Family Support Specialist

POSITION SUMMARY:

The FSS role is an essential component of the Parents as Teacher (PAT) affiliate model. The Family Support Specialist advances Akin’s mission, vision, values, and goals by providing culturally relevant home-based parenting education and support to caregivers who are parenting children under six years old. To be successful in this role you must be able to establish relationships with at-risk youth and families, and manage the needs of an assigned caseload.

This position has access to protected healthcare information (PHI) or confidential identifiable information (CII), both paper and electronic, as necessary, to perform related job duties and responsibilities.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Assists families in identifying their child’s strengths and needs and develop plans to ensure they have access to any services for which they are eligible
• Assists parents in a variety of areas (e.g., filling out forms/surveys; health; nutrition; living skills; budgeting; job skills; goal setting; etc.) for the purpose of developing an action plan to remove barriers to child’s success in school and supporting the family in basic life skills and economic stability
• Recruits and enrolls eligible children and families. Encourages family involvement in program
• Visits children’s homes for the purpose of enrolling students in program, interviewing parents, informing parents of school and/or community resources and providing child development/parenting information, and setting family goals
• Develops individualized health, nutrition, and family support plans for all enrolled children for the purpose of furthering family goals, plans, and success strategies
• Provides outreach to low-income communities, community leaders and organizations for the purpose of recruiting families to Healthy Start, developing resources, and building partnerships with community members
• Maintains relationships with social service agencies and family service providers in the community so that outside referrals can be made in a timely manner as needed
• Maintains a variety of manual and electronic documents, files, and records for the purpose of providing required information and/or documentation
• Screens new referrals to ensure the program is appropriate for their needs, provide an initial needs assessment, complete onboarding paperwork, and provide timely follow-up with referring agencies
• Provides culturally competent home visits to each participant 2 times per month using the Parents as Teachers
• Screens new referrals to ensure the program is appropriate for their needs, provide and initial needs assessment, complete onboarding paperwork, and provide timely follow-up with referring agencies
• Assists in the planning and implementation of monthly group meetings
• Conducts annual developmental progress assessments that include social-emotional, vision, hearing, and health issues
• Actively participates in reflective supervision meetings, team meetings and monthly staff meetings
• Participates in professional development opportunities regarding antiracism, oppression, and cultural competency and regularly assess own performance and program for related improvements
• Participates in ongoing job-related professional development, in-service trainings, and continuing education
• Complies with all Akin policies and procedures
• Complies with the agency’s policy and procedure regarding the identification and reporting of child abuse

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, and ABILITIES:

• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds
• Able to maintain a high degree of sensitivity, tact, and diplomacy during stressful situations
• Knowledge of family support principles, parent-child interactions, and child development
• Ability to embrace and support Akin’s commitment to fostering an inclusive organization

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

This job is performed in a professional office environment. The following list is representative of the work environment employees encounter while performing the essential functions of this job:

• This position works out of our Auburn, WA branch

WORKING REMOTELY:

Working remotely is a benefit of Akin’s flexible workplace, but remote work cannot be offered for all positions. Some positions require daily presence in the office. Remote work arrangements may be adjusted or rescinded based upon business needs.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, sit, talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard; occasionally to reach, stoop and kneel
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision requirements due to computer work
• Regular, predictable attendance is required

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

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• An associate or higher degree with the equivalent of 30 college quarter credits* of adult education, human development, human services, family support, social work, early childhood education, child development, psychology, or another field directly related to their job responsibilities. These 30 credits may be included in the degree or in addition to the degree.
• Fingerprinting and background check.
• Valid Washington State Driver’s License
• Completion of a one-step Mantoux tuberculosis (TB) skin test, unless there is written proof of one of the following:
• A negative Mantoux TB test in the 12 months prior to hiring.
• A recent negative chest X-ray and a statement from a health care provider that the individual does not pose a risk to others.

PREFFERED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Multilingual
• Coursework in early childhood development, parent childhood interactions, or family support principles are a plus
• Previous experience in home visiting

SALARY RANGE AND BENEFITS:

The salary range for this position is $21.44 - $27.13.

Employees will also receive 10 days of vacation leave each year, one personal day each year, and will accrue one sick day per month (pro-rated for part-time employees). Employees will also enjoy 13 paid holidays throughout the calendar year.  We also offer EAP and mental health benefits.