Families First Specialist

Join to apply for the Families First Specialist role at Bethany Christian Services
.

Salary Range: $22 – $25 per hour.

Location:

Kalamazoo, MI.

Hours:

full-time (40 hrs/week).

At Bethany Christian Services, we believe families provide the strongest foundation for care and connection. We focus on strengthening and empowering families, advocating for family‑centered solutions to keep children safe. Founded in 1944, we serve communities across the country with a mission rooted in faith and justice.

req
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• Be confident and assertive, navigating conflict and maintaining composure in challenging situations.
• Demonstrate grit, resilience, and a strong backbone while remaining deeply compassionate.
• Possess excellent communication and advocacy skills, passionate about empowering families.

• Provide case management services in the client’s home or neutral settings.
• Ensure the child’s safety while in care.
• Respond to phone referrals during business hours or on‑call as backup to the program supervisor or manager.
• Initiate in‑person contact with families within 24 hours of referral.
• Provide the pre‑defined amount of in‑person service hours to each family weekly.
• Create and submit initial service, progress, and termination reports to referring workers per program time‑bound requirements.
• Conduct termination conferences and interviews with families and referring workers as scheduled.
• Complete client follow‑ups after termination conferences via home visits, telephone calls, or written communication at routine intervals.
• Attend weekly supervision and team meetings to consult on cases, review case plans, and evaluate client progress.
• Assist families with funds when needed.
• Be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, arranging appropriate coverage when needed.
• Attend internal and external training and apply new knowledge in providing services.
• Keep abreast of community resources and refer families for support as needed.
• Maintain knowledge of agency, federal, and state regulatory requirements related to social services.
• Complete other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Services, Social Work, or related field from an accredited college.
• Prior work experience in child and family welfare or in‑home case management services.
• Eligibility to obtain professional licensure in Michigan.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong assessment, therapeutic, and crisis intervention skills.
• Logical and critical‑thinking skills with problem‑solving ability.
• Excellent and compassionate customer service skills.
• Reliability with time‑sensitive deadlines and tasks.
• High level of confidentiality.
• Ability to work well under pressure and adapt to change.
• Knowledge of state, community, and agency resources.
• Willingness to work evenings, weekends, and holidays to meet program needs.
• Computer skills sufficient to perform essential functions, including Microsoft Office.
• 21 years old or older, valid driver’s license, at least three years of driving experience in the U.S., and a reliable vehicle with proof of adequate insurance coverage; must pass an MVR check.
• Pass a criminal history screen, including state and local child protection agency registries.
• Subscription to and integration of the agency’s Statement of Faith, Mission Statement, and Commitment to Unity.

Entry level

Full‑time

Health Care Provider

Non‑profit Organizations and Health and Human Services