Family Support Specialist (Dekalb County)

Summary of Position

This position provides in home visitation services to enrolled participants, providing linkage and referral to other services and support to enhance family functioning by: building trusting relationships, teaching problem-solving skills, and improving the family’s support system.

Location & Travel Requirements

• This position provides in-home services throughout DeKalb County and requires regular travel within the county.
• The primary service area is Smithville, TN, with work performed throughout surrounding communities in DeKalb County.
• Occasional evening and weekend community events may be required to support outreach and program initiatives.
• Attendance at the annual Tennessee State Summit is required. The summit location is determined by the funding agency and will be held within the state of Tennessee.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Responsible for initiating and maintaining regular and long-term (up to five years) contact and support with families. This activity will occur primarily within the family’s home; with visits lasting around an hour.
• The interventions should be family-centered, strength-based, and directed at establishing a trusting relationship; strengthening the parent-child relationship; promoting healthy childhood growth and development; and enhancing family well-being by reducing risk and building protective factors.
• Partners with families and honors diverse family structures and parenting practices.
• Activities may also include but are not limited to: administering the Family Resilience and Opportunities for Growth Scale (FROG) Scale; administering screening tools such as the ASQ, ASQ-SE, Depression Screens etc.; identifying and referring families for other supportive services, including health care services.
• Responsible for assisting the family in establishing goals and supporting them throughout this process and is responsible for implementing activities outlined on the Family Service Plan to address areas of concern that were identified on the FROG scale.
• Assist in preparation of required monthly, quarterly and annual statistical reports.
• Maintains up-to-date and accurate records for families on GGK curriculum, HFA data, and other required records.
• Participate in training according to requirements of HFA guidelines, GKI and DOH contract.
• Implements GGK curriculum and HFA strategies to enrollees through weekly home visits.
• Provides case management to families on caseload.
• Attend training and other mandatory meetings.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Experience in working with or providing services to children and their families.
• An ability to establish trusting relationships.
• Knowledge of infant and child development.
• Acceptance of individual differences.
• Experience and humility to work with the culturally diverse families.
• Willingness to engage in building reflective capacity (e.g., capacity for introspection, communicating awareness of self in relation to others, recognizing value of supervision, etc.).
• Infant Mental Health Endorsement Preferred.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work, or other behavioral health care field required.

Two years professional experience working directly with youth and families in a child welfare, school, childcare, criminal justice behavioral health or related setting preferred.

Valid driver's license in good standing with at least 3 years of driving history.