Family Independence Specialist — Empower Families

This is a repost. You do not need to submit another application if you previously applied to this posting.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services mission is to provide opportunities, services, and programs that promote a healthy, safe, and stable environment for residents to be self-sufficient. We are committed to ensuring a diverse workforce and a work environment whereby all employees are treated with dignity, respect, and fairness.

The position serves as a resource in the child welfare service spectrum, focusing on identifying resources to strengthen families while improving child safety, permanency, and family well‑being. This position involves coordination and communication with child protective services and foster care staff in successfully administering child welfare and benefit assistance services to children and families to remove barriers that would otherwise prevent the family from staying together.

The position is responsible for engaging with families to assess their skills and strengths, and to identify individual barriers to employment and family well‑being. The position determines eligibility for public assistance programs, including cash assistance, food assistance, Medicaid, childcare and state emergency relief and makes collaborative referrals to community resources. It develops strategies to remove those barriers, provide supportive services, and conducts follow‑up monitoring and support in self‑sufficiency activities to empower individuals and families.

The position also develops, implements, and monitors service plans designed to promote independence, self‑sufficiency and family well‑being. This work is primarily conducted through face‑to‑face interactions with child welfare staff and families by participating in unit meetings, family team meetings, and home visits.

To assist with barriers to employment, this position refers identified individuals to Michigan Rehabilitative Services (MRS) for pre‑vocational and disability assessments and Michigan Works! agencies for employment and training programs. This position is responsible for monitoring participants’ activities to ensure that federal participation rates are met. Responsibilities also include monitoring life events to ensure appropriate adjustments are made to cases and employment participation requirements as needed.

These services are provided to Michigan families in need of temporary assistance.

• Apply for this position online via NEOGOV; click on “Apply” in the job posting for instructions on submitting your electronic application. Hard copy applications are not accepted.
• Relevant experience and/or education referred to in supplemental questions must be documented in resume, transcript and/or application to allow for accurate screening.
• Attach a resume identifying specific experience and dates of employment. Dates of employment should include month and year and hours per week.
• Attach a cover letter.
• Attach a copy of an official transcript(s). We accept scanned copies of official transcripts. We do not accept web-based, internet, or copies of unofficial transcripts. Official transcripts provide the name of the institution, confirmation that a degree was awarded and on what date, and the registrar’s signature.

Possession of a bachelor’s degree in any major with at least 30 semester (45 term) credits in one or a combination of the following human services areas: social work, sociology, psychology, forensic psychology, interdisciplinary studies in social science, education, community development, law enforcement, behavioral science, gerontology, special education, education of the emotionally disturbed, education of the gifted, family ecology, community services, family and/or child development, counseling psychology, criminal justice, human services, or a human services‑related counseling major.

Family Independence Specialist 9:
No specific type or amount is required.

Family Independence Specialist 10:
One year of…