What are the responsibilities and job description for the Specialist- Family Support-YFS position at Friends of Youth?
The Family Support Specialist supports the delivery of home-based parenting education services. They play a crucial role in providing support, information, and resources to parents to help them create a positive and nurturing home environment for their children.
The Family Support Specialist plays a key role in providing services to families with the fewest possible barriers.
essential duties
Administrative Tasks
- Follow up with assigned families and initiate enrollment.
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of home visits, assessments, and family goals.
- Participate in reflective supervision and team meetings.
- Receive and maintain Parents as Teachers (PAT) certification.
- Collaborate with other professionals, such as healthcare providers and social workers, as needed.
Service Delivery Tasks
- Ensure services provided are high quality, consistent, and responsive to client needs.
- Conduct initial assessments of families to identify their strengths, needs, and goals.
- Provide home visits to families using the Parents as Teachers (PAT) Affiliate foundational visit plans and other PAT supplemental materials, maintaining required service levels.
- Ensure services focus on child development and parenting practices, activities to foster participant observation of their child's behavior and parent-child interaction, and family goals.
- Complete required child development screenings as required by PAT.
- Provide referrals and linkage to a wide variety of community resources to support family needs and goals.
- Participate in monthly group connections for families.
job requirements
a. Education and Experience
- High School Diploma or General Education Diploma (GED).
- Minimum of 2 years of relevant work experience with children and families.
- Demonstrated knowledge of MS365 Power Platform
b. Additional Requirements
- The ability to speak, read and write Spanish
- Must satisfactorily pass criminal history check.
- Must satisfactorily pass tuberculosis (TB) test.
- Must have reliable transportation and a valid Washington State driver's license (or be able to obtain one by date of employment).
- Employees and volunteers who operate their own or Friends of Youth vehicles on Friends of Youth business, must have a safe driving record as defined by Friends of Youth.
- Employees and volunteers who operate their own vehicle(s) on Friends of Youth business must carry auto liability insurance that complies with the requirements of Friends of Youth.
- Must successfully complete the following health certification requirements within 30 days of employment: CPR, First Aid and Bloodborne Pathogens.
- Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required. There are no exemptions.
c. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Able to engage with diverse populations in a culturally responsive manner.
- Demonstrate a commitment to the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion by honoring and celebrating diverse characteristics and expressions of personal identity.
- Strong commitment to Friends of Youth’s mission, vision, and values.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Knowledge of coping skills, crisis intervention, and supportive strategies for individuals experiencing homelessness and trauma.
- Strong group process and facilitation skills.
- Able to communicate effectively with a wide range of professionals.
- Able to maintain strong personal and professional boundaries.
- Able to learn and implement relevant Council on Accreditation (COA) standards and participate in Performance and Quality Improvement (PQI) processes.
- Knowledge of infant and child development.
- Proficient skill set with Microsoft Office programs.
We offer:
- Generous time off including 15 vacation days per year, paid sick leave, 11 paid holidays, 2 social justice leave days per year for full-time employees
- Health insurance package including medical, dental, vision, 24/7 access to telehealth, long term disability and life insurance
- Retirement plan with match
- Transgender Health Benefits
Friends of Youth is committed to equity and creating a diverse and inclusive work environment as an equal opportunity employer. We welcome, honor, and celebrate our clients, colleagues, and communities’ diverse identities and cultures. For more information, email hr@friendsofyouth.org.
