Family Support Specialist

Job Description

Job Description

Position: Family Support Specialist

Classification: Non-Exempt

Reports to: Family Support Specialist Supervisor

The Family Support Specialist (FSS) is responsible for delivering high-quality, strength-based, and family-centered home visitation services to support healthy parent-child relationships, child development, and overall family well-being. The FSS maintains regular long-term contact with families (up to three to five years), primarily in the home, to build trust, reduce risks, and strengthen protective factors. Services are designed to promote secure attachment, enhance family resilience, and connect families with needed community resources in accordance with Healthy Families America (HFA) and First 5 First Steps standards.

• Develop and implement family service and curriculum plans using the Healthy Families America model and Baby Talk curriculum tailored to family needs.
• Provide case management services, including identifying family goals, monitoring progress, and supporting goal achievement.
• Deliver supportive services such as crisis intervention, parent education, mentoring, motivational interviewing, and strengthsbased support.
• Educate families on child development milestones and provide interactive activities to enhance parentchild learning and bonding.
• Administer and interpret assessments and screening tools (e.g., Family Resilience and Opportunities for Growth (FROG) Scale, ASQ, ASQSE, and depression screens).
• Observe and assess parentchild interactions and collaborate with families and supervisors to strengthen relationships.
• Identify protective factors within families and develop individualized Family Service Plans to address needs and build resilience.
• Assist families in accessing health, educational, and social services, empowering them to advocate for and meet future needs independently.
• Maintain accurate, timely documentation, including case notes, assessments, and required reporting for program fidelity.
• Develop and facilitate parenting groups and workshops to support protective factors and program goals.
• Maintain confidentiality in compliance with HIPAA and program guidelines.
• Actively engage in reflective supervision and professional development, cultivating continuous learning.
• Participate in team meetings, training, and collaborative community partnerships.
• Maintain a flexible schedule, including evenings as needed to meet family needs.
Qualifications
• Education: Minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent required. Bachelor’s degree in child development, social work, psychology, education, public health, or a related human services field preferred. Equivalent experience in inhome family services may be considered.
• Experience: Experience working with children and families, preferably in homevisiting or family support programs.
• Knowledge: Child development, parenting practices, community resources, traumainformed care, and family systems.
• Skills: Effective communication, active listening, flexibility, crisis intervention, and computer literacy.
• Abilities: Ability to establish trusting relationships, respect diversity, demonstrate cultural humility, and work independently and collaboratively. Reflective capacity and openness to supervision are essential.
• Other Requirements: Valid driver’s license, reliable insured vehicle, and willingness to use it for work. Infant Mental Health endorsement desirable. Proficiency in Spanish, Arabic, or another clientrelevant language is preferred to support effective service delivery.
Physical Demands
• Frequent use of computers is needed for documentation.
• Extended sitting for home visits, meetings, and supervision.
• Regular travel by car to family homes.
• Walking to and from visits; sitting on the floor with families during visits.
Work Environment
• Combination of officebased and inhome settings.
• Shared office space with fluctuating noise levels and frequent interruptions.
Benefits That Support You

At Home Start, we invest in the people who make our mission possible. Eligible employees enjoy:

• Medical coverage: Up to 100% of employee medical premiums paid by Home Start.
• Additional insurance: Dental, vision, and life insurance options.
• Retirement savings: 401(k) with an employer match of up to 4%.
• Paid sick leave: Fulltime employees accrue up to 96 hours annually.
• Paid vacation: Fulltime employees accrue 80 hours during their first year.
• Paid holidays: 10 observed holidays, plus three additional paid days off between Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Benefits are subject to eligibility requirements and applicable plan terms.

Equal Opportunity

Home Start, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination in hiring and employment practices based on gender, race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, pregnancy, age, marital status, sexual orientation, medical condition, genetic information, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, or any other protected category under applicable law.