Healthy Families Home Visiting Family Support Specialist {D1998}
Full TM non-exempt Full-Time
Professional
Iola, KS, US

JOB SUMMARY
The Healthy Families Home Visiting Family Support Specialist (FSS) is responsible for building trusting relationships with families based on the Healthy Families America model. The FSS will visit families in their homes to provide support in establishing positive home environments, promote strong attachments through the parent child relationships, and encourage the well-being of children and families. Utilizing an infant mental health approach, the FSS will practice reflective strategies to strengthen parent-child relationships, improve parenting skills, teach effective problem-solving, and reduce family stress.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Home Visiting 90%

• Develops strategies to positively engage families in voluntary services through a trusting relationship.
• Complete initial enrollment visits with family and completes Parent Survey assessment.
• Schedules and provides regular home visits with families in accordance to KCSL Healthy Families policies and procedures.
• Conduct ongoing screens and assessments such as the ASQ, ASQ-SE, EPDS, and other tools required by the program.
• Implements research based curriculum, Growing Great Kids, during home visits with families.
• Supports and guides families in the development of the Family Goal Plan, and encourages families in achieving identified goals.
• Assist family in monitoring medical needs including well child visits and immunizations, and helps them overcome barriers to meeting these needs.
• Uses reflective strategies such as normalizing, explore and wonder, and accentuate the positive, to help strengthen parent child relationships.
• Refers and connects families to additional KCSL services and other community resources that could help strengthen the family and build protective factors. May include providing occasional transportation for families to access community resources.
• Assist with planning and delivery of group events for program families.
• Documents observations of children and families through weekly home visit notes and completes requirement documentation in accordance with program expectations.
• Meets weekly with supervisor for supervision to reflect on work with families and review interventions and documentation.

Other Duties 10%
• Completes training required by program including Foundations for Family Success, Parent Survey, Growing Great Kids, and other required topics.
• Assists with outreach through community fairs and other events that help build awareness of program.
• Attends regular team meetings and participates in supporting other team members as needed.
• Attends communities meetings as needed.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Work Environment Office and participant homes.
Lifting Requirements Up to 25 pounds.
Travel Requirements Must have vehicle in good condition; able to travel to and from family homes and transport participants to appointments.
Other Must have a home telephone and/or mobile phone and be willing to handle emergency or crisis situation with the assistance of the supervisor. Valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, current auto insurance, pass all required background checks.

The physical requirements described here are a representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Required
• Associates Degree in family services related field or 3 years experience working in social services or a related field.
• Experience in working with or providing services to children and families
• An ability to establish trusting relationships
• Acceptance of individual differences
• Experience and willingness to work with the culturally diverse populations in the community
• Knowledge of infant and child development and parent-child attachment principles
• Open to reflective practice including reflective supervision
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to approach families from a strengths based and family-centered perspective
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries when providing supportive services
• Able to work flexible schedule which could include some evening/weekend hours

Preferred
• Infant Mental Health Endorsement
• Bilingual in English and Spanish
2019 Benefit Summary

Apply with KCSL