Family Support Specialist

Job Goal

To provide comprehensive services to families that are family-centered and strength based and will focus on: establishing a trusting relationship; assisting in strengthening parent/child attachment and relationships; assisting parents in improving their parenting skills and providing a safe & nurturing home environment; improving the family support system; increasing the family's ability to problem solve; and assisting the parent in optimizing their child's development through play and parent/child interactions.

Essential Responsibilities

Initiate and maintain regular, long-term home visits to support families, using a strength-based approach to promote positive parent-child relationships, support healthy child growth and development, and enhance family functioning by identifying strengths and utilizing problem-solving skills

Assist parents in completing the ASQ and ASQ-SE and other tools in order to determine developmental progress and needs of their child

Assess family strengths and needs through the Family Resilience and Opportunities for Growth scale, Family Concerns and Referrals, ongoing home visits, and other tools

Develop goals with the parent(s) and make a plan for accomplishment of those goals (Family Goal Plan). This plan will be based on family, parent, and child assessed needs and will facilitate the parent in working on their goals

Provide information on child development and parent/child attachment. Encourage, and provide opportunities for, positive parent/child interactions

Assess and provide guidance related to child safety

Track child immunizations and help families establish an ongoing relationship with health and dental care providers

Provide resources, referrals and information to families as appropriate

Maintain appropriate and up-to-date client records, including completion of the statewide research data, and month end reports in a timely manner

Participate in Medicaid Admin tracking on selected days and input into the state system in a timely manner

Screen families using the New Baby Questionnaire and be knowledgeable of Healthy Families Oregon eligibility requirements

Participate in weekly Reflective Supervision

Develop and maintain positive, working relationships with community resources/partners

General Staff Responsibilities

Participate in staff meetings, conferences, training sessions and workshops as assigned

Demonstrate familiarity with employment policies, performance standards, work plan and objectives of Agency

Maintain congenial and respectful relations with staff, children, families and community

Keep current and accurate records and file reports on time

Maintain confidentiality in regards to staff and family information

Maintain objectives and professional standards

Improve self‐skills and education

Fulfill role as mandated reporter as stated in Child Abuse and Neglect Policy

Be present at work in order to provide consistency of services

Be a contributory team member in a positive/productive manner

Demonstrate commitment to mission, values, and policies in the performance of daily duties

And or any other duties deemed necessary by your supervisor

Education Requirements

Minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent

Associates degree (Bachelor's degree preferred) in Social Services, Early Childhood Education, Social Work, Sociology or related field preferred

Infant mental health endorsement level I or II preferred

Experience and Skills Requirements

Minimum of 1 year home visiting experience, and show high degree of comfort and skill in working in diverse environments, homes, and communities

Experience in working with or providing services to children and families that are family- centered and strength-based

Demonstrating a strong background and passion in prevention services to expectant parents and babies through the age of three

Demonstrate skill and proficiency in outreach and retention; ability to build quick rapport with parents

Experience and willingness to providing services to culturally diverse communities/families.

Demonstrates a commitment to working well with parents, babies, and staff of culturally diverse backgrounds

Knowledge of maternal/infant health, infant and child development, and parent-child attachments and relationships

Open to reflective practice (i.e. has capacity for introspection, communicates awareness of self in relation to others, recognizes value of supervision, etc.)

Experience in coordination and implementation of parent support/education groups

Strong verbal and written communication skills, to include computer skills and electronic communications

Knowledgeable of resources in local community

Demonstrates initiative and resourcefulness in work activities

Ability to relate tactfully, confidently, sensitively, and non-judgmentally with parents, staff, and community partners

Ability to establish trusting relationships

Acceptance of individual differences

Current CPR and First Aid cards

Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred

Salary

*Salary is commensurate with education and experience.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to:

Observe, compare, and monitor behaviors, records and data to determine compliance with prescribed standards

Comprehend, analyze, and make inferences and references from written material

Lift and move heavy and/or bulky objects up to 50 lbs.

Sit for long periods of time with keyboard and do data entry at a computer.

Occasionally required to stand, use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms.

Frequently required to drive, walk and climb stairs in the office and in a variety of community based and home settings.

Drive a private or Agency vehicle; must possess a valid driver's license and personal automobile or provide a plan that will allow fulfillment of position requirements. (A DMV Record check will be conducted prior to hire)

Occasional filing is required. This would require the ability to lift files, open filing cabinets and bending as necessary;

Produce written documentation with clearly organized thoughts using proper sentence construction, punctuation and grammar.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work Environment/Conditions

The work environment includes indoor office environments or comparable spaces, families' homes and community spaces, with frequent exposure to outdoor weather when traveling to home visits and meetings. The noise level varies by sites, home visits, and meetings.

Job tasks are performed in close physical proximity to other people

Agency‐Wide Requirements

Current enrollment in the Child Care Division's Central Background Registry

Current physical examination, drug screen, and TB screen documentation prior to hire

Desire to work with low-income children and their families

Communicate effectively with staff, families, children, and the public using the telephone and in face-to-face, one-to-one, and in group settings

Fluent in English both verbally and written

Job Description Note

The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and the employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

Umatilla-Morrow Head Start, Inc. is committed to providing equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals in all aspects of employment, including, but not limited to, recruitment, hiring, job assignments, promotions, career advancement opportunities, working conditions, scheduling, disciplinary action, termination of employment, compensation, and access to benefits and training. We recruit, hire, and promote into all job levels the most qualified applicants without regard to legally protected characteristics.