Family Support Specialist

***** HIRING for open positions across LaPorte, Starke, and Pulaski Counties (IN). *****

Job Title: Healthy Families - Family Support Specialist

Reports To: Healthy Families Supervisor

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Summary

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.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

CASE
MANAGEMENT

Adheres to the Healthy Families America Critical Elements and Healthy Families Indiana, and Healthy Families LaPorte County 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 model nurturing behaviors during home visits using program approved curricula;

Inputs computer data and generates reports in a consistent, accurate and timely manner.

SUPPORT
SERVICES

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.

GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT

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 trainings, and other meetings/trainings as required;

Participates in community education fairs and work-related group responsibilities.

Education and/or Experience

Bachelor's degree in human services (social work, psychology, sociology, family counseling, early childhood, or nursing) from four-year college or university preferred;

High school or equivalent diploma required;

Experience in working with or providing services to children ages 0-5 and families.

Infant mental health endorsement preferred;

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Outstanding interpersonal skills, resilient, patient, non-judgmental;

Working knowledge of parent-child interaction and knowledge of infant 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.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

Viewing computer terminal, perceiving, and transcribing data with accuracy and keyboarding fill much of the day in an office environment;

Communication with telephone callers and associates requires an ability to express oneself as well as perceive and exchange ideas;

The employee is exposed to environmental conditions including noise levels that cause the worker to shout in order to be heard; home conditions may not be clean resulting in odors and insects; home conditions may be close quarters with inadequate seating requiring the employee to kneel, crouch or stand for long periods of time;-

The employee may be required to ascend and descend stairs or ladders, balance on unstable surfaces while working in client homes. Work may include walking long distances, and exerting force up to 25 pounds to lift and move objects;

Must be available to attend required training;

Ability to travel as required, must have a valid driver's license and dependable transportation;

Works a flexible schedule to meet the needs of families' schedules;

Dunebrook Inc. is an equal opportunity organization and does not discriminate based upon race, color, sex, pregnancy, age, national origin, religion, disability, veteran status, genetic information, gender identity or other categories protected by applicable law.

The job description focuses on the essential functions of the position. Other duties may be assigned from time to time. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Employees are required to pass a criminal background check and provide assurance of current driver's license and auto insurance on an annual basis.

Dunebrook is a drug free workplace.