Family Social Worker

Family Social Worker - Head Start – Fayetteville, NC

Closing Date: Open until filled Employment Type: Full-time/Non-exempt Starting Pay: $50,500 Annually Amount of Travel Required: 40% Some night and weekend hours may be required

Overview of General Responsibilities and Duties Head Start Family Service Worker (FSW) supports low-income families by linking them with Head Start programs and community resources, helping them achieve goals for their child's education and family well-being. Key responsibilities include recruitment and enrollment of eligible families, conducting needs assessments, developing Family Partnership Agreements with families, providing resource referrals for health and social services, coordinating home visits, ensuring attendance and record-keeping, and fostering strong parent engagement.

Essential Functions

• Needs Assessment and Planning: Conduct needs assessments to identify family strengths and needs, and collaboratively develop individualized Family Partnership Agreements (FPAs) to set goals and strategies for success.
• Community Resource Linkage: The Family Social Worker will facilitate access to community resources, provide ongoing support and monitor progress towards established goals. Connect families to necessary health, dental, and social services by providing information and referrals to a wide range of community resources.
• Family Engagement: Build strong, trusting relationships with parents and guardians to foster their active involvement in their child's education and development.
• Home and Community Visits: Conduct home visits and/ or visits with families in the community to provide ongoing support, build relationships, and assess family progress and needs.
• Attendance Monitoring: Monitor child attendance, communicate with families and teaching staff about attendance challenges, and provide support for addressing frequent absences.
• Record-Keeping and Data Management: Maintain accurate and confidential family records, case notes, and program data within the designated data management system.
• Crisis Intervention: Provide immediate support and facilitate referrals for families in crisis, addressing safety concerns, food insecurity, or other emergency needs.
• Collaboration: Engage in regular communication with families to ensure they are informed and involved in the services provided, while also collaborating with educational staff, community partner, and leadership to enhance program effectiveness and support family engagement.
• Recruitment and Enrollment: Identify and recruit eligible families for the Head Start program, ensuring enrollment targets are met and maintaining updated records.

Qualifications

Education: At minimum an Associate's Degree in Social Work, Psychology or other Human Services related field. Bachelors degree in Social Work, Psychology, or other Human Services related field, preferred.

Experience: One to two years related experience with low-income children and families; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

General Requirements Certificates & Licenses It is the employee's responsibility to obtain and keep current all certifications, licenses, physicals, etc., at all times. Must have a valid driver's license and reliable transportation. The employee must obtain and maintain up-to-date First Aid and CPR certification.

Other Requirements Must have experience with a variety of computer software programs, such as Microsoft Office, Excel, etc. Must be able to communicate effectively and get along with a wide variety of people. Ability to speak Spanish as a second language is a plus. The employee must be able to complete a criminal background check and maintain an active Criminal Background Check (CBC) Qualification letter through the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Division of Child Development.

Conditions of Employment Background check with state and Federal law enforcement agencies required. Selected applicants must submit to a pre-employment substance abuse screening test and receive a negative result for the use of drugs and alcohol as specified in agency policies. Must submit and receive negative results for random testing of same. The employee must have a valid North Carolina Driver's License. Must be able to pass a post-offer physical examination.

Action Pathways, Inc. is an "at-will" employer. Either the employee or Action Pathways, Inc. may terminate the employment arrangement at any time, with or without cause. Management has the exclusive right to alter this job description at any time without notice. The job description or announcement is not an employment agreement or contract.

Please Note All child care providers and household members who have incurred any pending charges, indictments or convictions (other than minor traffic offenses) since the last qualification letter was issued by the DHHS Criminal Background Check Unit must notify the operator of such charges within five business days or before returning to work, whichever comes first. The operator must notify the Criminal Background Check Unit within one business day of being notified. 10A NCAC 09.2703. Any new charges or convictions could result in disqualification. In addition, if the individual has been placed on the Responsible Individual List (RIL), Child Maltreatment Registry (CMR), or the Sex Offender Registry (SOR), this will result in disqualification.

Employee Benefits Package:

• Zero-cost Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Short-Term Disability (Employee only)
• Retirement plan with 5% employer matching
• Paid Vacation/Sick/Personal leave
• 13 Paid Holidays
• Paid professional development training
• Education assistance
• Auto mileage reimbursement for official travel
• Employee discounts
• Bragg Mutual Credit Union Membership
• Employee Recognition Events