Family Support & Engagement Specialist

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

A paraprofessional or professional responsible for initiating and maintaining an ongoing supportive relationship with families through the provision of regular, long-term home visiting services. This position requires managing referrals, determining eligibility for services, offering program services, enrolling new program participants and conducting an initial assessment of needs using the Healthy Families Florida Assessment Tool (HFFAT).

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

The following statements describe the principal functions of the job and its scope of responsibility but should not be considered an all-inclusive list of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned. Duties include, but are not limited to:
•Making weekly (or less frequent) home visits for a caseload of up to twenty-five families.
•Assists in strengthening the parent-child relationship through improving parenting skills and modeling appropriate activities during home visits.
•Provides education on parenting, child development, child and health safety using evidence-based curriculum.
•Works with individual participants and groups.
•Establishes a trusting relationship with at risk families by initiating and maintaining appropriate participant contact.
•Establishes a family goal plan with objectives and activities with the supervisor and follows through with implementation.
•Initiates and maintain home visitation schedule with families according to level status.
•Timely completes required parent or child screenings including development screenings, Home Safety Checklist, maternal depression screenings, initial risk and protective factor assessments, parenting inventory, etc.
•Ensures that family is linked to a medical provider; provides information on the importance of timely immunization and well child checks and document dates of immunizations and well-child check-ups.
•Acts as a liaison between families and other community agencies.
•Documents services provided, interactions observed and participant responses clearly, accurately, and timely (within 2 working days) in participant file.
•Familiarizes self with community resources appropriate to needs of the families.
•Attends regular staff meetings, multi-disciplinary staffing, in-service training, and other meetings as required.
•Maintains confidentiality of participant information and respects diverse cultural differences of families within communities.
•Meets with Supervisor on weekly basis for case management and review of all families on caseload.
•Participates in reflective practice/supervision while maintaining an openness for introspection. Communicates self-awareness in relation to others and recognizes the value of supervision.
•Completes initial training required by Healthy Families Florida and a minimum of 20 hours per year of training thereafter.
•Maintains a professional and safe unit and work area adhering to established safety policies and the image desired for the organization.
•Consistently follow Highlands County Board of County Commissioners, Healthy Families Highlands and Healthy Families Florida policies and procedures.
•Responds productively to change.
Any Healthy Families staff personally involved in a Department of Children and Families investigation is required to notify their direct supervisor. Due to the nature of the work done by Healthy Families, this type of incident and/or failure to report such an incident may put the program in a position of public disrepute and therefore result in disciplinary action for the employee.

 KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

•Knowledge of infant and child development.
•Experience in successfully working with children (0 to 5 years of age) and their families.
•Experience and humility to work with culturally diverse populations.
•Ability to use good judgment and make independent decisions with clear and professional boundaries.
•Ability to work independently, meet deadlines, possess good time management skills and utilize initiative.
•Ability to establish trusting relationships and accept individual differences.
•Ability to maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, managers, supervisors, directors, elected officials, vendors, and the general public.
•Good writing, organizational and computer skills.
•Write and speak the English Language in an understandable manner.
•Bilingual (Spanish-English) a plus.

PHYSICAL SKILLS:

Must be able to remain in a stationary position for 50% of the time. Must be able to inspect and assess daily email and postal mail correspondence. Frequently operates various types of office equipment to include, but not limited to a computer and copy machine. Occasionally ascends/descends stairs. The individual in this position frequently communicates with the public, vendors, and co-workers. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations. Rarely moves material and office equipment weighing up to 25lbs.
Constantly works in an indoor environment. Rarely works in inclement outdoor weather conditions. Rarely operates motor vehicle for up to
(4) hours continuously or intermittently. Must be able to frequently position self to reach files and other office items located on low shelfs or the floor. May be exposed to safety hazards, contaminants, and participants with infectious diseases.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of an equivalent diploma and one (1) year of experience working with children and/or families.

LICENSES, CERTIFICATIONS, OR REGISTRATIONS:

Must possess and maintain valid Florida driver license. Must have the ability to provide transportation for self on a daily basis to complete home visits with participants. Must provide proof of valid insurance with the minimum coverage required by Florida law.

OTHER JOB-RELATED REQUIREMENTS:

Disaster Essential. Applicant must sign the Healthy Families Florida Standard of Confidentiality and Information Sharing Form, the Affidavit of Understanding, the Department of Children and Families (DCF), Security Agreement, and the affidavit of Good Moral Character Form.

 WORKING HOURS:
Must be willing and able to work a flexible schedule to accommodate the needs of the program participants.

THE HIGHLANDS COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Does not Discriminate on the basis of age, race, sex, religious belief, color, national origin, disability/handicap, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, genetics or any other legally protected group/class. We are proud to be a drug free workplace. Screening tests for illegal drug use may be required as a condition of employment