family support principles and practices
Conduct community outreach to meet contractual levels of services of 250 unduplicated families per year
Engage a minimum of 10 new families per month using creative outreach and engagement activities on and/or off site, including collaboration with Sandy services or other CHS of NJ agency programs
Support reception coverage as needed, including lunch breaks and vacation schedules
Provide support to families in the center utilizing the 10 core services mandated by the funder
Assist with the upkeep and overall maintenance of the center to promote a family friendly environment, including filing, sanitation of toys, storage areas, etc.
Facilitate workshops and presentations, and provide assistance during center based activities, etc.
Offer practical suggestions and guidance to parents with regard to parent/child interactions, child-rearing techniques, and child development
Provide family members with necessary referrals to other needed services
Complete participant’s screenings, intake assessments, prepare related binders and client folders, keep track of all related documents pertaining to the delivery of group activities, enters all related daily data into the program’s database (Evolv)
Elicit and encourage community involvement in planning and decision-making activities of the center
Maintain accurate records through the Evolv electronic health record’s database systems
Purchases food, picks up food and supplies as needed for programs, assists with mailings, works collaboratively with all members of the team
Develops and follows-up with Family Success Plans for individuals participating in center-based activities
Assist individuals and families with NJ Family Care applications and/or ACA applications as needed
Actively participates in the development of activities that promotes and encourages father participation, including the delivery of the Fatherhood Initiative
Works closely with the Community Partnership Specialist, Program Director and Program Supervisor in the development and delivery of activities that promote parent leadership in support of the center’s Parent Advisory Board
Assist with special events, including but not limited to the FSC’s Annual Family Resource Fair, Volunteer Recognition Dinner, Book Fairs, etc.
Provides childcare support and supervision of children when needed during parent education activities
Attend seminars/workshops for education and personal growth
Maintain confidentiality in accordance with Agency policy and legal requirements
Respect and maintain rights and privacy of all staff, parents, and children
Attend mandated trainings and meetings, and seek out staff development opportunities
Work as a team member with all staff and maintain a positive work ethic