The Family Support Specialist provides parent counseling, developmental screenings, and home visits to support families with young children. They are responsible for maintaining client records, managing referrals, and ensuring families are linked to necessary community resources.
Requirements summary
Candidates must have at least a high school diploma, with a degree in a social services field and two years of experience preferred. A valid driver's license, reliable vehicle, and the ability to work a flexible schedule are required.
New Hope Services (NHS) is proudly celebrating 65 years of service to Southern Indiana and our extended service area. NHS has built the capacity to provide a full continuum of human services from child and family support through ability services. Our unique expertise in developing affordable housing allows us to also partner with the communities we serve to have an even greater positive economic and community development impact.
Compensation
$17.00 per hour
Servicing Jennings and Jackson Counties with a home office in Seymour
Full benefits (eligible 1st day of the month following 30 days of employment)
Essential duties
Family Resource Specialist
1.
Be trained and thoroughly understand the guiding principles of Healthy Families America by attending CORE Training, HFA online training modules, and all related trainings as requested by Supervisor or Program Manager 2.
Provide parent counseling during the assessment in areas such as Shaken Baby Syndrome, Safe Sleep, Post Partum Depression and other areas identified as needed 3.
Responsible to make independent and discretionary decisions for the welfare of the client 4.
Provide community referral sources with information and training on Healthy Families in order to keep referral numbers consistent and commensurate with the target population 5.
Provide screens and assessments for assigned new families 6.
Provide referrals for families to other community resources as necessary 7.
Provide transportation to families, as needed, for Healthy Families related services 8.
Documentation Responsibilities 1.
Enter information regarding screens into the HFI database and have this information prepared for Supervisor prior to weekly supervision 2.
Enter information regarding assessments into the HFI database within 48 working hours of assessment and give to supervisor for review 3.
Record all referrals and screens into the referral log and track contact attempts and status of referrals 4.
Maintain all contact records and necessary paperwork for client files 5.
Benefits
Accident Insurance
Critical Illness Insurance
Employee Assistance Program
Life Insurance
Paid Holidays
Medical
Dental
Vision
Paid Vacation
401k
Short Term Disability
Long Term Disability
Paid Sick Time
Paid Personal Days
Cell phone reimbursement stipend
Enter information regarding referrals to other community resources into the HFI database 9.
Complete 90% of assessments prior to the child’s three month birthday and have all documentation to supervisor so first home visit can be completed before child’s three month birthday 10.
Complete certification for First Aid, CPR, and BBP 11.
Be willing to respond, when off duty, for emergency needs of clients and staff 12.
Attend all required Healthy Families Team Meetings and scheduled supervision 13.
Maintain confidentiality regarding all client contact, personnel and financial matters of the Corporation 14.
Contribute to the New Hope Services, Inc. team to accomplish services area goals 15.
Complete an average of twenty assessments monthly
Family Support Specialist
Provide support to parents during home visits in areas such as: child development, parenting, stress management, crisis management, childcare, effects of child abuse and neglect
Ensure that enrolled clients receive at least 75% of the home visits they are scheduled to receive based upon level of service criteria
Provide transportation to families, as needed, for Healthy Families related services
Documentation Responsibilities
Enter information regarding home visits on a weekly basis into the HFI database
Maintain all contact records and necessary paperwork
Complete Family Goal Plans with families
Perform Developmental Screenings in a timely manner, consistent with Healthy Families guidelines
Refer and link families to appropriate community resources
Complete screenings with families as applicable. Provide appropriate follow up support and referral, based on outcomes of the screening.
Ensure that families are linked to a medical provider and that children are completing basic immunizations and attending well child visits
Be willing to respond for emergency needs of clients
Attend all required Monthly Healthy Families Team Meetings
Carry a caseload that meets the standards for Healthy Families Indiana
Schedule and attend weekly supervision 2 hours for staff working 35 hours or more per week
Attend training as assigned
Qualifications
Ability to work a flexible schedule
Demonstrate sound judgement in the moment
Desire to support, strengthen, and establish trusting relationship with families who are pregnant and/or parenting young children
Knowledge of infant and child development
Experience and willingness to work with the culturally diverse populations that are present among the site’s target population
Open to reflective practice (i.e. has capacity for introspection, communicates awareness of self in relation to others, recognizes value of supervision, etc.)
Must possess a valid state driver’s license, proof of insurance coverage per company policy, and have a vehicle that is reliable for transportation of consumers
Education/Years of experience
High School Diploma or equivalent required; Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree, Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) approved, in Education or Social Services field such as Sociology, Psychology, Social Work or other degrees deemed applicable in accordance with established service standards preferred
Two years professional experience with children and families preferred
Benefits
Medical
Dental
Vision
STD
LTD - company paid
Life Insurance - company paid
Employee Assistance Program - company paid
Accident & Critical Illness
401k - annual company match (% varies)
Paid Vacation, Paid Sick Time, Paid Personal Days, Paid Holidays
