Family Support Specialist

Location and Schedule

All KANA positions are based in Kodiak and are not eligible for remote work. Applicants must reside in Kodiak or be willing to relocate.

KANA’s standard work schedule is 37.5 working hours per week, typically consisting of 7.5 paid working hours per day plus a one‑hour unpaid lunch break (total of 8.5 hours on site per day).

Acts as an advocate for appropriate resources for at‑risk families, abused parents and children. Works with clients to improve well‑being and supports the development of young children using the Parents as Teachers model. Utilizes strategies such as Trust Based Relational Intervention and Motivational Interviewing to guide families and support the wellbeing of the youth in their care.

• Supports the organization’s mission and goals and quality standards. Incorporates KANA’s core values of Courtesy, Caring, Respect, Sharing, and Pride in all activities and decisions.
• Upholds KANA’s Code of Ethics by conducting professional activities with honesty, integrity, respect, fairness, and good faith in a manner that reflects positively upon the organization.
• Provides advocacy services, case management, and preventative intervention services to at‑risk families, abused children, and victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in coordination without community agencies.
• Assists and referrals, as necessary, during crisis and work towards stabilization; assists clients in the development of immediate, short‑term, and long‑term goals; provides services and ongoing navigation of a general census and service.
• Encourages formation and maintenance of strong families and parents’ ability to care for children in their own homes by educating and empowering parents to be the best parent they can be through home visiting services and other evidence‑based strategies.
• Instructs parents individually or in groups in behavior modification, physical development, language development, and conceptual learning exercises and activities.
• Supervises visits between children in out‑of‑home care and their family as needed in collaboration with the Tribes and OCS.
• Instructs parents individually or in groups in behavior modification, physical development, language development, and conceptual learning exercises and activities.
• Guides clients in recovery and goal setting, and assists them with identifying personal strengths. Provides coaching to clients on resolving problems that may arise during recovery and self‑sufficiency. Provides clients with short‑term crisis intervention and stabilization, and supports clients in establishing long‑term self‑sufficiency plans.
• Administers relevant developmental, health, and mental health screenings to at‑risk families, non‑offending caregivers, abused children, and victims of domestic violence.
• Initiates and maintains supportive working relationships and regular communications with clients, partners, and other agencies.
• Identifies gaps in service delivery and develops corrective action plans; makes referrals for funding coordination with wrap‑around services. Provides ongoing monitoring of clients’ basic needs assistance.
• Maintains contact with agency staff and verifies participation in other programs needed for self‑afficiency; includes housing, subsistence, community services, along with other resources.
• Provides transportation services as determined necessary to meet the needs of the client and treatment requirements.
• Administers required assessments, intake forms, and other forms as required by the program.
• Attends and participates in relevant and mandatory training and meetings; includes agency and court reporting requirements, phone conferencing, or video conferences.
• Responsible for establishing and maintaining accurate program files on site and entering all visit records in the online data system.
• Maintains current casefiles and reports on each client, including agency and grant‑required information.
• Prepares and submits reports, monthly program narratives, and all other required paperwork as assigned by supervisor.
• Remains current on available resources in the Kodiak community and statewide for clients.
• Attends relevant and mandatory training and meetings to maintain order to modern effective practices, program integrity, and client advocacy objectives.
• Travels as needed to the villages to provide victim and programmatic outreach to communities.

This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

Associate’s degree and two years related experience working in social services, human services, or community relations work involving families and youth, client interaction, referral services, and case management; or equivalent combination of education and experience.