Family Support Worker

The Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA) is a cabinet-level agency within the District of Columbia government, committed to the safety, permanence, and well-being of children and families residing in the District of Columbia. Charged with protecting child victims and those at risk of abuse and neglect, CFSA fosters collaborations within its administrations to deliver exceptional family‑focused services to the community and its residents.

The Family Support Worker (FSW) is responsible for providing an array of support services to the clients by assisting and partnering with the agency staff of the assigned program and coordinating with the community members, service providers, and other concerned entities to ensure delivery of services.

• Investigations – This administration plays an important role in responding to a variety of child abuse and neglect allegations. It takes decisive and appropriate actions when a child needs protection, analyzes information from community partners, family members and sister agencies to determine whether children are safe from abuse and refer families to services to improve their functioning.
• Out of Home Care – This administration plays an important role in supporting families in which children have been separated from their caregivers and are now placed in a resource home with resource parents or kin or in congregate care. It works with families to achieve the goal of reunification when possible, and if not, works to achieve permanency through guardianship or adoption.
  
  It also works with older youth to transition from foster care to independence.

• Performs casework, group work, and community organization work. Assists the social work team to assess the needs and strengths of families and to investigate reports of child abuse and neglect.
• Participates in home visits and/or investigations to determine the needs of clients and/or gather pertinent information related to the child and/or family. Assists in locating the assessment sites; conducts unaccompanied home visits in safe situations; or facilitates visitations, arranging or transporting of children; assists with physical oversight of groups of children and enters observational information into FACES as appropriate.
• Assists Social Workers by discussing and documenting clinically related information into the case record.
• Provides transportation assistance for clients to and from CFSA to court, service providers, and city hospitals and to other institutions at the request of the Social Worker or Supervisor; enters observational information into FACES as appropriate. Drives government provided vehicles as required.
• Interviews children, families, neighbors, professional groups, and other interested parties to obtain or provide information. Makes referral for assessments. Establishes and maintains linkages with community agencies and facilities that provide client services.
• Contacts collateral sources such as neighbors, landlords, schools, clinics, and other service providers to gather information necessary for the timely delivery of services. Prepares reports and findings on home visits and/or investigations.
• Assists the social worker in completing specified paper and record searches to locate hard‑to‑find families by engaging diligent search services or by searching and clarifying existing data, checking files, and contacting other agencies as necessary.
• Provides services related to planned or emergency placement of children or other emergency assistance, under the direction of the social worker or supervisory social worker.
• Maintains statistical data regarding the number of children, family members, or other group served and the types of services provided. Works with other Social Workers and professional staff to share knowledge of pertinent resources that affect children and/or families.
• Participates in educational training seminars, conferences, and workshops.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Must possess at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the grade 07 level in the District of Columbia government service…