Family Support Specialist

New Hope Services (NHS) is proudly celebrating 65 years of service to Southern Indiana and our extended service area. NHS has built the capacity to provide a full continuum of human services from child and family support through ability services. Our unique expertise in developing affordable housing allows us to also partner with the communities we serve to have an even greater positive economic and community development impact.

COMPENSATION:

• $17.00 per hour
• Servicing Jennings and Jackson Counties - Hybrid Position 
• Full benefits (eligible 1st day of the month following 30 days of employment)

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

Family Resource Specialist

1. Be trained and thoroughly understand the guiding principles of Healthy Families America by attending CORE Training, HFA online training modules, and all related trainings as requested by Supervisor or Program Manager
2. Provide parent counseling during the assessment in areas such as Shaken Baby Syndrome, Safe Sleep, Post Partum Depression and other areas identified as needed
3. Responsible to make independent and discretionary decisions for the welfare of the client
4. Provide community referral sources with information and training on Healthy Families in order to keep referral numbers consistent and commensurate with the target population
5. Provide screens and assessments for assigned new families
6. Provide referrals for families to other community resources as necessary
7. Provide transportation to families, as needed, for Healthy Families related services
8. Documentation Responsibilities
   1. Enter information regarding screens into the HFI database and have this information prepared for Supervisor prior to weekly supervision
   2. Enter information regarding assessments into the HFI database within 48 working hours of assessment and give to supervisor for review
   3. Record all referrals and screens into the referral log and track contact attempts and status of referrals
   4. Maintain all contact records and necessary paperwork for client files
   5. Enter information regarding referrals to other community resources into the HFI database
9. Complete 90% of assessments prior to the child’s three month birthday and have all documentation to supervisor so first home visit can be completed before child’s three month birthday
10. Complete certification for First Aid, CPR, and BBP
11. Be willing to respond, when off duty, for emergency needs of clients and staff
12. Attend all required Healthy Families Team Meetings and scheduled supervision
13. Maintain confidentiality regarding all client contact, personnel and financial matters of the Corporation
14. Contribute to the New Hope Services, Inc. team to accomplish services area goals
15. Complete an average of twenty assessments monthly

Family Support Specialist 

• Provide support to parents during home visits in areas such as: child development, parenting, stress management, crisis management, childcare, effects of child abuse and neglect
• Ensure that enrolled clients receive at least 75% of the home visits they are scheduled to receive based upon level of service criteria
• Provide transportation to families, as needed, for Healthy Families related services
• Documentation Responsibilities
  • Enter information regarding home visits on a weekly basis into the HFI database
  • Maintain all contact records and necessary paperwork
  • Complete Family Goal Plans with families
  • Perform Developmental Screenings in a timely manner, consistent with Healthy Families guidelines
  • Refer and link families to appropriate community resources
  • Complete screenings with families as applicable.  Provide appropriate follow up support and referral, based on outcomes of the screening.
  • Ensure that families are linked to a medical provider and that children are completing basic immunizations and attending well child visits
• Be willing to respond for emergency needs of clients
• Attend all required Monthly Healthy Families Team Meetings
• Carry a caseload that meets the standards for Healthy Families Indiana
• Schedule and attend weekly supervision 2 hours for staff working 35 hours or more per week
• Attend training as assigned 

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Ability to work a flexible schedule
•  Demonstrate sound judgement in the moment
• Desire to support, strengthen,  and establish trusting relationship with families who are pregnant and/or parenting young children
• Knowledge of infant and child development
• Experience and willingness to work with the culturally diverse populations that are present among the site’s target population
• Open to reflective practice (i.e. has capacity for introspection, communicates awareness of self in relation to others, recognizes value of supervision, etc.)
• Must possess a valid state driver’s license, proof of insurance coverage per company policy, and have a vehicle that is reliable for transportation of consumers

EDUCATION/YEARS OF EXPERIENCE:

• High School Diploma or equivalent required; Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree, Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) approved, in Education or Social Services field such as Sociology, Psychology, Social Work or other degrees deemed applicable in accordance with established service standards preferred
• Two years professional experience with children and families preferred

• Medical 
• Dental
• Vision
• STD
• LTD - company paid
• Life Insurance - company paid
• Employee Assistance Program - company paid
• Accident & Critical Illness 
• 401k - annual company match (% varies)
• Paid Vacation, Paid Sick Time, Paid Personal Days, Paid Holidays
• Cell phone reimbursement stipend

*Equal Opportunity Employer