Family Support Specialist - Fulltime

Position Summary

The Family Support Specialist I provides a combination of services that may include education, parent-child interaction, housing and home management assistance, parenting and nurturing, resource referral, safety assessment, and support services to parents or foster parents, and children. This position may provide individual or group services in a community, school, or home setting. Supports at risk families through services which allow children, where appropriate, to remain safely with their families or return to their families in a timely manner.

In conjunction with case managers, assess families’ needs and the parents’ ability to meet child’s needs by developing strategies to reach that goal.

• Bachelor’s degree OR high school education with three years experience working with families of diverse ethnic, cultural and socioeconomic background.
• Requires a valid driver’s license, acceptable driving record, personal auto liability insurance coverage and the ability to be insured by the CHHS auto insurance carrier. Personal vehicle must be available for regular use and be able to accommodate at least 2 children in car seats. Must use personal vehicle to transport children, complete in-house car seat transporter training within one month of hire and re-train biannually thereafter to maintain.
• Ability to model and redirect parents in their guidance and nurturing of children.
• Ability to engage families and children who are dealing with safety issues and other related problems to improve family functioning that ensures positive child development. Excellent judgment skills.
• Learns quickly when facing new problems and makes good decisions based on a mixture of analysis. Ability to make sound judgments, to use supervision effectively and to take independent action if needed to ensure child safety. Is cool under pressure and can effectively cope with change.
• Ability to work independently in a fast paced environment.
• Excellent verbal and written skills. Ability to communicate effectively both in oral and written communication, including the ability to write factual progress notes, effectively present information in individual and group settings with a variety of audiences.
• Strong computer skills.
• Must adhere to the mandated reporting of child abuse and neglect.
• Capacity to help families make strong connections with community resources and knowledge of community resources and services available to support program participants.

Children’s Wisconsin is an equal opportunity / affirmative action employer. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment for all employees. We treat everyone with dignity, respect, and fairness. We do not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other status or condition protected by the law.