Family Support Specialist, Family Support Liaison Program - Temp

Position Overview:

The Family Support Liaison Program (FSLP), in partnership with San Diego County Child and Family Well-Being (CFWB), works to reduce the disproportionate involvement of African American and Black families in the child welfare system. The program supports parents and caregivers in navigating child welfare services, promoting family reunification, strengthening family stability, and preventing future CFWB involvement.

The Family Support Specialist (FSS) provides family advocacy, parent support, care coordination, case navigation, and community resource referrals to African American/Black families involved with CFWB. Specialists help families develop parenting skills, communication skills, time management, financial literacy, and family wellness strategies while connecting them to local support services.

Using a client-centered, trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and family-focused approach, Family Support Specialists collaborate with families in homes, community settings, JFS offices, or CFWB locations to promote child safety, family well-being, positive outcomes, and long-term family success.

Responsibilities:

• Promote an individualized, family-driven, community-based, culturally competent, and trauma-informed system of care.
• Provide on-going case management and crisis intervention to an estimated caseload of 15-20 families.
• Work collaboratively with other Family Support Specialists (when available) to develop and support a family plan, including required tasks and timelines.
• Lead or co-lead family meetings; conduct formal and informal assessments of parents and caregivers; and identify family strengths and areas of need.
• Foster and maintain ongoing relationships with family members, PSWs, CFWB staff, providers, and community members to coordinate services and advocate for families.
• Listen to each family’s perspective to help identify the strengths of the family and each family member; assist family members in seeing and sharing their own strengths.
• When appropriate, share personal experiences to enhance engagement with families and increase awareness about parenting challenges and difficulties maneuvering the ‘systems’, while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries with families
• Work with each family to formulate and execute realistic and time-specific goals
• May attend important meetings with the client, such as CFTs (Child & Family Team Meetings), court hearings, school meetings, etc.
• Maintain accurate, timely, and complete case records in clients file and in software system with integrity and in line with the quality standard set by supervisor
• Have a genuine passion to positively impact the lives of children and families, and recognize concepts and theories, such as motivational interviewing, resiliency frameworks, trauma-informed care, and client-centered approaches.

Skills/Experience/Abilities That Are a Must-Have:

• Previous training in Wraparound preferred
• Bachelor’s degree in human services-related field preferred
• Knowledge of local programs, organizations, and resources, including how to access them
• Experience working with families experiencing domestic violence, homelessness, and/or substance use preferred
• Valid CA driver’s license, a reliable automobile (required), insurance, and willingness to drive off-site/travel throughout San Diego County. Client transport may be necessary. (please note that mileage is reimbursed)
• Fluency in English required
• Excellent organizational skills
• Ability to work flexible hours
• Ability to maintain confidentiality with sensitive information
• Proven ability to work with diverse groups and build strong partnerships
• Personal experience and knowledge of the African American/Black community required
• Experience setting limits when working with stressed clients, often in some level of urgency
• Comfort in an environment that supports intersecting identities and working closely as a team
• Experience working with families experiencing domestic violence, homelessness, and/or substance use preferred
• Excellent verbal and interpersonal communication skills, including ability to collaborate with other FSLP staff, CFWB staff, and community providers.

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