Family Support Specialist

Under the supervision of the Lead FSS, the Family Support Specialist will primarily be responsible for day-to-day activities of a comprehensive Family Resource Center (FRC) that connects families with support, resources and community. This role will support multiple campuses on an as needed basis.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS / RESPONSIBILITIES

Primary Functions

1. Supports a program environment that is learner centered, promotes a sense of physical and emotional safety.
2. Supports positive relationships between staff and program participants/families, and between participants/families and their peers.
3. Incorporates into program design the recognition and respect of cultural diversity, strengths, and individuality within and across all families, including ethnic, racial, spiritual, social, economic, educational, linguistic, gender, and geographical diversity.
4. Designs, plans, and delivers services in alignment with agency and funder standards (including but not limited to; MNC Youth and Family Principles and Practices, Standards of Quality for Family Strengthening & Support, Protective Factors Framework, Head Start/Early Head Start Performance Standards, including the Parent, Family and Community Engagement Framework).
5. Is familiar with legislation, funding parameters, and developments in the field that affect services to children with special needs.
6. Implements referral, intake, enrollment, and orientation process with families into FRC and family support services.
7. Assists families in accessing community resources and networks of support, through various types of service connection such as basic/comprehensive information and referrals, family advocacy, and case management services.
8. Provides and documents short-term interventions by providing basic and comprehensive information, referrals, and resources to clients, with appropriate follow-up.
9. Uses family centered practices and works in partnership with each family to develop asset-based Family Assessments and Comprehensive Individualized Care Plans to address family strengths and goals, and provides regular follow-up and support to assist families in achieving those goals (must follow MNC and First 5 case management policies and procedures).
10. Enhances families’ capacity to support the growth and development of all family members – adults, youth, and children by providing flexible and accessible services and support systems to respond to existing and emerging diverse family-identified needs.
11. Works in partnership with families, staff, and community partners to develop and coordinate menu of family support services offered by the FRC scope of work that addresses the strengths and needs of the families and communities served.
12. Plans and facilitates group services such as, parent education curriculum, parent-peer support groups, parent leadership activities, parent/child interactive activities, etc. Some activities may require specific certification.
13. Promotes family’s overall involvement and participation in program activities and fosters leadership opportunities for families within the program.
14. Encourages and offers family-to-family peer support and networking activities.
15. Collaborates in the planning and production of community and family events.
16. Secures the procurement of materials and supplies for program activities and implements cost-effective practices with agency resources.
17. Assists center staff in maintaining parent areas organized and welcoming by updating parent information, and resources.
18. Provide office support, including phone coverage, front desk coverage, mail processing, inventory control, etc.
19. Must be available to participate in late afternoon, evening, and some weekend activities as needed.

Family Support Integration Responsibilities

1. Works toward an agency-wide common vision and goals related to family support services, which maximizes each partner’s strengths and minimizes the differences.
2. Shares ownership of integration efforts and has a long-term, mutual investment in its outcomes.
3. Participates in weekly family support planning and integration meetings.
4. Works closely with agency staff to link families to services through integrated outreach, referral, intake, assessment, service planning and delivery.
5. Actively participates in case consultation sessions with respective teams to coordinate care plans and service delivery.
6. Works cooperatively and effectively as a team member by communicating and contributing information on a continuous basis.

Reporting and Documentation

1. Completes accurate program and client data collection, data entry, and required programmatic reports on a timely and consistent basis.
2. Maintains confidentiality of all child and family records, organizes case file documentation both hard files and electronic CMS records.
3. Prepares expense reports and invoicing for review and submission by supervisor.
4. Administers evaluation data collection and participates in program and agency performance management process.

Community Engagement

1. Actively conducts outreach activities and recruits families to ensure full-targeted enrollment.
2. Conducts widespread canvassing, mailings, presentations, tabling, and other outreach efforts in collaboration with other MNC programs.
3. Documents outreach and recruitment efforts and follow-up with interested families.
4. Develops partnerships, acts as a liaison, to establish communication and rapport between community and agency, to publicize supportive services available, recruit volunteers, leverage service delivery, and coordinate referrals.
5. Actively engages in the community served and contributes to the community-building process.
6. Advocates with families for services and systems that are fair, responsive, and accountable to the families served.

Customer Service

1. Provide exceptional customer service.
2. Always represent the Company in a professional manner.
3. Interacts with children, families, co-workers, administrators, and larger community in a way that conveys respect and professionalism.

Safety

1. Maintain personal safety, use personal protection equipment (PPE) and follow Company policies.
2. Report all and any safety issues, accidents or injuries to your manager as a matter of priority.

Effective Team Member

1. Ability to interact positively with team members.
2. Ability to facilitate positive change.
3. Participates actively in ongoing supervision, coaching, staff meetings, and professional development opportunities.
4. Partners with supervisor and colleagues when necessary to address department issues or concerns.
5. Demonstrates and encourages reflective thinking in daily practice.
6. Consistently engages with families, children, staff, and manager of related activities to make productive use of our work time.

POSITION QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

1. Education : AS Degree with an emphasis in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, Criminal Justice or related field; must be enrolled in college education working towards an BA degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, Criminal Justice or related field, with a current official transcript on file plus at least 2 years of Coordinating Experience; or AS in a related field with at least 3 years of Coordinating Experience; or 6 years of Coordinating and Direct Service Experience.
2. Experience : Required 2+ years’ experience working in a community-based setting with high-risk families who have experienced poverty, crisis, trauma, and other adverse events.
3. Requirement: Current Immunizations (TB, Influenza, MMR, Pertussis) (must be kept current at all times based on company policies)
4. Current Physical Health Screening (every 2 years thereafter)
5. Clearance Child Abuse Index
6. Current CPR & First Aid Certificate (every 2 years thereafter)

Skills and Abilities:

1. Personality - Independent thinker, possess excellent customer service skills, professional attitude, a high level of personal integrity, maturity, and business judgment required.
2. Performance - Able to multi-task, prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, able to do presentations and to maintain confident information. Strong analytical skills and demonstrated attention to detail.
3. Communication - Strong written and verbal communication skills. Must be a well-organized professional who thrives in a team-oriented environment.
4. Stress Management - Ability to remain tactful under pressure and present a professional demeanor and communication style with co-workers in a multicultural setting.

Software: Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications: Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Internet Explorer.

Decision Making: Set priorities and standards of performance; Develop plans by which work can be accomplished.

Tools and Equipment: General office equipment, fax, copier, printer, phone, and computer.

Confidential and Sensitive Information: Ability to maintain the highest level of confidentiality when dealing with client information.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job the employee is required to sit approximately 80% of the time, walk 10% of the time and stand 10% of the time. The employee is frequently required to use hands and fingers to type or handle, feel, and operate objects. The employee is required to occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds. While performing the duties of this job the employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to speak and listen. Specific vision abilities of this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

What we offer

Pay Rate: $27.00 - $28.00 Hourly

Medical – Kaiser and CCHP / Dental – Principal / Vision – Vision Care / Life Insurance - $50,000 / 403b – 3% match / FSA / Pet Care

EAP (Employee Assistance Program) / WADP (Working Advantage Discount Program)

If you are seeking an organization that values, promotes, and develops leadership by delivering culturally sensitive, multi-generational, community-based services that empower families to build strong, healthy, and vibrant neighborhoods with the vision of a strong, healthier and more vibrant community that respects and celebrates its many rich, cultural traditions, please apply.

Please visit our web site for additional information on our Company web-site at:

We are an equal opportunity employer that welcomes diversity in the workplace with a great company culture. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment, qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.