Service Coordinator - Family Resource Center

Summary:

This position is a core component of the Family Resource Center, designed to help families identify their strengths, meet their needs, and achieve their goals. It is not a stand-alone task-it operates in collaboration with all other Center staff and is driven by the expressed needs and priorities of the participating parents.

Key Responsibilities:

* Meets with new Center participants to familiarize them with the Center and the services available and completes all required paperwork.

* Ensures that new families feel welcomed and are integrated into the Center programs and activities.

* Provides assistance and supportive counseling to families as needed.

* Conducts aggressive outreach and recruitment activities.

* Ensures that all participant files are complete and accurate at all times.

* Ensures the confidentiality of all records and appropriate communications about and with participants.

* Conducts regular case meetings with all appropriate staff to assess progress on participant goals and services.

* Maintains contact with key individuals in community agencies to facilitate referrals; makes referrals as necessary and follows up on all referrals.

* Provides recruitment and retention services, including home visits to families.

* Provides informal and formal parenting education to families addressing specific developmental needs of their children.

* Facilitates groups to optimize participant self-esteem and potential.

* Works with Center staff to ensure that Center services are meeting participant needs

* Serves as member of Center management team and as such, provides leadership to Center staff as requested by Director.

* Attends trainings and meetings as required by sponsoring agency and MFN.

General Qualifications/

Skills:

* Understand and be committed to the overall philosophy of Family Support.

* Maintain respect for confidentiality of information divulged by or on behalf of participants.

* Possess the ability to relate to people of diverse educational, cultural and economic backgrounds.

* Be willing and able to do aggressive outreach and recruitment.

* Model appropriate interaction with young children and parents.

* Have the ability to work independently and as a team member and leader.

Specific Qualifications/

Skills:

* Have effective written and verbal communication skills.

* Have excellent planning and organizational skills.

* Have excellent service coordination skills.

* Have the ability to establish and implement goals.

* Have the ability to establish priorities.

* Be able to make assessments and appropriate referrals.

* Have problem solving skills.

* Have the ability to provide individual, family and group counseling.

* Have knowledge of community resources and how to access them effectively.

* Be able to advocate effectively for families.

* Have the ability and willingness to make home visits.

Education/

Experience:

* Masters degree in Human Services, Human Development or Social Work with two years' experience providing direct service to families preferred.

* Bachelor's degree in same fields acceptable with a minimum of four years' experience.

* Must have experience providing direct service to individuals and experience facilitating groups.

* Familiarity with issues of young parents, infants and toddlers, issues of poverty, and linking with community resources desirable.

* Minimum of one-year direct staff supervision.