Family Engagement Specialist - PSSF

FAMILY ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST – PROMOTING SAFE & STABLE FAMILIES (NCCO & KENT COUNTIES)

SUMMARY: The Promoting Safe & Stable Families (PSSF) Family Engagement Specialist provides strengths-based case management and support services to families with children under age 18 who reside in at-risk areas of Kent County. The role is responsible for assisting families experiencing hardship or crises with goal setting and action plans that help move them into the solution.

• Screens prospective clients by phone and, if eligible, schedules an intake appointment
• Performs a critical assessment of family concerns, needs, and strengths and communicates these to families in a supportive manner
• Helps clients identify and expand their networks of support
• Assists clients in creating goals and action items to address risk factors and reduce family stress
• Links families with an array of community resources that can help them achieve their goals
• Schedules, conducts, and documents client consultations and follow-up appointments
• Elicits and manages sensitive, confidential information in a professional manner
• Provides clients with ongoing encouragement and support
• Assists clients through any crisis that may arise, e.g., eviction, job loss, domestic violence, mental health crisis, etc.
• Maintain case records in timely fashion, inputting information into the state’s FOCUS system
• Provides technical assistance and support to the Delaware Fatherhood and Family Coalition (DFFC)
• Helps bring together area residents, leaders, and influencers to find and implement solutions to community problems
• Increases community collaborations and partnerships as well as community awareness of existing programs and services
• Generates bi-weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual reports for both the PSSF program and agency
• Participates in regular peer review, individual supervision, and consultation
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, human services, or related field.
• Previous job or student placement experience in a child welfare or family-serving agency
• Demonstrated interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills with the ability to present effectively
• Ability to work autonomously, adapt to change, and demonstrate flexibility
• Models behavior that is respectful, non-judgmental, and reinforces the dignity of families
• Knowledge of de-escalation techniques and how to constructively address aggressive, hostile, or highly emotional attitudes
• Understands family dynamics and typical reactions to social stress factors
• Displays excellent judgment, with prior experience and knowledge of privacy and confidentiality regulations
• Ability to be proactive and culturally sensitive
• Effective time management and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects while maintaining strong attention to detail
• Experience using Microsoft Office suite and databases
• Strong reporting and administrative writing skills with experience managing processes, analyzing information, and solving problems