Family Support Specialist

About the Job

Position Summary:

The Family Support Specialist creates and facilitates trauma-informed activities for children of all ages during their stay in the Weaver Domestic Violence Shelter. This role will have a high focus on supporting mothers by modeling age and developmentally appropriate activities, providing respite care and co-facilitating parenting classes.

Work with us and receive:

• 10 Paid Holidays.
• Employer-Paid Long-Term Disability.
• Parental Leave
• Employer Paid $25K Life.
• Health Reimbursement.

Relationships and Contacts:

• Within the organization: Initiates and maintains professional working relationships with staff throughout the organization including peers, supervisors/managers, directors, senior and executive management.
• Outside the organization : Initiates and maintains professional working relationships with shelter clients, volunteers, general public, schools and Youth development agencies.

For faster consideration, please use the link below to apply:

Essential Responsibilities:

• Effectively interacts with child residents, organizing their activities and motivating them to participate, including mothers as appropriate. Creates monthly calendar of activities for children's programming.
• Manage groups of children ranging in age from infants to teens in Family Services-related activities.
• Communicate with staff and volunteers to ensure delivery of quality child enrichment activities, field trips and recreational activities, including 4-week summer camp.
• Provide respite care for parents in shelter during therapy sessions, case management appointments and other important activities as feasible.
• Successfully coordinate childcare resources for families by helping with childcare voucher application process and forming relationships with nearby childcare centers.
• Forms relationships with various early learning/youth development organizations across the community and make referrals as appropriate.
• Collaborate with the MNPS HERO program for educational support for families and school enrollments.
• Provides backup support as needed, as liaison for families with schools, day care centers and other agencies.
• Oversee Playroom for children and parents including organization of toys, equipment and supplies available.
• Assists with data collection and complete documentation in a timely fashion.
• Co-facilitates support groups and parenting classes.
• Maintain accurate and confidential records for each client, documenting resident behaviors, incidents, interactions, and progress in consistent and ethical manner.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Provide transportation for residents as appropriate.
• Provide support and assistance to volunteers as needed during shift.
• Develop an understanding of agency and program policies and procedures, implementing appropriately and interpreting to residents and volunteers.
• Monitor resident activity throughout shelter and manage conflict through appropriate intervention.
• Protect confidentiality of clients and client records at all times.
• Assume responsibility for residential coverage, as appropriate, which includes conduct intake and orientation to shelter and responds to crisis calls and makes appropriate referrals.
• Attend program staff meetings, in-service training sessions, YW All Staff, and other meetings as requested.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements:

Education and Experience:

• Position requires a high school diploma or equivalent and a minimum of a year of child-care related experience. Bachelor's degree in social work or related mental health field preferred. Knowledge of Children's Enrichment Activities, Trauma Informed Care practices, Verbal De-Escalation techniques, Positive Discipline models, Adverse Childhood Experiences and Empowerment based service delivery preferred.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability and willingness to travel independently by automobile to fulfill work-related engagements.
• Ability to carry materials with various weights up to 25 lbs.
• Ability to navigate the work environment and remain in a position for extended periods of time, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Ability to type and use standard office equipment.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Adaptable to work environments with fluctuating noise levels.

Other Requirements:

• Position requires the incumbent to have a valid driver's license, vehicle insurance and a clear driving record.
• Ability to work flexible hours, when needed.
• Willingness to support the mission of the YWCA and ability to convey its importance both verbally and in writing.

Skill Competencies:

• Ability to successfully function under pressure in critical situations.
• Ability to interact with diverse backgrounds and social economic levels.
• Effectively manage conflict and crises.
• Strong problem solving and analytical thinking.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and discretion.
• Willing to utilize internal training tools to meet the needs of DV survivors and their children.
• Excellent organizational and time management.
• Successful collaborative skills working with a variety of groups.
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship building skills.
• Competency with MS Office and database management.
• Understanding and sensitivity of the intersectionality of race and domestic violence.

The YWCA Nashville & Middle Tennessee reserves the right to modify, interpret, or apply this job description in any way the organization desires. This job description in no way implies that these are the only duties, including essential duties, to be performed by the employee occupying this position. This job description is not an employment contract, implied or otherwise. The employment relationship remains "At-Will." The aforementioned job requirements are subject to change to reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities.